Strictly Come Dancing is back – and reigning champions Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell are ready to welcome fans with their BAFTA-winning waltz in the launch show.

Chris, 48, and Dianne, 36, moved the nation to tears last year with their performance to You’ll Never Walk Alone. Now they’re gearing up to do it all over again during this year’s Strictly opening show.

The episode is set to air this weekend on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. It will see this year’s new crop of 15 celebrities meeting their professional partners for the first time.

Strictly viewers can also look forward to group routines from the professional dancers and the first group number featuring all the new contestants. There will also be a performance from pop star Jessie J, alongside other surprises.

Chris and Dianne’s Strictly Come Dancing triumph

Chris made history last year as Strictly’s first-ever blind contestant. He was partnered with Dianne, and the duo battled through Tangos, Foxtrots and Sambas to reach the grand final.

They performed three different routines in the Strictly Live Final, including an unforgettable waltz to You’ll Never Walk Alone. The dance struck such a chord with the audience that it went on to win the television BAFTA award for Memorable Moment.

Chris had spoken about his Strictly journey after scoring his first 40 for the waltz, saying: “I thought this show would be, if you did well, it would be entertaining and people would smile. I didn’t realise it could be emotional, I didn’t realise it could move people and connect with people like this. [You’ll Never Walk Alone] is an emotional song but it’s really hit me because it’s the last time I get to dance with this beautiful person [Dianne].”

Luckily for them, we now know it wasn’t the last time they will ever perform it!

Since winning the BBC show, Chris and Dianne have gone on to launch a podcast together, called Winning Isn’t Everything. This week, Dianne announced she is expecting her first child with partner Joe Sugg. The Australian dancer got together with influencer Joe after he appeared on the 2018 series of Strictly.

Who was in the 2o24 Strictly final?

Chris and Dianne lifted the Glitterball Trophy after beating tough competition from three other finalists. They were up against JLS star JB Gill and his pro Lauren Oakley. They wowed audiences with a Viennese Waltz and high-energy Show Dance.

They also beat Love Island star Tasha Ghouri and pro dancer Aljaž Škorjanec. Their emotional American Smooth brought the judges to tears. On top of that they surpassed Miranda actress Sarah Hadland and pro Vito Coppola. They scored 39/40 for their dazzling American Smooth, despite a costume hiccup. Poor Vito’s trousers came undone mid-routine!

Chris and Dianne actually did not top the judges’ leaderboard, but triumphed as a result of the public vote. Disability charity Sense hailed this result as a landmark moment for representation. Charity bosses said Chris’s win showed “given opportunities and support, disabled people can break down barriers”.

Who is competing on Strictly Come Dancing this year?

While Chris and Dianne are returning for their victory dance, the spotlight will soon turn to this year’s 15 new celebrity contestants. BBC bosses have revealed the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 line-up. There are a mix of actors, athletes and big personalities preparing to hit the dance floor this year.

Confirmed contestants include actor Alex Kingston, former footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, TV personality Dani Dyer, Olympian Harry Aikines-Aryeetey – aka Gladiators’ Nitro, model Ellie Goldstein, rugby captain Chris Robshaw, performer La Voix, and Neighbours actor Stefan Dennis.

Game of Thrones star Kristian Nairn originally joined the cast, but he has since withdrawn due to medical reasons. He has been replaced by Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope. As always, the celebrities will each be paired with a professional dancer during the launch show.

When does Strictly Come Dancing start?

The new series of Strictly Come Dancing kicks off with its launch show this Saturday at 6.40pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The show will run until 8.30pm.

Strictly Come Dancing will then return the following weekend as the competition kicks off. There will be a live show each Saturday and a Results show every Sunday in the lead up to Christmas. The Live Final will air in December.

Read more: Strictly Come Dancing 2025: Lewis Cope confirmed for line-up after Kristian Nairn quits

Strictly Come Dancing returns this Saturday at 6:40pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.