The pair returned to the dancefloor to perform their Bafta TV award-winning waltz to You’ll Never Walk Alone.
Among all the glitz and glamour, viewers were also treated to group dances featuring the professional dancers and celebrities, who took to the dance floor for the first time alongside the judges.
Top 5 most iconic Strictly performances
The first episode also included an exclusive performance from Jessie J, who rocked a red suit.
But at long last, fans finally found out who the Strictly 2025 pairings are, as the battle for the iconic glitterball trophy begins properly next week.
Who are the Strictly Come Dancing pairings for 2025? Full list
The Strictly couples revealed for this year are as follows:
- Lewis Cope and Katya Jones
- La Voix and Aljaž Škorjanec
- Karen Carney and Carlos Gu
- Ross King and Jowita Przystal
- Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe
- Vicky Pattison and Kai Widdrington
- Stefan Dennis and Dianne Buswell
- Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin
- Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Bychkova
- Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Karen Hauer
- Thomas Skinner and Amy Dowden
- George Clarke and Alexis Warr
- Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon
- Ellie Goldstein and Vito Coppola
- Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Lauren Oakley
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Strictly pros Nancy Xu, Luba Mushtuk, Michelle Tsiakkas and Gorka Marquez will miss out on a celebrity partner this year but will remain in the group numbers throughout the series.
Who will you be rooting for each week? Let us know in the comments below.
Strictly Come Dancing returns next Saturday on BBC One and iPlayer from 6.55pm.
