Tess Daly has given fans a first look at the return of Strictly Come Dancing. Fans are currently waiting for the much-anticipated return of the BBC One dance contest which will burst back onto screens with the launch show next Saturday, September 17.
However, filming for the launch gets underway today (Wednesday, September 7) and rehearsals for the debut show began on Tuesday with the professional dancers, celebrities, judges and hosts all together for the very first time.
Taking to Instagram, Tess shared a snap of herself alongside head judge Shirley Ballas who was celebrating her 62nd birthday. The pair wore matching black outfits and looked glam under the ballroom lights. "SO happy to be back in the ballroom and a huge happy birthday to this gorgeous one @shirleyballas," the presenter penned alongside her snap.
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She also shared a picture of her dressing room door. A sign reading 'TESS' was hung on it in a pink glittered frame as you'd come to expect from Strictly Come Dancing. And fans were quick to share their excitement.
@noahsarkfamily said: "Oh my goodness this means we are on the road to Christmas! Favourite show! Cannot wait!" @eddo_official wrote: "OMG I am SO EXCITED!!!" @sharman8123 commented: "So so excited. The ray of sunshine we need xxx 2 beauties."
@amanuel_desta said: "Beautiful picture! So excited! Ahhh." @strictly_fan22 replied: "So so excited!!!" @tracy.jacklin added: "I can not wait for it to start Tess, so excited."
Shirley also took to Instagram to see some behind-the-scenes videos and images as she teased how the judges will be involved in the first show with the birthday girl showing she had her speaking dancing shoes on. Standing next to her dressing room door, the show's head judge spoke to the camera as she took her followers inside.
Alongside the video she penned: "Hello I’m here back at Strictly, ready for my rehearsal, just saw @mrantondubeke oh yes cuddles galore for my 62 nd birthday excited to spend it with my @bbcstrictly family. We have soooo much in store for you all." She then asked: "What do you think of the cast?"
She then went on: "I'm really excited can’t contain myself lol They are all going to be FAB U LOUS I’ll be keeping you all posted. Thank you to all who sent cards flowers messages it made my day." Shirley also shared a video of the surprise she received between rehearsing and filming.
Shirley could be seen in the Strictly ballroom as the cast and crew sang 'Happy Birthday' before presenting her with a cake by reigning champion Giovanni Pernice. " Birthday with my Dance family @bbcstrictly," she captioned the joyous video. "@giovannipernice thank you for my cake. Beautiful day dancing today. Yeeeee tune in to out Launch @bbcstrictly wonderful birthday."
Over the weekend, Tess' husband Vernon said that his wife will keep dancing until she’s well into her eighties — just like late Strictly legend Bruce Forsyth who hosted the show with her until he was 86. Asked by The Sun if Tess, 53, will stick around as long as Bruce, he laughs: “Yes I think so."
Tess, who has hosted the show since the very start in 2004, will be back at the helm of the show later this month alongside Claudia Winkleman. And Tess really does take her job on Strictly seriously as Vernon, 48, revealed how she preps for the each new series at home. "Tess studies. She does all her homework on the contestants," the presenter said of his wife of 19 years. "We’ve got biogs dotted around the kitchen at the moment, which is great."
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