First-look photos of Strictly Come Dancing 2023 show a spectacular kickoff to Saturday’s show like never seen before.
Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood, and Motsi Mabuse are seen hitting the ballroom floor as they join the Strictly pro dancers for a colourful, sparkly and over-the-top knees-up for the 2023 launch show’s opening dance number.
“The audience is in for a real treat, my dance shoes are back out and it feels amazing,” says head judge Shirley, who donned a glamorous black gown for the routine.
Anton, who has been a part of Strictly since its inception in 2004, added: “It’s an amazingly brilliant number. I’m really delighted that we’re doing something and my fellow judges are on great form as well.”
The normally stoic Revel Horwood was also uncharacteristically excited about this year’s opening: “I’m doing an assisted backward walk-over darling, which I’ve never done before, it’s when you drop into two boys’ arms, flip over and land hopefully on your feet, so that’ll be good fun.”
Meanwhile, Motsi added: “You think you’ve retired and you’re never going to dance again and you’ve done it all, but then Strictly calls and then the shoes are back on.”
The Strictly Come Dancing 2023 launch show airs from 6.35pm on Saturday, September 16, on BBC One and iPlayer.