The 24th series of Strictly Come Dancing launched its highly anticipated first live show in London, bringing fifteen new celebrity and professional pairings to the ballroom floor. Fans across the nation tuned in to witness the start of the glittering television competition, eager to see how the fresh roster of famous faces would handle the rigorous demands of professional choreography.
- Introduction to the Strictly Come Dancing 24th Series Opener
- Opening Night Pressure and the Samba Routine
- Tackling the Toughest Slot on the Launch Night
- The Energy of Rock DJ
- Judges Evaluation and Week One Scoring
- Panel Breakdown and the Baseline Score
- Understanding the Cumulative Scoring System
- A New Era for the Strictly Ballroom
- Hosting Shake-Up for the 2026 Series
- New Dynamics in the Clauditorium
- Will Best and Dianne Buswell: Chemistry and Training Insights
- Rehearsal Rigor and Professional Guidance
- Translating Live Television Experience
- Fan Reactions and Social Media Reception
- Digital Engagement and Trending Hashtags
- What Comes Next in the Competition
- Preparing for the First Public Vote
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Did Will Best face elimination on the first live show of Strictly Come Dancing?
- What dance did Will Best and Dianne Buswell perform?
- Who hosts the current series of Strictly Come Dancing?
- How do the scores work for the first two weeks?
Broadcaster and television host Will Best immediately drew significant attention from viewers and critics alike during the premiere. Partnered with professional dancer Dianne Buswell, Will stepped into the spotlight to open the entire competition series with an energetic routine that set a high benchmark for the rest of the evening.
Introduction to the Strictly Come Dancing 24th Series Opener
Opening the launch show of Strictly Come Dancing is a notoriously difficult assignment for any novice competitor. Will Best and Dianne Buswell accepted this challenge head on by taking to the dancefloor first, facing millions of viewers without the benefit of seeing how other couples performed.
Taking the first slot requires immense mental fortitude and physical stamina. Will and Dianne used the pressure to their advantage, delivering a performance that commanded immediate attention and signaled that the 24th series intended to push boundaries right from the start.
Opening Night Pressure and the Samba Routine
Tackling the Toughest Slot on the Launch Night
Stepping out first means setting the standard for the entire evening of entertainment. The opening slot offers no warm up period for the audience at home, placing immense pressure on the celebrity to energize the room instantly.
Will Best and professional partner Dianne Buswell took this daunting task in stride. Their willingness to open the show demonstrated confidence, allowing them to establish an electric atmosphere in the studio right out of the gate.
The Energy of Rock DJ
The pair performed a high-tempo samba set to the rhythm of Robbie Williams’ hit track Rock DJ. This song choice demanded fast footwork, rapid hip action, and continuous coordination to keep pace with the driving beat.
The routine featured complex choreography that pushed Will’s physical limits. Despite the inherent difficulty of the samba, which is widely considered one of the hardest Latin dances for beginners, his vibrant stage presence kept the audience fully engaged.
Judges Evaluation and Week One Scoring
Panel Breakdown and the Baseline Score
Judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke closely evaluated every single step of the routine. The panel offered constructive feedback, praising Will for his natural showmanship while pointing out areas for technical refinement.
The judging panel awarded the couple a respectable opening score of 18 points. This score established a solid numerical baseline, rewarding the immense effort required to tackle such a demanding routine in week one.
Understanding the Cumulative Scoring System
Strictly Come Dancing structures its opening live show specifically to allow contestants room to breathe while judges establish scoring baselines. The absence of an elimination in the first week removes immediate pressure from the nervous celebrities.
However, the cumulative scoring system means every single point matters. Scores recorded during the opening night carry forward to the following week, combining with future scores and public votes to determine the eventual fate of the couples.
| Contestant Pair | Dance Style | Song Choice | Judges Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will Best & Dianne Buswell | Samba | Rock DJ by Robbie Williams | 18 |
| Remaining 14 Couples | Various | Various | Recorded for Cumulative Totals |
A New Era for the Strictly Ballroom
Hosting Shake-Up for the 2026 Series
The current series introduces massive structural changes alongside the celebrity lineup. Longtime hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepped down from their roles at the conclusion of the previous season, marking the end of an iconic era.
The hosting duties now rest in the hands of a dynamic new trio: Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and former professional dancer Johannes Radebe. This refreshed presenting team brings a different flavor to the weekend broadcasts.
New Dynamics in the Clauditorium
The transition behind the microphones changes how the backstage segments operate. Johannes Radebe brings insider dance knowledge to his conversations with nervous contestants in the Clauditorium, offering empathetic insights that only a former professional can provide.
Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe balance the broadcast with sharp comedic timing and warm reassurance. Their chemistry injects fresh energy into the presenter-contestant interactions, modernizing the flow of the legendary weekend show.
Will Best and Dianne Buswell: Chemistry and Training Insights
Rehearsal Rigor and Professional Guidance
Dance partnerships often dictate how far a celebrity advances in the competition. Dianne Buswell brings years of professional experience, creative choreography, and immense patience to the partnership, guiding Will through challenging routines.
Training clips released ahead of the live show highlighted Will’s rigorous rehearsal schedule. Despite admitting to initial nerves about his dancing abilities, he committed fully to the grueling practice hours required to master professional ballroom techniques.
Translating Live Television Experience
Will channels his fifteen years of live television experience into maintaining composure under bright studio lights. While physical coordination takes time to develop, his comfort in front of massive audiences prevents stage fright from overwhelming his performance.
This broadcasting background allows him to connect naturally with the camera during fast-paced routines. Viewers appreciate the authentic enthusiasm he brings to the dancefloor every single week.
Fan Reactions and Social Media Reception
Digital Engagement and Trending Hashtags
Digital engagement for the new series reached record levels following the live premiere. Fans flooded social media platforms with positive comments regarding Will’s performance value, infectious energy, and enthusiastic attitude.
Hashtags dedicated to the partnership trended nationally within hours of the broadcast concluding. Viewers particularly noted how natural Will appeared on stage, proving that his extensive background in live broadcasting translates smoothly to high stakes entertainment television.
What Comes Next in the Competition
Preparing for the First Public Vote
With opening week scores safely locked in, all fifteen couples return to the rehearsal studios immediately. The friendly grace period of week one comes to an end as contestants face the reality of audience expectations.
Week two introduces the public vote for the first time in the current series. Judges’ scores from the opening night combine with viewer telephone and online votes to determine the bottom two couples who must fight for survival in the first dance-off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Will Best face elimination on the first live show of Strictly Come Dancing?
No. The opening week of the 24th series features no public vote and no elimination. Judges provide scores that carry over to the second week to establish a baseline.
What dance did Will Best and Dianne Buswell perform?
The pair performed an energetic samba routine set to Robbie Williams’ hit song Rock DJ, earning a respectable total of 18 points from the judging panel.
Who hosts the current series of Strictly Come Dancing?
Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe host the current series, taking over from former hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
How do the scores work for the first two weeks?
Judges score performances during the first week without any public elimination. Those scores combine directly with the scores and public votes from week two to determine who faces the very first dance-off of the season.
