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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.

The Strictly Come Dancing celebrities and professional dancers. Pic: BBC/Guy Levy
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The celebrities and dancers have all been paired. Pic: BBC/Guy Levy

Strictly returns following a wave of controversy over the alleged treatment of celebrity contestants from previous series – which has led to chaperones being introduced to be present “at all times” during rehearsals.

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.

Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk on Strictly Come Dancing. Pic: BBC/ Ray Burmiston
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TV presenter Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk. Pic: BBC/ Ray Burmiston

Former England footballer Paul Merson is partnered with Karen Hauer. Pic: BBC/ Ray Burmiston
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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.

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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Tasha Ghouri: ‘I would speak up if I was bullied’

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Former star says she ‘100%’ saw storm brewing

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.

Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones in Strictly Come Dancing. Pic: BBC/Ray Burmiston
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Singer Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones. Pic: BBC/Ray Burmiston

Strictly Come Dancing stars JB Gill and Amy Dowden. Pic: BBC/Ray Burmiston
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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.

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Sally Rooney tells court new books may not be published in UK due to Palestine Action ban

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Sally Rooney tells court new books may not be published in UK due to Palestine Action ban

Irish author Sally Rooney has told the High Court she may not be able to publish new books in the UK, and may have to withdraw previous titles from sale, because of the ban on Palestine Action.

The group’s co-founder Huda Ammori is taking legal action against the Home Office over the decision to proscribe Palestine Action under anti-terror laws in July.

The ban made being a member of, or supporting, Palestine Action a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Rooney was in August warned that she risked committing a terrorist offence after saying she would donate earnings from her books, and the TV adaptations of Normal People and Conversations With Friends, to support Palestine Action.

In a witness statement made public on Thursday, Rooney said the producer of the BBC dramas said they had been advised that they could not send money to her agent if the funds could be used to fund the group, as that would be a crime under anti-terror laws.

Rooney added that it was “unclear” whether any UK company can pay her, stating that if she is prevented from profiting from her work, her income would be “enormously restricted”.

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Why was Palestine Action proscribed?

She added: “If I were to write another screenplay, television show or similar creative work, I would not be able to have it produced or distributed by a company based in England and Wales without, expressly or tacitly, accepting that I would not be paid.”

Rooney described how the publication of her books is based on royalties on sales, and that non-payment of royalties would mean she can terminate her contract.

“If, therefore, Faber and Faber Limited are legally prohibited from paying me the royalties I am owed, my existing works may have to be withdrawn from sale and would therefore no longer be available to readers in the UK,” Rooney added, saying this would be “a truly extreme incursion by the state into the realm of artistic expression”.

Rooney added that it is “almost certain” that she cannot publish or produce new work in the UK while the Palestine Action ban remains in force.

She said: “If Palestine Action is still proscribed by the time my next book is due for publication, then that book will be available to readers all over the world and in dozens of languages, but will be unavailable to readers in the United Kingdom simply because no one will be permitted to publish it, unless I am content to give it away for free.”

Sir James Eadie KC, barrister for the Home Office, said in a written submission that the ban’s aim is “stifling organisations concerned in terrorism and for members of the public to face criminal liability for joining or supporting such organisations”.

“That serves to ensure proscribed organisations are deprived of the oxygen of publicity as well as both vocal and financial support,” he continued.

The High Court hearing is due to conclude on 2 December, with a decision expected in writing at a later date.

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Creator of AI actress Tilly Norwood addresses claims she’ll ‘steal jobs’ from real stars

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Creator of AI actress Tilly Norwood addresses claims she'll 'steal jobs' from real stars

The creator of an AI actress has told Sky News that synthetic performers will get more actors working, rather than steal jobs.

AI production studio Particle6 has ruffled feathers in Hollywood by unveiling Tilly Norwood – a 20-something actress created by artificial intelligence.

Speaking to Sky News’ Dominic Waghorn, actor and comedian Eline Van der Velden – who founded Particle6 – insisted Norwood is “not meant to take jobs in the traditional film”.

AI entertainment is “developing as a completely separate genre”, she said, adding: “And that’s where Tilly is meant to stay. She’s meant to stay in the AI genre and be a star in that.”

“I don’t want her to take real actors’ jobs,” she continued. “I wanted to have her own creative path.”

Norwood has been labelled “really, really scary” by Mary Poppins Returns star Emily Blunt, while the US actors’ union SAG-AFTRA said in a statement: “Tilly Norwood is not an actor, it’s a character generated by a computer program that was trained on the work of countless professional performers – without permission or compensation.”

Responding to the criticism, Ms Van der Velden argued that Hollywood is “going to have to learn how to work with [AI] going forward”.

“We can’t stop it,” she said. “If we put our head in the sand, then our jobs will be gone. However, instead, if we learn how to use these tools, if we use it going forward, especially in Britain, we can be that creative powerhouse.”

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Ms Van der Velden said her studio has already helped a number of projects that were struggling due to budget constraints.

“Some productions get stuck, not able to find the last 30% of their budget, and so they don’t go into production,” she said. “Now with AI, by replacing some of the shots […] we can actually get that production going and working. So as a result, we get more jobs, we get more actors working, so that’s all really, really positive news.”

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Prince William tells John Cleese his kids have just discovered Fawlty Towers

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Prince William tells John Cleese his kids have just discovered Fawlty Towers

Prince William wasn’t close to being born when Fawlty Towers first aired – but now even his children have fallen in love with it.

The Prince of Wales, 43, revealed his kids’ love of the classic British sitcom – which first aired in 1975 – during a conversation with star John Cleese.

The pair shared a few words at the Tusk Conservation Awards at London’s Savoy Hotel on Wednesday night, which honoured those safeguarding the habitats and animals of Africa.

William told Cleese they were having “a lot of family laughs” watching the show, and his children “love it”.

The Prince of Wales and John Cleese were among those attending the Tusk Conservation Awards. Pics: PA
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The Prince of Wales and John Cleese were among those attending the Tusk Conservation Awards. Pics: PA

The future king said he has also been “reminiscing” on the series and enjoying it “all over again”.

“It’s brilliant,” he added.

After their chat, Cleese said of Fawlty Towers: “I always explain it’s about ‘who’s scared of who’ and kids pick that up immediately. And mine, all those years ago, grew up watching it.”

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The veteran comic actor – an ambassador of the trust – was joined by his wife Jennifer Wade, and fellow ambassador Ronnie Wood, the Rolling Stones guitarist.

Other guests were Zara Tindall and husband Mike, and William’s cousins Lady Amelia and Lady Eliza Spencer.

Winners included Laban Mwangi, a head ranger working in Kenya; Rahima Njaidi, who has established a Tanzanian community-led forest conservation network; and Kumara Wakjira, who was honoured for his work in Ethiopia.

William said they “should inspire us to drive change”.

He added: “If we all want to continue to enjoy and benefit from the wonders of the natural world we must not be the generation that stands by as wildlife and biodiversity disappears.

“What we choose to do will have an impact on future generations, and tonight we must choose to do more.”

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