BBC Strictly Come Dancing launch postponed following Queen's death with new date announced

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

The launch of this year's Strictly Come Dancing has been postponed following the Queen's death. The start of the 2022 edition of the BBC One dance contest was hanging in the balance as it was due to air this coming Saturday (September 17), just two days before Queen Elizabeth II's funeral.

Buckingham Palace confirmed last Thursday (September 8) that the late monarch died peacefully at Balmoral aged 96. Her journey back to London began on Saturday and continues today, Tuesday, when her coffin will leave Edinburgh and be flown to RAF Northolt and then taken to Buckingham Palace.

Since the news of the Queen's ill health broke hours before her death was announced at around 6.30pm last Thursday, the likes of BBC, ITV and Channel 4 have made significant changes to their TV schedules to make way for rolling news coverage and special programming. READ MORE: BBC EastEnders fans praise soap for 'touching' tribute to Queen as they add last-minute scene And it has now been announced that Strictly Come Dancing will launch at a later date.

As mentioned, BBC One's flagship was initially scheduled to return on Saturday, September 17 with the likes of Kym Marsh, Will Mellor, and Matt Goss among the celebrities taking part.