Figure caption, New Strictly presenters: 'Never thought it would be the three of us!'
Strictly Come Dancing has returned to the small screen for its 24th series, in a new era for the show with a revamped presenting line-up.
An average of 5.3 million viewers tuned in on Saturday with a share of 49.2% of the overnight ratings, which was 7% up on last year, and it remained high on iPlayer's most popular chart on Sunday.
Broadcaster Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and former Strictly professional Johannes Radebe made their presenting debut, taking over from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who left last year.
Famous faces including actress Melanie Walters and former England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips stepped on to the ballroom floor for the first time.
During the launch show, it was revealed which professional dancers they were paired with.
Perhaps inevitably, critics are asking if three presenters is not a crowd compared with the long-running duo of Daly and Winkleman.
Taking to the ballroom floor after a huge all-cast opening dance routine, Willis said presenting Strictly was a "genuine honour".
"Josh, you've got moves," proclaimed Radebe, a former professional on the show. Widdicombe added that it was a "little bit overwhelming" but he was "delighted" to be there.
In a first for the show, celebrity and pro pairings were revealed via three dance routines. It functioned as a musical chairs of sorts, in which the contestants switched partners until the music was paused, and a couple was announced.
Saturday's episode saw 200,000 more viewers at its peak than during last year's launch show.
The figures were not the "full picture of all those who watch", the BBC noted, as fans caught up on iPlayer.
Image source, BBC/PA Strictly contestants 2026 Here is a list of the pairings in full:
Reality TV star Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin
Hair stylist to the stars Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden
Australian singer and actress Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington
DJ and social media personality Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby
TV and radio presenter Will Best and Dianne Buswell
Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon
TV and stage actress Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu
Former England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr
Presenter and author Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley
Skeleton athlete Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita
TV and stage actress Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec
One pair who will not need to get to know each other are reality TV star Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin.
Dyer is back to compete for a second time, having withdrawn from last year's series because of a fractured ankle.
"I'm just over the Moon. I'm so, so happy," she said after the pairing, while Kuzmin added that he had "tears of joy" in his eyes.
Meanwhile, actress Bethany Antonia and professional Nancy Xu became the third two-woman couple to compete in the show.
In a poignant moment, Antonia revealed that watching boxer Nicola Adams and Katya Jones performing together in Strictly's 2020 series had been a "big part of my coming out journey".
Among the other pairings were EastEnders actress Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola, former Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon, and Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr.
Also back on the dancefloor for a final spin was reigning Strictly champion, former Lionness Karen Carney.
Clad in the same diamante-encrusted football shirt, Carney re…