STRICTLY Come Dancing is well and truly back as the 24th series kicks off “proper” with its first live show.
All 15 celebrity couples are taking to the famous ballroom this weekend, showcasing their inaugural routines live to millions of viewers.
With a fresh presenting lineup featuring Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe alongside five new pro dancers, excitement is high.
But as fans settle in for sparkles and ballroom drama, many are asking whether they need to clear their Sunday evening schedules for the usual results show.
Is there a Strictly results show this week?
No, there is no Sunday results show or celebrity elimination during Week 1.
Sunday evening’s TV schedule will feature regular BBC programming instead of a ballroom eviction.
Viewers will have to wait a little longer for the first tense dance-off and emotional first exit of the series.
Why is there no elimination on opening weekend?
The absence of a Sunday results show on opening weekend is a deliberate choice by BBC producers.
It gives all 15 celebrity contestants a grace period.
Learning complex choreography and performing it live is a daunting task.
To ensure a level playing field, producers give every star a guaranteed two weeks on the dance floor before elimination kicks in.
This allows contestants to settle their nerves and showcase two contrasting dance styles before the public gets a say.
How do the Week 1 scores work?
Although no celebrity faces eviction this Sunday, the judges’ paddles still play an important part.
Panellists Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke will score each routine out of 10 as usual during Saturday night’s broadcast.
No public phone or online voting lines will open after the show, but every mark awarded on opening night is banked and carried into Week 2.
When is the first Strictly elimination?
The real battle for the Glitterball trophy begins next weekend.
On Saturday, October 3, all 15 couples will return for their second live routines.
Once all performances have taken place, the voting lines will be open for the first time in Series 24.
Viewer votes will be combined with the judges’ scores from Week 1 and Week 2 to establish the leaderboard.
The series’ first Sunday results show airs on Sunday, October 4, where the two lowest-ranked couples will battle in the dance-off before the first star is sent home.