The upcoming premiere of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing is just hours away, following a dress rehearsal today where the couples geared up for their first week of competition.
Viewers can anticipate performances from a diverse lineup including EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal, former The Apprentice contestant Thomas Skinner, TikTok sensation George Clarke, and Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey. These talented individuals are among the 15 contestants featured in the new season.
However, Dani Dyer will not be participating due to an injury, leading to her replacement by Love Island winner Amber Davies, who is set to grace the stage in the upcoming live show.
Throughout rehearsals, the celebrities and their dance partners have been providing updates, including glimpses from their visit to the Strictly studio today, offering fans a peek behind the scenes.
In a different light, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey shared a photo of several cameras during today’s dress rehearsal, while other contestants like Vicky Pattison, Balvinder Sopal, and Chris Robshaw bonded during the rehearsal session.
The rehearsal marked a reunion for the stars post-launch, with familiar faces like Harry and Chris coming together once again. Amber Davies has been rehearsing alongside pro Nikita Kuzmin following her replacement announcement for Dani Dyer.
Fans were treated to a sneak peek of the rehearsals, witnessing moments of Thomas Skinner and Amy Dowden practicing together for their on-stage appearance. Additionally, footage shared by Nadiya Bychkova showed Vito Coppola standing in for his partner Ellie Goldstein during the rehearsal.
Ross King expressed the realness of the experience to his dance partner, Jowita Przystał, while Nadiya was spotted capturing a behind-the-scenes video at the studio ahead of the live show tomorrow.
The dress rehearsal brought the cast back together post-launch, with personalities like Chris, Nadiya, La Voix, and Aljaž Škorjanec reuniting for the upcoming season. The couples seized the opportunity to practice their initial routines in the studio, with Chris admitting to some nerves but receiving praise from partner Nadiya.
Furthermore, co-host Tess Daly shared a glimpse behind the scenes today, offering fans a tour as she ascended the main staircase in the studio, showcasing what it’s like for the celebrities as they prepare to make their grand entrances.
