Strictly Come Dancing launch date confirmed and it’s just days away

STRICTLY Come Dancing has finally revealed the launch date of this year's show.

Softening the blow of summer drawing to a close, fans only have days to wait until a new gaggle of famous faces take to the BBC dance floor.

Strictly Come Dancing 2024 launch show will air on Saturday 14th September at 19:20 on BBC One & BBC iPlayer.

The first live show will take place on 21st September.

Next Saturday will be when the pro dancers are partnered up with the celebrity contestants.

And fans of the show are already able to apply for tickets.

Strictly fanatics can get their hands on tickets for show dates at Elstree Studios including September 21st and 28th, October 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th, November 2nd, 9th, 23rd, and 30th and December 7th and 14th.

Tickets for the iconic Blackpool show are available for Saturday, November 16th.

They will be allocated via a random draw, and the process states that it is the named ticket holder that should apply.

This year's celebrities include GK Barry, Jamie Borthwick, Nick Knowles, Pete Wicks, Tom Dean, Paul Merson, Toyah Willcox, Tasha Ghouri, Sam Quek, Shayne Ward, JB Gill, Wynne Evans, Dr Punam Krishan, Montell Douglas, Sarah Hadland and Chris McCausland have all been listed for this year.

Strictly has been at the centre of several scandals, resulting in two professional dancers leaving the show.

Graziano Di Prima was axed from the show following claims he claims he hit, spat at and kicked Zara McDermott.

The 30-year-old dancer believes he has a case for unfair dismissal.

He was axed over his behaviour towards celebrity partner Zara McDermott.

Giovanni Pernice left the show to "focus on his other TV projects", shortly after he was accused of bullying former partner Amanda Abbington.

She branded him "disastrously unworkable" and said he had a "mean" attitude.

The Sherlock actress also said that she suffered from PTSD after her time on the show.

Giovanni has strenuously denied the claims and has vowed to clear his name.

The BBC have spent over £100,000 while they investigate their claims, hiring two former Met Police officers to spearhead it.

The outcome of the investigation, which has been rumbling on for nearly five months, has been delayed after new evidence came to light.

As a result, other TV shows have been reluctant to offer the Italian dancer big money deals in case he's found guilty - and could have potentially lost him up to £350,000 in missed TV opportunities.