Start date confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2023
The Glitterball Trophy is up for grabs!
Last updated 7th Sep 2023
This year's professional dancers have been confirmed, along with the brave celebrities such as Angela Rippon, Adam Thomas and Zara McDermott. And now, the BBC have confirmed when the 21st series of hit entertainment show Strictly Come Dancing will start, and it's sooner than we thought.
When does Strictly Come Dancing start?
The 2023 series is due to begin on Saturday 16th September, according to the BBC's website, it will then run for a huge 13 weeks until Saturday 16th December, if it follows the same format as last year.
After months of rumours as to which famous faces would be taking part this year, bosses started to unveil the line-up at the beginning of August, with Angela Rippon set to become the oldest ever contestant to take part in the show.
Former Love Island contestant Zara McDermott is also making history, becoming the first ever Islander to take part in the series.
Check out this year's Strictly contestants:
Ellie Leach - WINNER
Age: 22
Known for: Coronation Street actress
Layton Williams - FINALIST
Age: 28
Known for: Actor/West End star
Bobby Brazier - FINALIST
Age: 20
Known for: EastEnders actor
Annabel Croft - ELIMINATED
Age: 57
Known for: Former professional tennis player
Nigel Harman - QUIT
Age: 49
Known for: Actor
Angela Rippon - ELIMINATED
Age: 78
Known for: Journalist/TV presenter
Amanda Abbington - QUIT
Age: 49
Known for: Actress
Angela Scanlon - ELIMINATED
Age: 39
Known for: Irish TV presenter
Krishan Guru-Murthy - ELIMINATED
Age: 53
Known for: Journalist/News reader
Adam Thomas - ELIMINATED
Age: 34
Known for: Actor
Zara McDermott - ELIMINATED
Age: 26
Known for: Former Love Island contestant and TV presenter
Eddie Kadi - ELIMINATED
Age: 40
Known for: Comedian/Radio DJ
Jody Cundy - ELIMINATED
Age: 45
Known for: Gold medallist Paralympian
Nikita Kanda - ELIMINATED
Age: Unknown
Known for: Radio DJ
Les Dennis - ELIMINATED
Age: 69
Known for: TV presenter, comedian and actor
Eliminated in Week Two
Anticipation has been rife for the new series ever since last year's show ended in December, which saw Hamza Yassin, Fleur East, Helen Skelton and Molly Rainford take part in the tense final.
Following a number of dances, Hamza and his partner Jowita Przystal were crowned the 2022 winners by the voting public.
Meanwhile, with Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman once again set to host the 21st series, judges Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke will also return, to give their expert opinion on this year's celebrities.
Although the personnel on the main show is set to stay the same, spin-off show Strictly: It Takes Two has had a presenter shake-up, following Rylan Clark's departure from the show.
Instead of Rylan, last year's contestant Fleur East will present the BBC Two show alongside former professional and new mum Janette Manrara.
Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One on Saturday 23rd September.
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