Strictly Come Dancing has returned for its 20th anniversary series – launching with pizazz as usual, despite the controversy surrounding the show in recent months.
Hosted by Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, the opening show saw this year’s celebrities – including former England footballer Paul Merson, TV presenter Nick Knowles, JLS star JB Gill, singer Toyah Willcox and Olympic hockey gold medallist Sam Quek – paired with their dancing partners.
It also marked the return of professional dancer Amy Dowden, who underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy after being diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2023. Dressed in hot pink, the 34-year-old Welsh star took centre stage during a group performance to a medley including Dua Lipa’s Training Season and Jungle’s Busy Earnin’.
The emotional number ended with a hug between the star, who now has “no evidence of disease”, and her fellow professionals.
Image: The celebrities and dancers have all been paired. Pic: BBC/Guy Levy
An investigation was launched by the BBC following allegations made about Giovanni Pernice by actress Amanda Abbington, who took part in 2023, but the findings are yet to be revealed.
Pernice, who left the show, has strongly denied the claims. His departure was followed by that of fellow dancer Graziano Di Prima, after a complaint was raised about his behaviour towards reality star Zara McDermott. Afterwards, Di Prima said he “deeply” regretted the events that led to his departure but said he “wasn’t meaning to kick” McDermott.
Image: TV presenter Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk. Pic: BBC/ Ray Burmiston
Image: Former England footballer Paul Merson is partnered with Karen Hauer. Pic: BBC/ Ray Burmiston
‘You could end up killing the show’
Earlier on Saturday, Strictly’s co-creator, Karen Smith warned continued criticism “could end up killing” the much-loved series.
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Speaking to BBC News, the former executive producer said it was “terrible” to think of how the production, celebrities and dancers felt, but added: “It would be a shame if it was picked apart to death and was allowed to die.
“Because journalists, if you keep picking and you keep criticising, you could end up killing the show that you spend weeks and months of the year talking about. So, be careful.”
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But the controversy was not addressed during the opening show of this year’s series, which was full of glitz and glamour, a rainbow of pastel and sherbert colours – and a retro opening dance number mash-up including songs by Vengaboys, Whigfield, 2 Unlimited and Gina G.
This year’s line-up also includes Chris McCausland, who is the first blind contestant on the show, opera singer Wynne Evans, reality TV star Pete Wicks, Gladiator and Olympian Montell Douglas, EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick, Olympian Tom Dean, and Morning Live resident doctor and NHS GP Dr Punam Krishan.
Image: Singer Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones. Pic: BBC/Ray Burmiston
Image: JB Gill and Amy Dowden. Pic: BBC/Ray Burmiston
‘It feels like my first year again’
Also taking part are Love Island star Tasha Ghouri – the second deaf contestant to compete after former EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis won the series with Pernice in 2021 – X Factor winner Shayne Ward, and Miranda actress Sarah Hadland.
Dowden, who is paired with JLS star Gill, said: “I’m delighted, it just feels like my first year all over again. I just want JB to have the best time and fall in love with dancing.”
Gill said of Dowden: “She’s brilliant, plus she’s got experience with popstars, so I know I’ll be in good hands.”
Who’s paired with who?
Former footballer Paul Merson – Karen Hauer
Love Island star Tasha Ghouri – Aljaz Skorjanec
Olympian Montell Douglas – Johannes Radebe
Reality star Pete Wicks – Jowita Przystal
Presenter and former hockey player Sam Quek – Nikita Kuzmin
JLS star JB Gill – Amy Dowden
Singer Toyah Willcox – Neil Jones
Miranda actress Sarah Hadland – Vito Coppola
This Morning star Dr Punam Krishan – Gorka Marquez
Olympic swimmer Tom Dean – Nadiya Bychkova
DIY SOS star Nick Knowles – Luba Mushtuk
Comedian Chris McCausland – Dianne Buswell
Opera singer Wynne Evans – Katya Jones
X Factor star and actor Shayne Ward – Nancy Xu
EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick – Michelle Tsiakkas
Willcox, who has been partnered with dancer Neil Jones, said she was “in heaven” to be dancing with him, and promised she would be the first pensioner to “abseil through this studio”.
McCausland, who is partnered with Dianne Buswell, joked: “We’re going to make mistakes and have a laugh about them. Then we’re going to turn up here and show you all of the mistakes that we’ve learnt.”
Dean warned the audience he has “delicate feet” as he is not used to being on land. “We don’t do any land stuff, no running or jumping, so I’ve never really gone against gravity in my sporting career,” he said.
Coldplay have rescheduled the final two dates of their 10-show run at Wembley Stadium because of strike action on the London Underground.
Rail, Maritime And Transport (RMT) union walkouts next Sunday and Monday make it impossible for fans to get to and from the venue safely, the band said in a statement.
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The completion of their Wembley run will see Coldplay become the first act to play 10 dates at the national football stadium in the same year, knocking current joint record holders Taylor Swift and Take That from the top spot.
Both Swift and Take That have played eight Wembley shows in a single year.
Industrial action on the Tube will take place at different times from 5 September for seven days, impacting Coldplay’s gigs – which are part of the band’s eco-friendly Music Of The Spheres world tour – on 7 and 8 September.
A statement from the band posted on social media read: “We’re sorry to announce that, due to planned industrial action on the London Underground, we’ve been forced to reschedule our final two concerts of the current Wembley Stadium run.
“Without a Tube service, it’s impossible to get 82,000 people to the concert and home again safely, and therefore no event licence can be granted for the nights of 7th and 8th September.
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“To avoid cancelling the shows, our only option is to reschedule.”
They said the show on 7 September would move to 6 September and the show on 8 September would move to 12 September.
The band added: “We’re very sorry for the inevitable disappointment, frustration and inconvenience that this situation causes.”
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Coldplay said tickets would remain valid for their rescheduled date, but any fans who are unable to attend their rescheduled show can get a full refund on their ticket from their point of purchase before noon on 2 September.
Returned tickets are to go on general sale at 11am on 3 September via Ticketmaster.
The band confirmed shows on 30 and 31 August, and 3 September and 4 September would go ahead as scheduled.
Some 10% of the band’s proceeds from the Wembley shows will be donated to the Music Venue Trust to help support grassroots UK venues and upcoming artists.
Fronted by Chris Martin, Coldplay formed in 1997, and have gone on to achieve two UK number one singles and 10 UK number one albums. They are best known for songs such as Yellow, Fix You, A Sky Full Of Stars and Viva La Vida.
Jessie J has been forced to rearrange or cancel all upcoming tour dates as she will be having a second operation as part of her treatment for breast cancer.
The 37-year-old announced in June that she had been diagnosed with early breast cancer. She had her first operation later in the same month.
The singer, whose real name is Jessica Cornish, was due to tour the UK and Europe in October, before gigs in the US in November.
In a video posted on Instagram, she’s now told fans: “Unfortunately, I have to have a second surgery, nothing too serious, but it has to be done before the end of the year and unfortunately, that falls right in the middle of a tour that I had booked.”
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Jessie J has battled numerous health issues, including being diagnosed with a heart condition when she was eight years old and suffering a minor stroke aged 18.
The singer-songwriter has had three number one songs in the UK singles chart, with Price Tag and Domino – both released in 2011 – and 2014’s Bang Bang, a collaboration with Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj.
She won the Critics’ Choice prize at the 2011 BRITs and bagged four Mobo awards in the same year.
Actor Benedict Cumberbatch says he’s shocked at how “fragile” he still is – despite years in the spotlight and success in the industry.
It might seem like the Doctor Strange star and The Crown actress Olivia Colman have it all when it comes to money and success – but they are also human like the rest of us.
The pair lead the cast of new satirical black comedy The Roses, which sees picture-perfect couple Ivy and Theo Rose – a rising star chef and ambitious architect – raise their two children in California, while chasing their own dreams.
‘I am shocked at how fragile I am’
But behind its dark humour and comic language, the film also looks at the realities of power imbalance, insecurity and wounded pride – in even the strongest of relationships.
And 49-year-old Cumberbatch– whose character faces a major setback in his career – tells Sky News that in real life the glare of social media only intensifies those type of situations.
“I am shocked at how fragile I am still.
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“I don’t go anywhere near it [social media] because of that.
“It’s like walking into a place where people want to marry you or kill you. Those extremes.
“I think we will get to a stage, a corporate culture that’s now manifested around it where people are obliged to do that in order to sell their lives, and therefore their brand and what they do for a living.”
Co-star Colman – who’s long-shunned the online world – agrees.
Image: Cumberbatch and Colman in The Roses. Pic: Jaap Buitendijk/ Searchlight Pictures
“I don’t look at any of it. My husband will look at a review and if it’s nice he’ll show me – but if it’s anything mean he knows to just go ‘don’t look – don’t look.’
“You just have to learn to be thicker-skinned.
“But actually, I think we need people who are sensitive and kind.”
‘Don’t do it… delete it all’
Colman – now 51, and whose leading role in The Favourite bagged her an Academy Award in 2019 – says no amount of experience and success can shield her from criticism.
“My advice to a young’un – sort of dipping their toe into the world of social media for the first time is absolutely don’t do it.
“Delete it all. If you want a happy life, don’t have any of it. I’ve never had it.”
The movie – directed by Meet The Parents’ Jay Roach with The Favourite screenwriter Tony McNamara – also calls into question the notion of success – asking, is it really possible to have it all?
Or is sacrifice inevitable when it comes to spinning the plates of a high-flying career, marriage and parenthood?
Cumberbatch admits “you can’t do it all without there being a cost”.
“You just have to weigh up what those balances are,” he adds.
Colman says “there are I suppose little sacrifices along the way” – from both sides of a relationship.
The comedy drama offers a fresh take on Warren Adler’s novel The War Of The Roses – and the 1989 hit film adaptation- starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner.
Colman and Cumberbatch – both producers on the film – insist they weren’t daunted by that though.
“We wanted to find a project to do together, and we have utter respect for the iconic status of the film and book,” explains Cumberbatch.
“Hopefully this will have its own place in the culture – it’s very different, it’s not a remake – it’s a reimagined jumping-on point.”
“But beyond that, it’s very different,” adds Colman.
Former Doctor Who Ncuti Gatwa and Barbie’s Kate McKinnon also form the cast.