Strictly 2022 new launch date announced following Queen Elizabeth II's passing

14 September 2022, 11:17

The BBC has confirmed that the launch of the celebrity dancing competition has been held back due to the death of Britain's longest-serving. monarch.

The Strictly Come Dancing launch has been held off due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

The star-studded BBC latin and ballroom competition - hosted by Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly - will be pushed back to
next week due to the 96-year-old monarch being laid to rest on Monday 19th September.

The BBC has now confirmed that, the first show of the season will air on Friday 23rd September, with the first live show to take place the following day on Saturday 24th.

READ MORE - Strictly 2022 line-up: When does Strictly start and who's in the cast this year?

The show will see celeb contestants from across the world of sport and entertainment, such as comic Ellie Taylor, Bros star Matt Goss, television presenter Helen Skelton and football legend Tony Adams - compete to win the glitterball trophy.

Will Mellor, who is best known for starring in Hollyoaks and Hollyoaks and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps was one of the first celebrities to be announced for the show, and his reasons for joining were heartbreaking.

Revealing what made him finally agree to go on the show, he told BBC Breakfast: "I lost my Dad in 2020 and I just thought, from then I've just got to grab life and create new memories and my mindset changed and that's one of the reasons why."

He added: "It's my mum's favourite show and she's had it really tough the last few years and I thought we'll do this."

Asked if he told her about the top secret news, he replied: "Do you know what? Because she's had such a tough time of it, I wanted to give her something to look forward to. You know, losing my Dad..."

"She lost my Dad, her brother, her brother in law and her sister in a year," he explained. "In 2020 through COVID and stuff. It just was a really tough time for the family, so [it's] something we can do together. Get on this Strictly train together..."

READ MORE - Bill Bailey reveals Strictly anticlimax: They took the trophy back and put it in a bin bag

Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice were the winners of the 19th series of Strictly Come Dancing. The EastEnders actress was not only the first deaf person to lift the iconic glitterball trophy, but she was also the first disabled contestant overall to win the prize.

Rose and Giovanni's dance to Clean Bandit's Symphony, where the pair danced in total silence for 10 seconds, went on to win a TV BAFTA for Must-See Moment of the year.