Strictly Come Dancing return date announced - as show bursts back on BBC after summer of scandal
ok.co.ukStrictly Come Dancing will burst back onto our screens on BBC One next month - and fans are already able to buy tickets to see the stars in action.
Audiences are already being booked for the first live show on Saturday September 21 as Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman introduce a host of new celebrity couples to the dance floor.Tickets to see Strictly are among the hardest to secure in TV, but dates are now available for September, 21 and 28, October, 5, 12, 19, 26, November, 2, 9, 23, 30 and December 7 and 14.The shows are all filmed at the BBC's Elstree base in Hertfordshire except for the the Blackpool show - which takes place in the BBC dance hit's later stages.Tickets for that are available for Saturday November 16.
Bosses on the show will hope the return of the action will take a spotlight away from issues that have dogged the show amid a long-running investigation into alleged mistreatment of celebrity contestants.The BBC had spent a solid three months probing into allegations of rehearsal room bullying, sparked by a complaint against professional dancer Giovanni Pernice, who has denied any wrongdoing.
Despite the lengthy investigation, the report's conclusions are still being kept under wraps. Following the controversy, which included complaints from actress Amanda Abbington, who was partnered with Giovanni, the BBC has implemented tougher safeguards for its stars including a chaperone who is present "at all times" in the training rooms.This year's stars include comedian Chris McCausland, singers JB Gill, Wynne Evans and Toyah Willcox, and TV doctor Punam Krishan.They are joined by Love Island's Tasha Ghouri, Towie's Pete Wicks and actors Shayne Ward and Sarah Hadland.
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