Strictly Come Dancing 2020: First look at glittering launch show complete with socially distanced judging panel

Strictly Come Dancing is kicking off with a bang (Picture: BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing 2020’s launch show will kick off with a bang on Saturday night, with glittering costumes, ballroom glamour and the first ever socially distanced judging panel.

Photos released ahead of the hotly-anticipated premiere show Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood sitting apart in their own personal purple booths.

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are, of course, on hand to provide the hosting duties, with Claudia rocking a particularly festive and fantastic gold oversized tuxedo (we want it now, right now).

While the judges keep a coronavirus-friendly distance from each other, the professional dancers get up close and personal as they put on a spectacular group performance.

Neil Jones and Nancy Xu put on quite the show, while Graziano Di Prima and Nadiya Bychkova glide across the dancefloor as Joel Corry serenades the studio.

While the foursome sadly haven’t been assigned a partner this series, they still get to skate across the ballroom.

Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse make up the socially-distanced panel (Picture: BBC/Guy Levy)

Shirley is pure glamour (Picture: BBC/Guy Levy)

Craig is suitably festive in gold (Picture: BBC)

Think Motsi and Craig co-ordinated or was it a happy accident? (Picture: BBC)

Neil Jones and Nancy Xu turn on the glamour (Picture: BBC)

Also joining the pro line-up is Anton Du Beke, Gorka Marquez, Aljaž Skorjanec, Giovanni Pernice, and Johannes Radebe.

Amy Dowden, Oti Mabuse, Luba Mushtuk, Dianne Buswell, Janette Manrara, Karen Hauer, and Katya Jones complete the pro cast.

The celebrities starring this year include the likes of radio DJ Clara Amfo, actress Caroline Quentin, The Wanted’s Max George, MIC’s Jamie Laing and EastEnders star Maisie Smith.

And who could forget Nicola Adams, the Olympic boxer who requested a female partner and will make history as one-half of the first same-sex pairing.

Nadiya Bychkova and Graziano Di Prima are all sass (Picture: BBC/Guy Levy)

There’s our fave presenting duo, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman (Picture: BBC/Guy Levy)

Joel Corry is on hand with the live music (Picture: BBC/Guy Levy)

Karen Hauer – a queen BBC/Guy Levy)

The launch show is when we’ll get to see all the celebrities for the first time and find out which pro dancers they’ll be paired up with.

Strictly die-hards had feared that the series may not happen this year after the show missed its usual September start date due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But huzzah, the Glitterball trophy is still up for grabs – even if it is running for only nine weeks this year instead of the typical 13.

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The change of dates mean that Strictly staples Halloween week and Blackpool week will be occurring in the same month.

The live shows will kick off on Saturday, October 24 and continue until December 19 – the weekend before Christmas.

The launch show airs on Saturday, October 17 at 7.50pm on BBC One.

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