Strictly's shake-up in action: Insiders reveal how massive format changes, a 'free flowing' presenting format and one emotional host affected filming of the BBC show's launch episode

Strictly kick-started its much-talked about 2026 series with an emotional night on Wednesday as the three new hosts joined 15 celebs to film the launch show episode.

As is tradition for the BBC show, the first episode of Strictly, which sees the celeb contestants meet their dance partners for the first time, was pre recorded and will air on Saturday September 19.

This year the show has come under fire for what many fans have called an underwhelming lineup, coinciding with the departure of hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman after two decades.

On Wednesday night new presenting trio Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe stepped onto the Elstree studios dance floor, with insiders revealing it was a highly-charged, emotional evening.

The Daily Mail has been told that Johannes, who has moved away from being a pro dancer on the show to beat the likes of Zoe Ball and Sara Cox to a spot on the presenting trio, was teary-eyed at one point during the recording.

The fan favourite dancer was full of emotion as Emma held his hand and he told the audience how he had spent 'eight years in this ballroom' and was honoured to take on the new challenge. 

The show recording got underway at 5pm, with audience members in for a long night watching the hosts perfect their takes.

Emma, Johannes and Josh revealed earlier this week that they still don't have clear guidance yet on how the presenting format will work and it seems the debut episode was a training ground for different formats.

Instead of Tess guiding the celebs through judges' feedback and Claudia conducting the post-dance debriefs upstairs in the 'Clauditorium', the new format is much more free flowing.

Insiders have revealed that during the launch episode the trio moved between different presenting roles. 'At one point the three of them were upstairs on the sofa with the judges, at another point Johannes was introducing the judges solo and other times it was just two of them at a time,' the insider has revealed. 

Whilst there have been reports of the presenters 'fluffing their lines' an insider has told the Daily Mail that 'inevitably there was the odd retake as everyone got to grips with the format, but the hosts showed little sign of nerves.'

'After half an hour you forgot they were the new Strictly presenters and just saw them as Strictly presenters.' 

The hosts were also required to hit the dancefloor during the recording, filming a huge group number to air later in the series, involving the judges too. 

In another big change, the celeb contestants were split into groups of five to take part in three 'pairing' dances during the launch, instead of the traditional all-cast number at the end.

The new format takes on a loose musical chairs format where groups of celebs dance opposite the pros before landing face to face with their partner. 

'You got the shock and surprise of the pairings but with more dancing,' the insider revealed. 

The additional dances means the finished launch show clocks in at a longer 110 minutes in length and recording didn't finish until 11pm.

Viewers will have to wait until Saturday night to see how the Strictly shakeup plays out when the launch show airs at 7:25pm on BBC One.