Strictly Come Dancing 2026: This week’s songs and dances as pro Aljaž Škorjanec steps in for Kai Widdrington
Nine couples take to the floor tonight, with Jaime Winstone back after injury and Delta Goodrem dancing with a new partnerStrictly Come Dancing returns tonight, with nine couples taking to the ballroom floor with their week 8 songs and dances, as the race to Blackpool heats up.
There’s a partner swap for Delta Goodrem, as Aljaž Škorjanec steps in for Kai Widdrington, and Jaime Winstone is back after missing last week through injury.
Strictly Come Dancing tonight: week 8 songs and dances
Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby: Charleston to Blame It on the Boogie by The Jacksons
Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin: Paso Doble to Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Lorde
Delta Goodrem and Aljaž Škorjanec: Argentine Tango to Missing by Everything But The Girl
Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley: Quickstep to Happy Days by Pratt and McClain
Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu: Charleston to I Can’t Do It Alone by Catherine Zeta-Jones
John Nellis and Katya Jones: Jive to Pump It by Black Eyed Peas
Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola: Foxtrot to Have You Met Miss Jones? by Robbie Williams
Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita: Viennese Waltz to I’m with You by Avril Lavigne
Will Best and Dianne Buswell: Paso Doble to Smalltown Boy by Bronski Beat
Read more: Jaime Winstone warned by Strictly doctors not to do lifts
Why Kai Widdrington isn’t dancing this week
The BBC confirmed the change on Friday. It said: “Due to illness, Kai is unable to dance on Saturday night’s show. Instead, Aljaž will step in to dance the Argentine Tango with Delta.”
It added: “We’re sending Kai all our love and hope he feels better very soon.”
It’s not the first time Delta has had to adapt this series. She missed Icons Week in October with a rib injury, before returning the following weekend.
Strictly’s romantasy pro dance on Sunday
Sunday’s results show features a romantasy-inspired group routine from the professional dancers.
It begins at a bus stop, where Vito Coppola is reading a novel, before he is pulled into the book’s magical world of faeries. There he meets Carlos Gu, who plays the story’s hero, and the pair dance together through the enchanted setting.
Actor Alan Cumming narrates the opening of the routine.
The results show also features music from The Celebrity Traitors winner Bash Croft, joined by some of the Strictly professionals.
Who left Strictly last week?
Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu were the latest couple to leave, after their third dance-off.
They faced Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby on Sunday (November 8). The judges were split two-two, and head judge Shirley Ballas used her casting vote to save Cach and Maddie.
Bethany had scored 30 for her Foxtrot on Saturday, putting her joint fourth on the leaderboard.
When is Strictly in Blackpool?
The couples are now just one week away from the show’s annual trip to Blackpool Tower Ballroom, which takes place on Saturday, November 21.
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday, November 14, at 6.25pm on BBC One and iPlayer. The results show airs on Sunday, November 15, at 7.15pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI technology to synthesise source reporting and structured data. It has been reviewed, edited, and fact-checked by our human editorial team before publication.
