Strictly Come Dancing tonight: First look at week 1 live show, what to expect and what time it is on
Natasha Rigler | 12:01am Sat 27 SepStrictly Come Dancing’s first live show will kick off tonight with all four judges performing a brand new routine involving sequins, ballgowns – and some interesting wigs!
Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood will be joined in the ballroom by this year’s team of professional dancers.
The fun routine has been pre-recorded and will air moments before the Strictly 2025 cameras go live. Here’s what to expect from Strictly Come Dancing’s Week 1 live show, including what time it starts.
Anton Du Beke and his fellow Strictly Come Dancing judges will perform in the first group dance tonight [Credit: BBC]
Strictly Come Dancing: Through the decades
Shirley, Anton, Motsi and Craig will open tonight’s Strictly Come Dancing with a celebratory dance. The theme for the routine is ‘dancing through the decades’. Three of the judges are each taking on a different era – and Craig is the ‘compere’.
Anton will kick things off and will be dancing in the 1970s. Shirley will then take over, shimming into the 1980s. Motsi will be gliding across the dance floor in the 1990s and through into the new Millennium.
Craig, meanwhile, will be hosting all the performances from start to finish. This means he has to quick-change into four different costumes!
Sneak peak photos of tonight’s Strictly Come Dancing show Craig in one of those outfits. He is wearing a salmon-colour suit with black velvet trim and matching bowtie. Craig’s costume has been topped off with glasses and a very voluminous dark brown wig.
Anton can be seen waltzing around the ballroom in a black tuxedo, white shirt and bowtie. The former Strictly pro is also sporting a fine wig with impressive sideburns.
Shirley is celebrating the 1980s in a short black dress with sheer long sleeves. One picture shows Shirley dancing with Vito Copola. In the background, Craig can be spotted in his 1980s compere costume – and he could be mistaken for TV host, Noel Edmonds!
Lastly, Motsi will take viewers into the new century with a powerful routine. Dancing with Johannes Radebe, Motsi is wearing a long black asymetrical dress with silver detailing and matching ballroom shoes.
Shirley Ballas takes on the 1980s in the dance [Credit: BBC]
Who is the new celebrity on Strictly?
Tonight’s show will see Amber Davies join this year’s Strictly celebrity line-up. The West End star and former Love Islander has been drafted in at the last minute to replace Dani Dyer.
Fellow Love Island alumni Dani quit Strictly Come Dancing earlier this week. She fell during training and has fractured her ankle. Dani has said she is “heartbroken”, although head judge Shirley has hinted that she could return for Strictly 2026.
Amber’s announcement came less than 48 hours before the first live show, which she described as ‘crazy’. The hopeful said: “This has been the craziest 24 hours of my life.
“I’ve watched Strictly with my family since I was younger and to now be part of the show is a dream come true. I’m going to give it my all and I am sending Dani well wishes for a speedy recovery. I hope I do her proud.”
Amber won the 2017 series of Love Island with Kem Cetinay. They split four months later. She has since forged a successful theatre career.
Amber has starred in Pretty Woman, 9 to 5: The Musical and The Great Gatsby in London’s West End. She’s also appeared in the stage production of Back to the Future: The Musical. Next year, Amber will be hitting the road with the UK tour of Legally Blonde: The Musical. She has been cast as lead character, Elle Woods.
What time is Strictly on tonight?
Strictly Come Dancing will air at 6.55pm tonight (Saturday September 27, 2025). Viewers can tune in on both BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
It’s going to be a bumper one, so strap in! Not only will Amber Davies be making her debut, the other 14 celebrities will be performing with their pro partners for the first time. This means the show will run for 2hrs and 30mins!
Unfortunately, there will be no public vote tonight or Results show elimination tomorrow.
The judges will give their scores for each performance and they will be carried over to Week 2. Once all 15 have performed again, the vote will then be open to viewers. The public result will be added to the judges’ Week 1 and Week 2 scores. The two lowest scoring pairs will have to perform in the first dance off of 2025 in a bid to avoid elimination.
