The first live Strictly Come Dancing show of the 2026 series saw celebrity scores range from 15 to 31. Some dancers looked as though they had been dancing for years, while others struggled with steps that were completely foreign to them.
The Mirror's TV Editor Nicola Methven was in the studio watching the events unfold. She said the only moment she could truly relax was when presenter Emma Willis was speaking.
Audience nerves during presenting changes
When comedian Josh Widdicombe or former professional dancer Johannes Radebe was at the helm, it felt as though the entire audience was collectively holding its breath. At one point the warm-up act rushed over to urge everyone to clap and cheer louder, as the audience was not generating enough noise.
The tangible nerves had spread to the audience as well. This will undoubtedly improve as the presenters find their feet over the coming weeks, but the burning question remains – why are there three of them? The producers have made the role considerably more difficult, because one will inevitably feel surplus to requirements.
Presenters' performances assessed
Emma, who has taken to the programme like a duck to water, does not need any help. She is absolutely fine on the ballroom floor on her own. Johannes is a dancer who is no longer dancing. He tried his best upstairs in the as-yet-unnamed former Clauditorium.
His first lesson must be to stop talking to the camera while the celeb and their pro are running up the stairs, because the cheering drowns out everything he says. There was also less repetition – he wondered 'who is dancing next?' multiple times. Josh's most entertaining moments come when he is improvising with his sharp wit while chatting to the judges – the autocue is clearly not his strong suit.
Standout dances of the opening night
Fortunately, the quality of dancing was genuinely impressive for the opening week. The defining moment in the studio came with Lacey Turner's spectacular cha-cha-cha, which earned the first standing ovation of the evening. It appeared to lift the atmosphere and raise the bar considerably, setting the stage for the higher-scoring second half.
The biggest surprise of the night was football influencer John Nellis, who drew audible gasps from the audience as he delivered his foxtrot to Ordinary by Alex Warren alongside partner Katya Jones. A few weeks ago, most had never heard of him – yet the next morning he was the outright favourite to claim the glitterball trophy.
There was also great excitement at Elstree over the moves of former Love Islander Cache Mercer. His routine may not have been a conventional quickstep, but he and new professional Maddie were simply a joy to watch. Another standout moment came when judge Craig Revel Horwood's jaw visibly dropped after witnessing dog trainer Graeme Hall unexpectedly produce a polished cha-cha-cha. Delta Goodrem's samba brought the show to a close.
Craig's criticism and the lowest scorers
Craig appeared to be in classic form as he proceeded to criticise the whole lot, making little concession for the fact it was the series opener. The booing was thunderous – but he revels in it. The louder the audience booed, the more the insults, or constructive criticism as he prefers to call it, kept flowing.
The celebrities all appeared to take it on the chin. The lowest-scoring amongst them – Melanie Walters, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Dame Sarah Storey – all looked perfectly content at the end as they mixed with friends, family and fellow contestants.
As the audience made their way out of the studio, fellow audience members expressed their desire to see Josh having a go at 'being Claudia', where his comedic talents would surely serve him well. Bring on week two.
