Strictly Come Dancing First Look Pics Show Just How Different This Year’s Series Is Going To Look

Socially distanced hosts, judges and audience… and a lot of masks.
LOADINGERROR LOADING

We’ve finally been given our first peek at this year’s Strictly Come Dancing and in a coronavirus world, things are looking very different indeed.

Hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will return to our screens tonight - albeit in a safe, socially distanced way.

Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly
Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly
BBC

The judges - Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse - are all present and correct too, but have their own individual podiums.

Bruno Tonioli won’t feature on this year’s live shows due to travel restrictions and his work commitments on the US version of the show, Dancing With The Stars.

Earlier this year, show bosses revealed that he’ll still be appearing remotely in the pre-recorded Sunday night results show, while there are also plans for him to return to Strictly “full time towards the end of the series”.

The Strictly judges (L-R) Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse.
The Strictly judges (L-R) Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse.
BBC

There are big changes with the Strictly audience too. This year they will be safely spaced apart and appear behind protective screens. All audience members also have to wear masks (in black) for the duration of the show.

Because of the shorter run time of this year’ series, there are also fewer contestants than usual on the 2020 line-up, with 12 stars competing rather than the usual 15.

The Strictly dancers have been isolating together.
The Strictly dancers have been isolating together.
BBC

Completing the line-up are Olympic boxer Nicola Adams – who will make up half of the show’s first ever same-sex pairing – and reality star Jamie Laing, who was supposed to appear on the show last year, but had to pull out due to an injury.

Strictly returns to BBC One tonight at 7.50pm.

Close

What's Hot