Strictly Come Dancing is back for the 20th year, once again bringing joy and sparkle to homes across the nation.
The multi-award-winning entertainment show, produced by 麻豆社 Studios, returns to 麻豆社 One and 麻豆社 iPlayer for its new series on Saturday 14th September with our hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman welcoming our celebrity contestants onto the Strictly dancefloor as they make their dancing debut - and we discover which Professional Dancer they will be paired with.
- Read more: Strictly Come Dancing 2024 - Everything you need to know about the 20th anniversary series
- Meet the Pros: Strictly Come Dancing 2024 professional dancers reveal secret live show prep rituals and share hopes for Strictly's future
- Read: The Strictly Judges reveal their secret live show treats, explain how they spot a finalist and tease outfit surprises for Strictly's 20th year
Meet Strictly Presenters Tess and Claudia
Claudia Winkleman
You have been here since the very beginning, how does it feel to be a part of Strictly鈥檚 20th year?
It feels a total honour and privilege. I love working on Strictly so much. I start getting excited in July. The fake tanning starts in earnest on September 1st and there鈥檚 no let up until Christmas.
What does Strictly mean to you? Why has it been such a success for 20 years?
Strictly I suppose means family to me. So many of the same people who work on the show have been there for years so we all know each other really well. It also means family in the sense that people watch the show with their grandparents or young kids. It鈥檚 always felt like a snow globe of a show to me and it鈥檚 basically saying 鈥淐hristmas is coming鈥� and this can only be a good thing in my world.
Describe Strictly in one word/phrase?
Dave Arch.
Can you explain the feeling just before you walk out onto the ballroom floor to open the show? Do you still get nervous when you hear the iconic theme tune on a Saturday night?
I鈥檓 absolutely terrified and I squeeze Tess on the arm and I love her because she lets me.
Do you think there are any magic ingredients that every previous winner has had? Can you spot a winner early on? Or are you still undecided until the night of the final?
I genuinely have no idea who鈥檚 going to win. Tess says the name and I find out with everyone else. It鈥檚 a magic moment.
Tess Daly
You have been here since the very beginning, how does it feel to be a part of Strictly鈥檚 20th year?
It鈥檚 such an honour to have been there since the very first show aired back in 2004 and now here we are about to celebrate our 20th birthday. My overriding memories of that first show are of being very nervous and very pregnant! But even then, there was a buzz in the air, like no other I鈥檇 ever experienced on a live television show. It felt so exciting, and it still does.
What does Strictly mean to you? Why has it been such a success for 20 years?
I have to pinch myself when I realise it鈥檚 been 20 years since starting work on this brilliant TV show I was lucky enough to be chosen to be a part of. None of us knew at the time if it would work, and none of us could鈥檝e foreseen its stratospheric success. It genuinely feels like a privilege to be part of such a talented team who work tirelessly to produce a live show of this scale each week.
Describe Strictly in one word/phrase?
JOY. That鈥檚 it, that is the agenda.
Can you explain the feeling just before you walk out onto the ballroom floor to open the show? Do you still get nervous when you hear the iconic theme tune on a Saturday night?
Of course, I still get butterflies, it鈥檚 genuinely one of the most exciting moments of the entire show once our brilliant director, Nikki鈥檚 count begins in my ear and the theme tune starts up, the air in the studio feels like it鈥檚 crackling with adrenaline. The brilliant audience are clapping, cheering, and get so involved, their energy feeds us; it鈥檚 contagious.
Do you think there are any magic ingredients that every previous winner has had? Can you spot a winner early on? Or are you still undecided until the night of the final?
I do think it takes a certain special something and not just talent alone, to capture the viewers imagination and go on to become the winner of a series. Not only have you got to have learned the necessary dance skills to showcase your talent but you also need to have won our hearts. Sometimes I feel like perhaps I can spot the winner as early as the launch show as it鈥檚 clear to see they have the full package; However, more often than not, I鈥檓 surprised along with everybody else!
What do you think to the Strictly class of 2024?
The class of 鈥�24 look like a properly exciting gang. As a collective I genuinely cannot wait to see what they鈥檝e got in store for us. Roll on the launch show!
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