Strictly Come Dancing fans have expressed their displeasure over another format change, following the return of spin-off show It Takes Two this week. The 2026 series kicked off on Saturday, September 26, with new hosts Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe, as all 15 celebrity contestants performed full routines for the judges for the first time.
New hosts and first live show
The live show followed the pre-recorded launch the previous weekend, where the new cast were paired with their professional partners. EastEnders actress Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola danced a cha cha to How Will I Know by Whitney Houston, scoring 27 points, while Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu's quickstep to Stop This Flame by Celeste earned 26.
Social media star John Nellis topped the leaderboard. The Northern Irish football content creator and his partner Katya Jones impressed judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke with a foxtrot to Alex Warren's Ordinary, scoring 31 out of 40.
It Takes Two returns with new host
On Monday, September 28, It Takes Two returned with new host Ellie Taylor, replacing Janette Manrara and Fleur East. The show, which gives fans behind-the-scenes access between live shows, aired its first 2026 episode with a new set.
Fans quickly noticed that celebrity contestants were no longer interviewed alongside their professional partners. The show also revealed some of the routines for this weekend's Movie Week special, including Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley dancing a Waltz to The Godfather, and Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin performing a Foxtrot to Beauty and the Beast.
Fans react to song reveal changes
The way dance and song choices are being revealed has drawn criticism. Previously, 'Tunes Tuesday' saw former host Fleur East run through all the tracks, with a video of all upcoming routines posted on Strictly's social channels.
Fans took to social media to complain. @charlotte_grix said: "Can you just release all the songs and dances at once like normal please? You've changed so many things. You don't need to change this too." @crln_0824 commented: "So we have to wait until Friday to have the dance and song of some couples, meanwhile we know for other couples since Monday? I don't like it at all."
@joedianne___fan pleaded: "Can we please have the rest of the songs and dances for the couples we don't know." @thomassteven11 demanded: "Bring back the Tuesday song reveals where couples are dancing in front of the green screen with their style and song on screen." @strictlymiaa added: "Tunes on Tuesday is gone forever isn’t it #strictly."
