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Strictly Come Dancing is back on our screens this weekend for Movie Week, with the 2026 cast performing to songs from various Hollywood hits – however, fans may have noticed that the themed week has arrived earlier than usual this year.
New host Johannes Radebe has revealed why that is, with the professional dancer explaining that it’s one of the many changes that has been made to the BBC show this year.
Saturday night’s show will see the 15 celebrity contestants transform into characters from films such as Ratatouille, Grease and The Sound of Music for Movie Week, which typically takes place in week three of the competition.
However, Radebe revealed in an interview with The Independent that the tradition was moved to ensure that all stars had a chance to take part in at least one themed week.
“What that means again for someone who loves the show is that everybody then gets an opportunity to be a part of a themed week before they’re eliminated,” he said.
“We’ve never had that on the show and seeing just how we’ve moved everything in certain places and how it’s structured, it’s really gonna be exciting. Something that hasn’t happened in years so I know the professionals are going to eat it up. I can’t wait to see their creative process and what they’re gonna come up with for their partners.”
While not all of the dances for Saturday have been revealed yet, viewers will see Jaime Winstone perform a cha cha to “Pretty Woman” from the Julia Roberts film, while Dani Dyer tackles a foxtrot to the theme from Beauty and the Beast.
The first live show of 2026 aired last week and, as is tradition, there was no dance off. Instead, last weekend’s scores will be combined with the ones received by the couples on Saturday night to form the new leaderboard.
Content creator John Nellis stunned everyone in week one by topping the scoreboard with his and Katya Jones’s Foxtrot to Alex Warren’s “Ordinary”, receiving 31 points from the judges. Meanwhile, Gavin & Stacey star Melanie Walters, Paralympic athlete Dame Sarah Storey and ex footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips were joint bottom with scores of 15.
Last weekend was also the first live outing for Strictly’s new hosts: ex pro Radebe, Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe. They were announced as the show’s new presenters earlier this year, following the exit of Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly.
The trio’s dynamic received mixed reviews from viewers, with The Independent’s Isobel Lewis writing that Willis and Widdicombe’s segments often felt “awkward and stilted”.
“While Radebe seems made to fill Winkleman’s shoes, maybe Widdicombe would do better in the more casual spot away from the main stage. But that doesn’t help the feeling that he is a problem the show needs to solve,” she continued.
“Like many fans, I hoped the first episode would give an answer to the obvious question: why three? 15 dances later, I’m still none the wiser.”
Earlier this week, Willis appeared to address criticism aimed at the presenters, sharing on Instagram a portrait emblazoned with the phrase: “You’ll get judged either way, so may as well pick the fun option.”
