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Strictly Come Dancing 2022 - Everything you need to know

As Strictly returns for another fab-u-lous run, here's your ultimate guide to the contestants, pros, judges and glitz and glamour of series 20

Saturday nights are even more fab-u-lous thanks to the 20th series of the multi-award-winning Strictly Come Dancing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, once again bringing glitter, glamour and glorious dancing to homes across the nation.

Hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman welcome our celebrity contestants to the ballroom, where the judges are watching their every move.

Here's everything you need to know about Strictly Come Dancing 2022...

Strictly Grand Final

When is Strictly Come Dancing on next?

After 12 weeks of competition, we have our finalists and one of them will lift the Glitterball Trophy on Saturday 17 December on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 7.05pm.

Join Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman as our remaining couples perform 3 incredible routines in a bid to be your Strictly Champion. Florence and the Machine will be performing and the cast of 2022 will return for one more epic routine. In the Final, the Judges scores are for guidance only, the winner lies entirely in your hands. Who will you crown Strictly Come Dancing Champions 2022?

What will the Strictly Grand Final dances be?

Fleur & Vito will be dancing...

• Judges’ Pick: Samba to Hot Hot Hot by Arrow
• Favourite Dance: Couple's Choice to Destiny’s Child Megamix by Destiny’s Child
• Show Dance: Find Me by Sigma featuring Birdy

Helen & Gorka will be dancing...

• Judges’ Pick: Jive to Tightrope by Janelle Monáe
• Favourite Dance: Couple's Choice to Mein Herr by Liza Minnelli (from Cabaret)
• Show Dance: Shine by Emeli Sandé

Molly & Carlos will be dancing...

• Judges’ Pick: Quickstep to Love On Top by Beyoncé
• Favourite Dance: Rumba to All The Man That I Need by Whitney Houston
• Show Dance: Kiss/1999 by Prince

Hamza & Jowita will be dancing...

• Judges’ Pick: Salsa to Ecuador by Sash! featuring Rodriguez
• Favourite Dance: Couple's Choice to Jerusalema - Remix by Master KG featuring Burna Boy and Nomcebo Zikode
• Show Dance: Let’s Face The Music And Dance by Irving Berlin

Meet The Strictly 2022 Celebrity Contestants

Waltzing onto our screens this year are Ellie Simmonds, Ellie Taylor, Fleur East, Hamza Yassin, Helen Skelton, James Bye, Jayde Adams, Kaye Adams, Kym Marsh, Matt Goss, Molly Rainford, Richie Anderson, Tony Adams, Tyler West and Will Mellor.

• Find out more:   Strictly Come Dancing 2022 celebrity contestants talk first dances, fake tan and facing off for Glitterball glory

Meet the Strictly 2022 professional dancers

Four world-class new professional dancers are stepping into the Strictly ballroom this year. They are: European cup winner Vito Coppola, Chinese National Champion Carlos Gu, former Under 21 British National Champion Lauren Oakley and Latin dance champion Michelle Tsiakkas.

• Read more:   Meet Strictly Come Dancing's new professional dancers

They join the dazzling Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Graziano Di Prima, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Cameron Lombard, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Giovanni Pernice, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Kai Widdrington and Nancy Xu.

Meet The Strictly Couples

The Strictly Come Dancing 2022 couples are...

• Ellie Simmonds and Nikita Kuzmin
• Tyler West and Dianne Buswell
• Kym Marsh and Graziano di Prima

• Will Mellor  and Nancy Xiu
• Helen Skelton  and Gorka Marquez
• James Bye and Amy Dowden

• Fleur East and Vito Coppola
• Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystał
• Matt Goss and Nadiya Bychkova

• Ellie Taylor and Johannes Radebe
• Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu
• Richie Anderson and Giovanni Pernice

• Jayde Adams and Karen Hauer
• Tony Adams and Katya Jones
• Kaye Adams and Kai Widdrington

Who's top of the Strictly leaderboard?

Will & Nancy and Hamza & Jowita with 34 points each

Molly & Carlos with 34 points and a combined 65 points across weeks 1&2

Week 3 (Movie Week)

Tyler and Dianne with 38 points

Hamza & Jowita with 39 points

Week 5 (BBC 100 Week)

Hamza & Jowita and Helen & Gorka with 35 points each

Week 6 (Halloween Week)

Tyler & Dianne and Ellie T & Johannes with 35 points each

Hamza & Jowita with 38 points

Fleur & Vito with 39 points

Week 9 (Blackpool Week)

Fleur & Vito with 40 points

Will & Nancy with 38 points

Week 11 (Musicals Week)

Will & Nancy and Helen & Gorka with 39 points

Week 12 (Semi-Final)

Hamza & Jowita with 39 points for their Charleston and 37 points for their Waltz

Who's left Strictly Come Dancing?

It's always sad to say goodbye to our fabulous Strictly couples after the dreaded dance off. Here's who's gone home so far:

Kaye Adams and Matt Goss were in the dance off. Kaye went home.

Richie Anderson and Fleur East were in the dance off. Richie went home.

Matt Goss and Kym Marsh were in the dance off. Matt went home.

Jayde Adams and Molly Rainford were in the dance off. Jayde went home.

James Bye and Fleur East were in the dance off. James went home.

Ellie Simmonds and Molly Rainford were in the dance off. Ellie went home.

Tony Adams and Tyler West were due to take part in the dance off but, due to an injury, Tony made the decision to withdraw from Strictly Come Dancing.

Molly Rainford and Tyler West were in the dance off. Tyler went home.

Fleur East and Elle Taylor were in the dance off. Ellie went home.

Kym Marsh and Molly Rainford were in the dance off. Kym went home.

Will Mellor and Fleur East were in the dance off. Will went home.

Meet the Strictly judges

Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Head Judge Shirley Ballas are back in the ballroom for series 20 and they're very excited.

• Learn more:   Find out more about our judges - and their dream dance partners

Theme Weeks & Blackpool

Watch out for a new strictly theme week in 2022.

This year’s series includes viewer favourites, Movie Week, Halloween Week and Musicals Week. Plus, there was a very special new BBC 100 themed week.

Celebrating 100 years of the BBC, the fun-filled new themed episode saw each of the couples take to the Strictly ballroom floor, either dancing to a theme tune from an iconic BBC programme or in tribute to one of the BBC’s most loved services. There were also be two dazzling professional routines, one dedicated to the BBC’s natural history programming and another saw our professional dancers “crashing” some of the BBC’s flagship shows.

And yes - you heard it here first - Strictly Come Dancing will be returning to the famous Blackpool Tower Ballroom for Blackpool Week in 2022.

It Takes Two is back

It Takes Two is back on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer with hosts Janette Manrara and Rylan at the helm once again.

• More info: Rylan and Janette share their favourite Strictly memories and dream dance routines

Listen to the official Strictly podcast

Joe Sugg and Kim Winston return to BBC Sounds to celebrate Strictly Come Dancing’s 20th series and Strictly Come Dancing: The Official Podcast promises to provide even more access-all-areas content than ever before.

Episodes of Strictly Come Dancing: The Official Podcast are released on Sunday evenings following the Strictly results show.

• Listen in:   Listen to Strictly Come Dancing: The Official Podcast on BBC Sounds here

Strictly Come Dancing

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Strictly Come Dancing Live tour - what to expect, tickets latest and full-line up for Manchester AO Arena gigs

Stars of the hit BBC show waltz back to Manchester at the weekend, and it looks like we're in for a treat

• 20:40, 23 JAN 2022
• Updated 15:43, 8 MAR 2022

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After a two year absence, the sequin-festooned spectacle of Strictly Come Dancing Live is back at arenas up and down the country.

Stars of the latest BBC series will be joined by previous show favourites to all once again do ballroom battle in an arena setting - with audiences getting to vote for their favourite at every show on the tour.

And fans of Strictly will get to watch the series 19 winner, EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis and her dance partner Giovanni Pernice, once again compete against runner-up, Great British Bake Off star John Whaite and Johannes Radebe.

READ MORE: Gary Barlow to play intimate hometown gigs in February

The Strictly Live tour kicked off in Birmingham, and heads to Mancheser's AO arena next weekend, January 29-30 for four dazzling shows.

There are matinee and evening performances on both Saturday and Sunday, with tickets still available for most shows.

Here we take a little look at what you can expect on the new tour and who will be aiming to impress for the audience votes.

Who is in the line-up?

Strictly 2021 winners, EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice, will be defending their title on the dancefloor, alongside runners-up Great British Bake Off star John Whaite and Johannes Radebe for the live tour.

They will be joined by show favourites Dragon's Den star Sara Davies and Aljaž Skorjanec and Rhys Stephenson and Nancy Xu.

Reality star Tilly Ramsay will reunite with her dance partner Nikita Kuzmin on the tour, after he missed earlier dates having tested positive for Covid-19.

Returning Strictly stars for this year's tour are The Wanted heart-throb Max George who is teamed with Katya Jones, and EastEnders star Maisie Smith who has stepped in for the injured AJ Odudu to perform with Kai Widdrington.

As well as the couples’ dances, fans will have the chance to see some breathtaking group performances throughout the show.

Professional dancers Nadiya Bychkova, Amy Dowden, Neil Jones, Jake Leigh, Cameron Lombard, Luba Mushtuk and Jowita Przystal will be bringing even more wow to this super-sized dance extravaganza, which features live music from the Strictly singers and band.

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New Look have all the stylish items you need to update your wardrobe. There are many New Look discount codes for you to choose from. Get money off your order with New Look promo codes .

Who are the judges and presenter?

Strictly fans can look forward to something of a reunion on the judging panel for the 2022 tour.

For as well as the BBC show's head judge Shirley Ballas and Craig Revel-Horwood, there will be the return of Bruno Tonioli who was a judge for 17 series of the show until 2020.

There's also the return of another show favourite, professional dancer Janette Manrara, who becomes the new host for the tour.

Janette, who is now host on the BBC's Strictly It Takes Two, heads out on the tour with her husband Aljaz who remains a pro dancer in the show.

How to get tickets

Tickets are still available for the Strictly Come Dancing Live tour priced from £35 - £95 (price bands vary at each venue)

All ticket prices are subject to a booking fee and may be subject to a venue facility fee.

For more information and to book tickets, visit the official tour site here .

What are the remaining tour dates and times?

25-26 January Leeds First Direct Arena

(Tuesday 25th at 7.30pm, Wednesday 26th at 7.30pm)

27-28 January Newcastle Utilita Arena

(Thursday 27th at 7.30pm, Friday 28th at 2.30pm & 7.30pm)

29-30 January Manchester AO Arena

(Saturday 29th at 2.30pm & 7.30pm, Sunday 30th at 1.30pm & 6.30pm)

01-02 February Sheffield Utilita Arena

(Tuesday 1st at 7.30pm, Wednesday 2nd at 7.30pm)

03-04 February Liverpool M&S Bank Arena

(Thursday 3rd at 7.30pm, Friday 4th at 2.30pm & 7.30pm)

05-07 February Glasgow The OVO Hydro

(Saturday 5th at 3.00pm & 8.00pm, Sunday 6th at 1.30pm & 6.30pm, Monday 7th at 7.30pm)

09-10 February Nottingham Motorpoint Arena

(Wednesday 9th at 7.30pm, Thursday 10th at 2.30pm & 7.30pm)

11-13 February London The O2 Arena

(Friday 11th at 7.30pm, Saturday 12th at 2.30pm & 7.30pm, Sunday 13th at 1.30pm & 6.30pm)

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Strictly Come Dancing 2022: next episode, line-up, this week's dances, judges, trailer and more

Strictly Come Dancing 2022 is back this weekend in all of its sparkling glory.

Strictly Come Dancing 2022 is once again injecting some much-needed glitz and glamour into our Saturday and Sunday evenings. 

This year is an exciting time for the TV juggernaut as the series celebrates its 20th anniversary... and now the battle for the coveted Strictly Glitterball trophy is well underway.

Hosts Tess Daly  and  Claudia Winkleman  are back presenting the nation's favorite dancing competition, which saw EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis crowned the winner of Strictly Come Dancing 2021 .

After Rose's historic win, who could we be adding to our Strictly Come Dancing winners list this year?

Here's everything we know about Strictly Come Dancing 2022...

When is the next episode of Strictly Come Dancing 2022?

This week's live show, the semi-final, will air on Sunday, December 11 at 7:15 pm, instead of airing on Saturday night.

Meanwhile, the results show will be broadcast on Monday, December 12 at 8:15 pm, where we will find out who'll be dancing in this year's final.

Both the live show and results show will air on BBC One and episodes will be available on demand via BBC iPlayer.  

The changes in air days are because of the World Cup 2022 .

What are this week's dances on Strictly 2022? 

This week Strictly Come Dancing will be putting on a dancing extravaganza as the show heads into the penultimate episode. 

This week each of the celebrities will also be dancing two dances instead of the usual one. 

Here are the dances they will be doing this week...

• Fleur & Vito — Charleston to Tu Vuo’ Fa L’Americano by Fiorello and a Paso Doble to The Time Is Now by Moloko
• Helen & Gorka — Argentine Tango to Here Comes The Rain Again by Eurythmics and a Waltz to Only One Road by Céline Dion
• Molly & Carlos — Paso Doble to Survivor by 2WEI ft Edda Hayes and an American Smooth to Easy On Me by Adele
• Hamza & Jowita — Charleston to Pencil Full Of Lead by Paolo Nutini and a Waltz to What The World Needs Now by Burt Bacharach
• Will & Nancy — Couple’s Choice to Know How / Fools Gold / Step On Young MC / The Stone Roses / Happy Mondays and a Paso Doble to Uccen – DWTS Remix by Taalbi Brothers, DWTS

Strictly Come Dancing 2022 official line-up

Here is the full celebrity line-up taking part in Strictly 2022...

Will Mellor

Will Mellor was the first celebrity announced for this year's competition and is dancing with Nancy Xu and is already showing a lot of promise and scoring very highly with the judges. 

Will has been on our TV screens for 30 years in shows like Hollyoaks , Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, and most recently as Coronation Street 's Harvey Gaskell, but now he's swapping the cobbles for the Strictly ballroom!

Kym Marsh was the second confirmed contestant for the 20th series and she is dancing with Graziano Di Prima. She's well known for playing Michelle Connor in Corrie, but she was also a member of the band Hear'Say and is currently a presenter on Morning Live . 

Kym was the tenth celebrity to leave the show, narrowly missing out on being in the semi finals. 

2022 is looking to be busy for Kym now, as she's also set to appear in Waterloo Road season 11 , which is expected to air later this year!

Kym has already impressed the judges with her footwork, could she go all the way and win the glitterball trophy?

Richie Anderson

Radio and TV presenter Richie Anderson was the third confirmed contestant to take to the Strictly ballroom this year and he is dancing with Giovanni Pernice. Sadly he was the second celebrity to leave the show after finding himself in the dance off against Fleur East. 

Richie will be in another all-male partnership, following in the footsteps of Strictly 2021 runner-up, John Whaite , who was partnered with Johannes Radebe.

The TV star is best known for his role on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show and hosting a wide variety of his own shows. He was in Turin earlier this year to cover the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest for the station. 

Richie also has a regular presenting stint on The One Show and is often seen on BBC One.

TV and radio presenter Kaye Adams was the fourth celebrity revealed to be taking part in the nation's Week  dancing competition and is dancing with Kai Widdrington. 

Sadly Kaye was the first celebrity to be sent home from the competition. 

The broadcaster is best known as an anchor on ITV's Loose Women and for hosting the morning show on BBC Radio Scotland. She has presented numerous programs for a variety of TV channels, including STV, the BBC and Channel 5 and started her popular podcast, How To Be 60 with Kaye Adams this year.

Kaye revealed: “I said I wanted to make the last year of my fifties memorable and I can’t think of a better way of doing it than showing the world my two left feet. Pray for me!”

Jayde Adams

Award-winning comedian, actor and presenter Jayde Adams was the fifth celebrity taking part in the 20th series and she is dancing with Karen Hauer, she became the 4th contestant to leave the show.  

Jayde has won a number of comedy awards, with her Amazon Prime special Serious Black Jumper , being longlisted for an Emmy. She has starred in BBC Two BAFTA winning comedy Alma's Not Normal, the upcoming Take That movie Greatest Days, Good Omens and The Outlaws.

She has also hosted Crazy Delicious, Snackmasters and has a weekly BBC Radio 4 podcast, Welcome to the Neighbourhood. 

Ellie Simmonds

Paralympian Ellie Simmonds was the sixth celebrity announced in this year's series and she is dancing with Nikita Kuzmin, she also became the sixth celebrity to leave the show. 

Ellie is a gold medal-winning Paralympic swimmer, who at the age of 13, was the youngest British athlete at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing.

She has gone on to win an array of gold medals, including the 2012 400m freestyle and the 200m Individual Medley at the Summer Paralympics in London and another in the 200m Individual Medley at Rio in 2016.

Ellie has won ten gold World Championship titles and won BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year and received an MBE at the age of 14, which soon elevated to OBE in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to Paralympic sport.

Since retiring, Ellie has presented the  Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and made documentaries such as  Ellie Simmonds: A World Without Dwarfism?  and is set to explore disability and adoption in a recently announced ITV film.

TV presenter, radio host and DJ Tyler West was the seventh celebrity confirmed for this year's show... he was dancing with Dianne Buswell and was voted out in week eight, which was Blackpool week.

He's known for hosting weekday afternoons on KISS and has hosted MTV News, HQ Trivia and the 2020 EE BAFTA Awards Red Carpet Live Show after starting his career in children's TV.

Last year he launched his first BBC Three series, co-hosting  Flat out Fabulous  and becoming the host of  The MTV Movie Show.

Music legend Matt Goss was the eighth celebrity taking part in this year's competition and he is dancing with Nadiya Bychkova. He was the third person to be voted out of this year's competition. 

Matt is best known for being the front man of the band Bros alongside his twin brother Luke. They had huge chart success in the late 80s and 90s, earning themselves a large fanbase with songs such as "When Will I Be Famous" and "I Owe You Nothing"

After selling more than 16 million records worldwide, the brothers were also the subjects of a BAFTA-winning documentary titled  Bros: After the Screaming Stops .

Matt has since gone on to have a successful solo career and will now be taking on the challenge in learning to dance.

Ellie Taylor

Comedian, broadcaster, writer and actor Ellie Taylor danced with Johannes Radebe and was the ninth celebrity to be voted out. 

Week She began her career as a stand-up comedian after starring on ITV's Show Me The Funny and has written and performed five stand-up comedy shows.

Ellie has been a regular on Mock The Week, The Mash Report  and  Live at the Apollo, Late Night Mash  on Dave and, most recently ,  as a co-host on Channel 4’s  The Great Pottery Throw Down. 

She has also appeared in Ted Lasso and her debut book  My Child and Other Mistakes,  became a Sunday Times bestseller in 2021.

The comedian is also set to present You Won’t Believe This (w/t) for Channel 4, as well as co-host Netflix gameshow Cheat alongside Danny Dyer .

Molly Rainford

Singer and actress Molly Rainford was the tenth famous face announced this year and she is dancing with newcomer Carlos Gu. 

At just 11 years old, Molly became Britain's Got Talent's youngest ever finalist. Now at 21 years old, she has become a household name and is currently playing the titular role as intergalactic pop superstar Nova Jones in the CBBC show Nova Jones and will be reprising the character for seasons 2 and 3.

After BGT, Simon Cowell and Sony music honoured Molly with their first ever drama school scholarship at internationally renowned Sylvia Young Theatre School.

She has also released two EP's and has been shortlisted for best newcomer at the 2022 Variety Club Showbusiness Awards.

Football legend Tony Adams was the eleventh celebrity announced to be taking part in this year's competition and he is dancing with Katya Jones. Tony withdrew from the competition on November 13 after finding himself in the dance-off. 

He is regarded as one of Arsenal's greatest-ever players and one of the all-time greats of English football, with the formidable center-back's career spanning over 22 years.

The football icon captained both Arsenal and England and has gone down in football history with his show-stopping wins and achievements, including when he led the England team to the Euro 96 final when he was captain.

He also founded the charity Sporting Chance to help sportspeople with mental health and addiction issues, as well as 6 Addiction for people that can't afford private mental health services.

Meanwhile, he is also a patron of a number of other charities and upon retiring, went into coaching and management.

Singer-songwriter, TV and radio presenter Fleur East was the twelfth famous face taking to the dancefloor and she is dancing with Vito Coppola.

Fleur came second in series 11 of The X Factor and has since been a regular face in the music and broadcasting industry.

She has released two albums and after appearing on  I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here  in 2018, she became host of the Hits Radio Breakfast show.

Fleur also starred as a presenter on the last three series of  Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway  and a host of ITV gameshow  The Void .

Hamza Yassin

Wildlife cameraman and presenter Hamza Yassin was the thirteenth celebrity partaking in the series this year and he is dancing with Jowita Przystal. 

Hamza is one of the presenters of BBC's Animal Park and a guest presenter on BBC's Countryfile , where he demonstrates his vast knowledge and camera skills.

For the youngsters, he is known under the guise of Ranger Hamza, presenting CBeebies live-action show  Let’s Go For A Walk  and new series  Ranger Hamza’s Eco Quest  later this month. 

When he was younger, Hamza moved to the Scottish Highlands to follow his dream of filming Scottish wildlife and becoming a wildlife cameraman. Recently, he fronted Channel 4 documentary  Scotland: My Life in the Wild  and  Scotland: Escape to the Wilderness.

James Bye 

EastEnders star James Bye was announced as the 14th celebrity to join this year's Strictly lineup. He is dancing with Amy Dowden. James was the fifth celebrity to be voted off the show. 

The actor, who has played Walford's Martin Fowler since 2014 is a firm favorite with soap fans and announced his exciting news on Good Morning Britain on Friday, August 12th, telling viewers that despite having had ‘quite a while’ to wrap his head around it, ‘it’s still not really sunk in’.

"I'm not known for my shimmy or my twinkle toes — in fact my kids regularly laugh at my dad dancing but it’s an honor to be asked and I’m going to give it my best shot," he's said of his new adventure. "There are some huge dance shoes to fill and it’s truly exciting to follow in the footsteps of some amazing EastEnders talent. I’d love to do everyone proud."

Helen Skelton

Summer on the Farm star Helen Skelton was the final celebrity to be announced for the 2022 Strictly Come Dancing lineup — she is dancing with Gorka Marquez.

Speaking of her new challenge Helen Skelton said: “I’m really excited to get stuck into a fun adventure. My family and friends have always loved the show and can’t wait for me to get started.”

Helen started her TV career in children’s television, presenting  Newsround  before going on to host  Blue Peter  for five years. Since then, she has presented shows including  Countryfile , ITV’s  Lorraine and BT Sport’s  FA Women’s Super League  football matches.

As a radio presenter, Helen has stood in for Dermot O’Leary and OJ Borg on BBC Radio 2, hosted various shows across BBC Radio 5 Live and has just been announced as the host of the new-look BBC Radio 5 Live Sunday morning show.

Who was voted out in Strictly Come Dancing 2022?

The first celebrity to be voted out of Strictly Come Dancing 2022 was Kaye Adams, who appeared in the dance-off against Bros singer Matt Goss. Speaking on her podcast after her exit she said: "I absolutely don't regret it for a second. I met so many wonderful people. I learned so much about myself, you'll be glad to know good things."

Week two 

Richie sadly became the second person to leave Strictly Come Dancing after being voted off in Movie Week. The pair opened the show dancing a Samba and dressed as Timon and Pumba from  The Lion King, but everyone was shocked when the pair ended up in the dance off against Fleur East. 

Speaking of this time on the show, Richie said: "It was incredible; as a  Strictly  fan, opening Movie Week is such an honour. We were dancing right in front of the judges; I had some tassels on. Craig got to smile; I loved it. I totally accept the result on Sunday night. I feel so lucky I got to dance, and I’ve met some incredible people."

Music legend Matt Goss was the third celebrity to be eliminated from the competition, after competing in the dance-off against  Kym Marsh.

Talking about his exit, Matt said: “It’s an extraordinary experience, I have been in America for 25 years. Thank you judges for your candour, you’ve helped me in many ways, my posture — Anton, I am more aware of it. 

"This lovely lady beside me, a world champion with all the patience. I am very honoured to have danced with you, and everyone still in, I love you guys, go smash it.”

Comedian Jayde Adams and her professional partner Karen Hauer were eliminated from the competition after losing the dance-off against Molly Rainford.

Jayde said of her exit: “This has been the best thing I have ever done in my life and I will carry it to my grave, and it has been an absolute pleasure working with you [Karen] and learning about so much that will go into my own stuff, in my own work. You are one of the most gifted people I have ever worked with Karen."

James and Amy left the show in week five, which was Halloween Week, when James found himself in the dance off against Fleur East. 

He told his Instagram followers following his exit: "I just wanted to send a little message to everybody as I've had some incredible support over the weekend, and it's been a crazy couple of months. So, I just wanted to quickly say thank you to every single one of you who either took the time to vote for Amy and I or just send us a message. Because I think sometimes people think that we don’t read the messages and things, but I promise you I read every single one of them."

Ellie Simmonds was the sixth celebrity to leave the show after she found herself in the dance off against Molly Rainford. Speaking about her exit on BBC Two's Strictly - It Takes Two , Ellie told host Rylan Clark: "I found yesterday and today a bit like going through a heartbreak, Strictly is everything and it's been the most incredible time. We’ve been doing it seven weeks now and now it’s all over all of a sudden. It’s so sad but I cannot wait to see them all dance incredibly. I’m going to be supporting them all the way."

Tony Adams bowed out of the show after finding himself in the dance-off against DJ Tyler West and Dianne Buswell. Tony sadly couldn't participate due to an injury and withdrew from the competition, becoming the seventh person to leave. 

After his exit Tony said on It Takes Two: "It’s a bizarre show. We’re all different age groups and we’re all different standards. I really listened to Shirley; the week before she was very complimentary and has always been constructive with her criticism. I’ve fallen in love with her; she’s my favourite."

Tyler West and Dianne Buswell left the competition during the Blackpool special after competing in the dance-off against Molly Rainford. The radio DJ said after his departure from the show that both the contest and Dianne "changed my life". Diane also paid tribute to her dance partner saying: "I am forever grateful for being the lucky girl to be picked to dance with you. Your energy your smile your zest for life was with us from day one of the rehearsals right up to that EPIC SALSA. I am a proud teacher to have trained a size 12-footed handball champion to dance and who I now class a DANCER. Thank you so so much for being the best."

After 10 fabulous weeks on the dance floor Ellie Taylor and Johannes Radebe became the ninth couple to bow out of the competition. Sadly their Jive to Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison left them at the bottom of the leaderboard with a score of 25. Ellie and Johannes found themselves in the Dance Off for the first time, going up against Fleur East and Vito Coppola — and sadly it was Ellie that the judges decided to send home. 

Kym narrowly missed out on being in the semi-finals after leaving the show in Musical's Week. The pair danced a brilliant Fame-inspired Cha Cha but ended up in the dance-off against Molly and Carlos. Kym told her Instagram followers: "Thank you so much to everyone who supported us throughout this competition! We had such a great time and I will never forget this moment in my life."

Is there a trailer for Strictly Come Dancing 2022? 

Yes! The first trailer for the new season shows each of the celebrities dressed in their finery and showing off their dance moves with a huge glitterball... 

A post shared by BBC Strictly (@bbcstrictly) A photo posted by on

Now a new trailer sees thew professional dancers back on the Strictly dance floor as they look forward to a new season of glitz and glamour... 

Who is in the professional dancers line-up for Strictly Come Dancing 2022?

The professional dancers returning to the competition are Dianne Buswell, Amy Dowden , Jowita Prystzal, Graziano Di Prima, Karen Hauer , Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin , Gorka Marquez , Luba Mushtuk, Giovanni Pernice , Johannes Radebe, Kai Widdrington and Nancy Xu .

Newcomer Cameron Lombard will also be showing off his expert skills on the Strictly ballroom. The South African Latin Champion joined Strictly in 2021, performing in all of the show’s group numbers and across the series’ music acts, but he is yet to have a celebrity partner.

In more exciting news, Strictly Come Dancing  has also announced that four new dancers will be joining the show, making it the biggest professional line-up in  Strictly  history.

The four new award-winning dancers competing in  Strictly Come Dancing  2022 are European cup winner Vito Coppola, Chinese National Champion Carlos Gu, former Under 21s British National Champion Lauren Oakley and Latin dance champion Michelle Tsiakkas.

We also said farewell to professional dancers Aljaž Škorjanec, who decided to quit the show after nine years and Oti Mabuse who left the show after seven years.

Who are the judges for Strictly Come Dancing 2022?

Of course, the multi-award-winning competition is not complete without its fabulous judges.

On the judging panel this year are Craig Revel Horwood , Motsi Mabuse, Head Judge Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke.

Anton replaced Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli last year due to strict Coronavirus travel restrictions while he was filming in the US.

Speaking of the new season of Strictly , Anton said: "My absolute favorite thing about working on the show is the joy. The joy of the show, the joy it brings everybody, the joy it brings my family and the joy it brings me.

"I can’t believe, well I can really, that it has been going for so long and still we have a new audience coming to it every year, a new generation that are growing up with the show. There’s a wonderful feeling around the show. I love that feeling of lifting everybody up, which I think was highlighted through lockdown. The sun shines when Strictly is on."

It was also reported that Bruno had quit the show after 18 years to focus on Dancing With The Stars in the US.

According to The Daily Mail Bruno will not be returning to the beloved BBC show in the future and will instead be focusing solely on the dancing competition across the pond. 

Their source said: "Bruno has quit the show for good. He's going to be a judge only on Dancing With The Stars from now on."

Who presents Strictly spin off show, Strictly: It Takes Two? 

Former Strictly professional dancer Janette Manrara and broadcaster Rylan Clark have returned for another year as co-hosts of Strictly - It Takes Two . Rylan has been a presenter on the show since 2019, while Janette joined him in 2021 after leaving Strictly as a professional dancer. 

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Grace is a digital writer with WhatToWatch.com, where she writes series guides, recaps and features for must-watch shows and delivers all the latest soap news and reactions. She graduated from Anglia Ruskin University in 2020 with a degree in Writing and Film Studies, which only made her love for creative writing, film and TV grow stronger.

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Step into the dazzling world of dance as the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour sashays its way across the UK in January and February! Get ready for an electrifying spectacle full of glitz, glamour, and pure entertainment as your favourite stars take to the stage to deliver show-stopping performances that will sweep you off your feet.

The Strictly Live Tour brings everything you love about the multi-award-winning TV series to life, captivating hearts of all ages with that special Strictly magic to banish any post-Christmas blues.

The fabulous TV judges Shirley Ballas , Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood are ready to dazzle with their wit and wisdom, whilst charismatic host Janette Manrara will guide you through this journey of dance and delight, featuring breathtaking choreography and incredible live music from the Strictly Live Tour band and singers.

Be part of the excitement as YOU step inside your favourite show and become the judge – your text votes decide who wins the coveted Glitterball Trophy at every extraordinary Live Tour performance!

So don’t miss your chance to kick off 2024 with feel-good entertainment that will leave you beaming with joy and tapping your toes all the way home!

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LATEST NEWS

FULL CELEBRITY AND PROFESSIONAL DANCER LINE-UP ANNOUNCED!

BOBBY BRAZIER & DIANNE BUSWELL ANNABEL CROFT & GRAZIANO [...]

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Strictly Come Dancing

The live tour 2022.

• Date 11 Feb - 13 Feb 2022
• Venue The O2 arena
• Availability On sale now

Event Details

Strictly Come Dancing fans are in for a FAB-U-LOUS treat once live entertainment venues re-open, as over the next 18 months there will be not one, not two, but THREE incredible live Strictly shows touring the UK to keep the country dancing, including shows at The O2 on 11, 12, 13 February 2022.

This year's tour will feature Rose Ayling-Ellis, Sara Davies, Max George, Maisie Smith, Tilly Ramsay, Rhys Stephenson and John Whaite. 

Important Information - How to download your tickets on The O2 app

For this show, if you’ve purchased your tickets from theo2.co.uk or AXS.com you’ll need to display your ticket on your phone via The O2 app. Ticket purchasers will receive an email with news and information on  AXS Mobile ID tickets  and how you can download your tickets to your phone. 

If you’ve bought your tickets for this show via AXS then you can re-sell your tickets with AXS Official Resale   which gives you a safe, simple, and fair way to buy and sell tickets.

For more information on re-selling tickets from AXS and other ticket agents  click here .  

Please note:  If you purchase  resale   tickets for this show through any website other than via theo2.co.uk or axs.com, your tickets may not be valid and access to the venue could be refused.

Keeping you safe at events

To help everyone attending an event at The O2 to stay safe we’ve made some changes to how we operate. Find out more about our enhanced health and safety measures.

Sign up for updates and pre-sales

Upcoming events.

Céline Dion | Cancelled

Plus very special guest Olly Murs

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Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds - Alive on Stage

The spirit of man tour.

Full celebrity and professional dancer line-up announced for Strictly Come Dancing Live UK Tour 2024

The full line-up of celebrities and professional dancers for next year’s highly anticipated Strictly Come Dancing Live UK Tour are announced today.  

Actor and model Bobby Brazier dancing with Dianne Buswell ; tennis champion and presenter Annabel Croft dancing with tour partner Graziano Di Prima ; journalist and broadcaster Krishnan Guru-Murthy dancing with tour partner Jowita Przystal; broadcaster and presenter Angela Scanlon dancing with Carlos Gu . They will join Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola, Angela Rippon and Kai Widdrington and Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin to complete the sensational line-up of participants from the current series of the BBC’s hit Saturday and Sunday night show who will twirl across the UK for 30 sparkle-filled shows kicking off in January 2024.

Angela Scanlon said:   “I could never have imagined just how much fun Strictly Come Dancing would be. I’m thrilled to get the opportunity to continue our amazing journey next year, performing in literal arenas with Carlos and all the gang! Let’s go!”

Annabel Croft said: “I’m used to interviewing people in front of very large crowds, but to dance in arenas for many thousands of people is going to be something else. Dancing every week on the TV show has been such a joy, so I can't wait for the magic of the tour and to experience it with my new tour partner, Graziano."

Bobby Brazier said: “I love dancing and I love Strictly, so what better way to continue this brilliant experience than on the live tour! I've heard from Dianne what a blast everyone has on the road, so I can’t wait to perform with her for those huge arena crowds next year.”

Krishnan Guru-Murthy said: “My whole time on Strictly has been life-changing. So the chance to keep going, take on another challenge and go on tour, this time with a new dance partner in Jowita, is irresistible. I can't wait!”

The couples will be joined on tour by magnificent professional dancers Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Robbie Kmetoni, Jake Leigh and Nancy Xu, bringing with them even more glitz and glamour to this supersized live show.

And not forgetting the legendary Strictly TV judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood who are returning to their judging seats and tour host, BBC Two’s Strictly - It Takes Two’s Janette Manrara.

The 2024 tour opens at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena on 19 January, then the glitz, the glamour and the sequins - together with the all-important celebrity contestants and their professional dancer partners - will travel to some of the UK’s biggest entertainment venues leaving a trail of glitter in their wake: Utilita Arena Sheffield, Utilita Arena Newcastle, OVO Hydro Glasgow, M&S Bank Arena Liverpool, First Direct Arena Leeds, AO Arena Manchester, Motorpoint Arena Nottingham and finally The O2 in London, culminating on 11 February.

Strictly's Live Tour celebrates all the joy of the TV series, showcasing the amazing choreography and fantastic live music that Strictly is synonymous with – providing audiences of all ages up and down the country the opportunity to experience everything they love about the TV show live on stage in their hometown or city.

Not only are the arena audiences treated to the spectacular roof-raising routines, but they are also granted the power to decide who wins the coveted Glitterball Trophy at the end of each show. The tour judges will of course provide their invaluable wisdom, advice, and scores at each performance - we couldn’t stop them if we tried - but the ultimate power lies with the audience. A text for their favourite couple is all it takes; their votes will decide who wins! 

As with the 2023 tour, each performance will host a British Sign Language interpreter, who will be displayed on two very large screens on either side of the stage so that audiences can book tickets and sit almost anywhere in the arena to enjoy the experience with family and friends.

STRICTLY COME DANCING THE LIVE TOUR is produced by Stage Entertainment UK and Phil McIntyre Live, with BBC Studios.

STRICTLY COME DANCING THE LIVE TOUR 2024

19 – 21 January   Birmingham Utilita Arena                                

(Friday 19 at 7.30pm, Saturday 20 at 2.30pm & 7.30pm, Sunday 21 at 1.30pm & 6.30pm)  

23 January  Sheffield Utilita Arena                                     

(Tuesday 23 at 2.30pm & 7.30pm)  

24 -25 January   Newcastle Utilita Arena                       

(Wednesday 24 at 7.30pm, Thursday 25 at 2.30pm & 7.30pm)  

26 -28 January   OVO Hydro Glasgow                            

(Friday 26 at 7.30pm, Saturday 27 at 2.30pm & 7.30pm, Sunday 28 at 1.30pm)  

30-31 January   M&S Bank Arena Liverpool                             

(Tuesday 30 at 7.30pm, Wednesday 31 at 7.30pm )  

01-02 February   First Direct Arena Leeds                                   

(Thursday 1 at 7.30pm, Friday 2 at 7.30pm )  

03-04 February   AO Arena Manchester  

(Saturday 3 at 2.30pm & 7.30pm, Sunday 4 at 1.30pm & 6.30pm )  

06-08 February   Motorpoint Arena Nottingham                       

(Tuesday 6 at 7.30pm, Wednesday 7 at 7.30pm, Thursday 8 at 7.30pm)  

9-11 February The O2 London                         

(Friday 9 at 7.30pm, Saturday 10 at 2.30pm & 7.30pm, Sunday 11 at 1.30pm & 6.30pm)  

Tickets: £ 35 - £ 100 (price bands differ between venues) 

All ticket prices are subject to a booking fee and may be subject to a venue facility fee

For more information and to book tickets, visit: www.strictlycomedancinglive.com

Instagram: @Strictlycomedancinglive

Facebook: /strictlylive

About BBC Studios 

BBC Studios is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group with sales of £2.1 billion (2021/22: £1,630 million). Able to take an idea seamlessly from thought to screen and beyond, the business is built on two operating areas: the global Content Studio, which produces, invests and distributes content globally and Channels & Streaming, with BBC branded channels, services and joint ventures in the UK and internationally. Around 2,500 hours of award-winning British programmes are made by the business every year, with over 80% of total BBC Studios revenues coming from non-BBC customers including Discovery, Apple and Netflix. Its content is internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms, with brands like Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, Top Gear, the Planet series, Bluey and Doctor Who. BBC.com is BBC Studios’ global digital news platform, offering up-to-the-minute international news, in-depth analysis and features.

BBC Studios |   Website   |   Press Office   |   Twitter   |   LinkedIn   |   Instagram   |

Strictly Come Dancing finalists 2022 revealed after shock elimination

The final is fast approaching….

After 12 weeks, just four couples remain in this year's Strictly Come Dancing - but who will battle it out for the glitterball trophy in next week's final?

TRENDING NOW   :  Charles Spencer breaks silence for the first time after Harry & Meghan docuseries airs

Remaining in the competition are Helen Skelton and her partner, Gorka Marquez , Molly Rainford and professional Carlos Gu, Hamza Yassin and new professional Jowita Przystal.

WATCH: Will Mellor has left the show following the semi-finals

Fleur East and Vito Coppola live to dance another week after landing themselves in the bottom two alongside Will Mellor and his partner Nancy Xu who became the 11th couple to leave the ballroom this week.

MORE:  Strictly's Hamza Yassin moved to tears after judges reveal how he changed show forever

REVEALED:  Strictly Come Dancing: All the contestants for the Christmas special revealed

Both couples performed their favourite routine of the night again. Fleur and Vito opted for their fabulous Charleston to Tu Vuo Fa La Americano by Fiorello. 

Will Mellor and Fleur East were in the bottom two 

Actor Will and partner Nancy performed their Couples' Choice routine to a 90s Manchester-inspired medley, in a bid to impress the judges.

Revealing his decision, Anton said: "And now I am looking for real detail, how do I separate them? I’m really searching for something, it's such fine detail. Due to an error in a dismount from a lift, I am going to have to save Will and Nancy."

But for the remaining three judges, Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood and head judge Shirley Ballas it was Fleur and Vito who ranked higher.

The finalists were so sad to see Will go 

Ultimately, it was Shirley who made the final call. She said: "First of all, the British public has spoken and with respect, I take that on board. My fellow judges have decided that they don’t agree, so I have made lots of notes here, both couples were outstanding and not only today but throughout the series. I have loved both of them, this is by far, even for me Craig, the most difficult decision I feel I have had to make. Based on micro details, I have decided to save Fleur and Vito."

Next week's heavily anticipated final will air on Saturday at 7.15 where one couple will be named champion of Strictly Come Dancing 2022.

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Strictly's Giovanni Pernice supported by fans as he announces break

"Already looking forward to even bigger and better next year!"

The pro dancer took to Instagram to share the news with his 1.1 million followers, looking back on his solo tour, The Last Dance .

"I have had a wonderful time this year on my solo tour and already looking forward to even bigger and better next year!" the Strictly star wrote in the caption.

Related: Strictly 's Ellie Leach reveals she speaks to Vito Coppola "every single day"

"After performing in front of over half a million people for seven years in row, I plan to take a little break after next year's tour," he continued, encouraging fans who'd like to see the show to book their tickets now.

In response, one fan wrote: "After everything you give us it's time to take time for you Gio. Your shows have been amazing and the amount of hard work you and the team put into them is so obvious."

Another added: "No-one deserves a break more than you do. Just don't stay away too long!", while someone else shared: "You deserve a break, you've absolutely smashed it these last 7 years. You should be proud of yourself."

News of Pernice taking some well-earned rest came after his travel series with Strictly co-star, judge Anton Du Beke , made the air. Anton & Giovanni's Adventures in Spain marked the second collaboration for the two pro dancers following their first series, Anton & Giovanni's Adventures in Sicily .

Related: Strictly 's Layton and Nikita to reunite for new show

Last week, Pernice asked his Instagram followers whether they'd like to see him and his "bestie" Du Beke visit other destinations for one more season of the show, suggesting the two dancers would be down for a new batch of episodes.

In the meantime, the two pals will reunite for a gala performance at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London this July 2, with Pernice teasing the duo will be "bringing Sicily and Spain" to the audience.

Strictly Come Dancing will return later this year on BBC One, while spin-off Strictly: It Takes Two airs on weeknights on BBC Two. Both shows are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Tickets for Strictly 's 2024 live arena tour are available now .

Interested in talking about Strictly Come Dancing ? Visit our dedicated sub-forum

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Reporter, Digital Spy

Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy . 

Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half). 

.css-15yqwdi:before{top:0;width:100%;height:0.25rem;content:'';position:absolute;background-image:linear-gradient(to right,#51B3E0,#51B3E0 2.5rem,#E5ADAE 2.5rem,#E5ADAE 5rem,#E5E54F 5rem,#E5E54F 7.5rem,black 7.5rem,black);} Strictly Come Dancing

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How do you get 'Strictly Come Dancing' tickets? Be in the audience for the 2022 series

• Oops! Something went wrong. Please try again later. More content below

The celebrity cast has been confirmed , training is underway and the Glitterball Trophy is being polished - but how can you get tickets to be in the audience of Strictly Come Dancing 2022?

It's a dream evening out for a Strictly superfan and with live audiences back in the studio as of 2021, devotees of the BBC One series will be hoping to snap up the chance to see their favourite couples dancing live.

Read more: Helen Skelton favourite to win Strictly 2022

But how do you get those coveted tickets? Here's our guide to being part of one of TV's biggest shows.

How can I get tickets for Strictly Come Dancing 2022?

The great news for Strictly fans is that tickets to see the show filming live are completely free - you just need to be lucky enough to be allocated them in a random ballot.

If you want to watch the Class of '22 vying for the Glitterball Trophy, you'll need to head over to the BBC Shows and Tours website where you can apply to be in the draw.

Read more: Matt Goss: Singing for Muhammad Ali didn't make me nervous, but Strictly terrifies me

But be quick, as the ticket ballot is only open for registrations until Sunday, 28 August at 10pm.

You can apply for as many dates as you like during the run of the series but will only be allocated a maximum of one pair of tickets if you are successful and will only be given one date to attend filming.

Be warned - TV shows generally allocate more tickets than there are seats available for live shows to make sure there are no empty seats in case of no-shows, so just because you've been allocated tickets it doesn't guarantee you'll get a seat.

The filming dates advise a start time of 3pm, but fans start queuing outside the studios well before then to make sure they get a spot.

Where is the show filmed?

The Strictly ballroom is at Elstree Studios.

If you're successful in the ballot, you'll need to be able to get to Elstree Film Studios, Shenley Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, WD6 1JG for your chosen date.

Which episodes of Strictly Come Dancing 2022 have tickets available?

The ballots for the professional dancers pre-record and the Strictly launch show where the couples will be announced have already closed, although those who got tickets are still eligible to enter the main show's draw.

As of time of writing, all of the dates are available in the ballot with a closing date for registrations of Sunday, 28 August at 10pm.

Read more: Bruno Tonioli admits he rarely knows who Strictly celebrities are

Dates currently listed begin with the first live show on Saturday, 24 September and continue on Saturdays throughout October and November.

The BBC website states that December dates will be released later, but it isn't clear whether the ballot will reopen for them, so best to get your registration in now just in case.

You'll notice that no Sunday show dates are listed - that's because the Sunday results show is actually a pre-record at the Saturday live show (which is why the finish time is listed as around 11pm) with audience members required to keep details of who was sent home a secret until after it airs.

Eagle-eyed viewers will also see that the 19 November date is missing, suggesting that Strictly will finally be back at the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool for its series mid-point visit for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic.

How can I be at the final of Strictly Come Dancing 2022?

As the December dates aren't yet listed, it hasn't been confirmed when the grand final is taking place in 2022.

Keep a close eye on the ticket site for the December dates being released and make sure you're registered for the ballot in advance.

Judging by previous final dates, it looks likely that the 2022 series will end on Saturday, 17 December.

How else can I watch the Strictly stars dance?

Of course, your guaranteed way to see the show is by tuning in to BBC One - with the pre-recorded launch show airing on Friday, 23 September and the first live show the day after on Saturday, 24 September.

Strictly also signs up its most popular stars from each series for a live tour of the UK, usually beginning in the New Year after the competition ends.

Dates are expected to run throughout January and February at a range of UK locations - keep an eye on strictlycomedancinglive.com for details.

Watch: Strictly star Rose Ayling-Ellis unveils first Barbie doll with hearing aids

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Strictly Come Dancing fans rush to tell star ‘you’ll be missed’ as they confirm ‘taking a break’

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Strictly Come Dancing fans have rushed to tell Giovanni Pernice how much they’ll miss him as he’s announced ‘a little break’.

The pro dancer, 33, revealed on Wednesday that he’s planning to take a well-earned rest after his next solo tour, following the success of his most recent one.

He wrote on Instagram: ‘I have had a wonderful time this year on my solo tour and already looking forward to even bigger and better next year!

‘After performing in front of over half a million people for seven years in row, I plan to take a little break after next year’s tour, so book your tickets in advance for ‘GIOVANNI – THE LAST DANCE’ now at http://www.giovannipernice.com.&#8217 ;

Fans rushed to share their support in the comments, as Giovanni shared the dates he’s announced across the UK in the first few months next year.

Between January and May, he’ll be touring across the country, in spots including Aberdeen, Cambridge, Truro, Durham and London, but teased more dates would be coming soon.

Follower @pollyjbird wrote: ‘No-one deserves a break more than you do. Just don’t stay away too long.’

‘You give so much, it’s time to take some well deserved time out for you,’ @magicroundabout57 wrote.

@cllo_750923 said: ‘@giovannipernice you deserve the break, but please ensure you come back xx.’

‘You deserve a break but please come back, sure going to miss you,’ @lorrainewhyte44 echoed.

His update comes as fans are desperately awaiting to hear confirmation about the next series of Strictly, though it has been said Giovanni will be welcomed back ‘with open arms’ after a ‘really tough’ past few months .

The Italian dancer – who  won a Bafta in 2022 for his silent dance with Strictly winner Rose Ayling-Ellis – has faced  months of allegations against his teaching style , after reports of a feud emerged with former partner  Amanda Abbington .

It had been claimed that producers were ‘undecided’ about whether to pair Giovanni with a celebrity on the next season of Strictly, however, reports later said he is ‘thrilled’ to return, with an insider claiming he’s been ‘offered a contract’.

They added to the  Mail : ‘While there are dots on i’s and crosses on t’s still to be written in, it all looks to be happening for him. As it’s the 20th anniversary, it’s a big year for the show and everyone involved wants Giovanni to be part of it.

‘It has been a really difficult few months for him. To have been hit with such claims – but not having anything he can respond to – has been really, really tough.’

The publication also notes that the BBC and Giovanni’s team say no official complaints have been made against him, despite reports that his former partners  Ranvir Singh  and  Laura Whitmore  also had a negative experience with him on the BBC show and shared an ’emotional summit’ with Amanda about working with Giovanni.

‘The  BBC  are backing him all of the way,’ the source added. ‘There have been no complaints about Giovanni’s behaviour, nobody has actually come forward and said, “He did this to me” or “He did that to me”.’

And despite reported regrets over pairing Giovanni with Sherlock actress Amanda, 52, who  quit the BBC One competition after five weeks , it’s said: ‘Now everyone at Strictly is ready to welcome him back with open arms.’

When previously approached by  Metro.co.uk , a BBC spokesperson said: ‘The professional dancers for 2024 will be announced in due course.’

Strictly Come Dancing is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

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If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE : Strictly star turned down chance to follow in famous dad’s footsteps

MORE : Strictly star ‘confirmed for 2024 BBC series line-up’ ahead of professionals tour

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Donald Trump in Wilmington: From tickets to parking, what to know for Saturday's rally

Donald Trump, 2024 presidential candidate and former president, is expected to arrive in Wilmington on Saturday.

Trump's most recent visit to the Port City was in 2022 for his "Save America" rally.

This year, his visit coincides with another significant event for the former president, as Trump's criminal trial in New York began on Monday . Here's what you need to know about Trump's upcoming visit and what to anticipate.

Where to get tickets

The rally will be held at the Aero Center, located at 1830 Flightline Road, Wilmington, on the grounds of the Wilmington International Airport.

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

Tickets are available for free through the event webpage . Attendees can reserve up to two tickets online using their mobile number.

What to expect

On Saturday April 20, doors at the Aero Center are expected to open at 3 p.m., with the event expected to begin at 7 p.m., according to the event webpage.

Approximately 60 volunteers with the New Hanover County GOP will be present, according to Nevin Carr, chair of the New Hanover County Republican Party.

As of Tuesday, Carr did not have an estimate for the anticipated number of attendees at the rally, noting that the event is hosted by the Trump campaign team and not the New Hanover County Republican Party.

Thousands attended a similar Trump rally held at the Wilmington Aero Center in 2022 .

Security and traffic

Lt. Jerry Brewer with the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office said deputies will be present at and around the Wilmington International Airport on Saturday.

No new road closures or traffic patterns are to be expected in preparation of the event, Brewer said on Tuesday.

Traffic congestion may increase due to Saturday's rally coinciding with the Honor Flight of the Cape Fear Area veterans welcome home celebration, set to begin at 9:30 p.m. at the airport. Ruth Smith, president of Honor Flight of the Cape Fear Area, encouraged attendees of the welcome home event to arrive early and park safely.

Airport operations will continue as normal, Erin McNally, PR Manager with Wilmington International Airport, said in an email.

"We encourage travelers to allow extra time on Saturday to arrive and park due to the events occurring," McNally wrote. "Airport Boulevard will remain open and we do not anticipate any impact to airport operations."

Parking availability

Wilmington International Airport currently operates six parking lots on site. Handicap parking is available in all lots, according to the airport's webpage .

Thirty minutes of parking is free in each lot, with the additional rate being $1 per hour. Maximum daily prices vary by lot.

McNally said travelers and event attendees can look online to see which lots have availability before arriving on Saturday.

Will it be livestreamed?

Livestream details have not yet been released by Trump’s team.

For those who are unable to attend the rally, the StarNews will also provide full day live blog coverage on Saturday -- including photos, traffic updates, event details, and more.

Catch up on all things 'The Tortured Poets Department':

• Fans celebrated Swift's midnight release of "The Tortured Poets Department" with listening parties and themed gatherings . Many critics praised Swift in their reviews.
• Swift surprised fans at 2 a.m. ET with news of 15 extra songs.
• The album features collaborations with Post Malone and Florence + the Machine. Swift described writing the album as deeply personal. "Once we have spoken our saddest story, we can be free of it," she said.
• NBC News' resident Swifties stayed up to blog the biggest takeaways after the album's release.

Vinyl industry rep says pandemic-era manufacturing bottlenecks have eased

"The Tortured Poets Department" is set to be released in special-edition "ghost"-colored vinyl, available both directly through Swift's website and exclusively at Target.

During the pandemic, that might have alarmed vinyl record buyers. As vinyl plants shuttered and employees were sidelined, vinyl production ground to a halt, causing reports of weekslong backlogs and orders going unfulfilled outright.

But in an interview with NBC News on Friday, Dustin Blocker, president of the Vinyl Records Manufacturing Association, said those issues have been resolved and that suppliers now have more than enough capacity to handle any orders coming their way, including massive ones like Swift's.

"In Q3 2023, we saw the [production] timeline start to go back to normal," Blocker said. "And in Q4 it really got back to normal. Now, everyone, including the huge plants, takes only 8-12 weeks [to produce] ... so it's very good news for everyone."

Blocker said any price increases on the supply side sparked by the bottlenecks have essentially reversed.

So, the $40 price tag on the Target edition of "TTPD" is most likely the result of choices made by Swift, her label and the retailer, he said.

Jack Antonoff is sharing BTS pics

Saba Hamedy

Jack Antonoff is giving Swifties what they want: more content.

The Bleachers frontman, who is also Swift’s longtime collaborator and friend, shared pictures of Swift and collaborators on the album, including Florence Welch .

The acting U.S. secretary of labor has a question for Taylor

Acting U.S. Labor Department Secretary Julie Su has a key question for Taylor Swift and her "Tortured Poets Department":

"Is this department unionized?" she wrote in a post on X .

Su, 55, has served as acting secretary since March 2023; she has faced stumbling blocks to being confirmed full time for the role over her perceived pro-union bias .

Destin celebrates Swift shoutout

Nicole Duarte

The city of Destin, Florida, is here for the Swiftie boost.

Google searches for the beach town shot up minutes after Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department” was released. The album mentions Destin in the song “Florida!!!” featuring Florence + The Machine.

The city is celebrating the shoutout:

As is Destin's mayor:

Trump gets a question on Taylor

Vaughn Hillyard

A reporter who is part of the pool following Donald Trump on Friday at his hush money trial was able to get in a question to the former president about the new albums.

Trump didn't engage.

Taylor Swift reveals ‘Dateline’ as an inspiration for ‘Florida!!!’

Maddie Ellis, TODAY

Taylor Swift has taken over radio stations, from Channel 13 on SiriusXM to iHeartRadio briefly renaming itself to iHeartTaylor and sharing messages from the songwriter.

Swift revealed in a soundbite played on iHeartRadio that “Florida!!!” — the eighth track of the album and featuring Florence + the Machine — was inspired by “Dateline.”

“I’m always watching, like ‘Dateline,’” Swift said with a laugh. “People, you know, have these crimes that they commit where they immediately skip town and go to Florida. They try to reinvent themselves, have a new identity, blend in.”

It’s the same with heartbreak, she said.

“I think when you go through a heartbreak, there’s a part of you that thinks, ‘I want a new name. I want a new life,’” she said.

Or perhaps in Swift’s case — a new era?

Read more at TODAY.com.

The double album appeared to avoid leaks

Kaetlyn Liddy

The standard edition of "The Tortured Poets Department" is said to have been leaked ahead the album's release. The origin of the apparent leaks is unclear, but none of the songs on the extended "anthology" version of the album seem to have been compromised.

Leaks of major artists' work sometimes occur when physical copies of the album arrive prematurely at record stores or department stores, before the tracks are released on streaming platforms. Fans suspect the surprise drop of the double album was a factor in the 15 extra tracks avoiding leaks.

The extra content was so unexpected that the lyrics of the anthology version have yet to be uploaded to Spotify .

‘The Tortured Poets Department’ broke a Spotify record in 12 hours

"The Tortured Poets Department" is already Spotify’s most-streamed album in a single day this year, edging out Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter" in less than 12 hours, Spotify confirmed to NBC News.

Swift currently holds the all-time record for most streams in a day by album and by artist for 2022's "Midnights."

Who are The Blue Nile? About the Scottish band named by Swift

In the album's ninth track — "Guilty as Sin?" — Swift name-drops a beloved '80s Scottish band, The Blue Nile.

"Drowning in The Blue Nile. He sent me 'Downtown Lights.' I hadn’t heard it in a while," Swift says in the song.

"Downtown Lights," released in 1989, was the peak of The Blue Nile's commercial success in the U.S., with the song reaching No. 10 on the Billboard American Modern Rock Tracks chart. 1989 is also Swift's birth year and the title of her fifth studio album.

Known for their avoidance of publicity, The Blue Nile has released just four albums since forming in 1981.

Fans share their theories and joy on social media

It wouldn't be a new Taylor Swift album without fans wondering who it's about or decoding the names mentioned in each song. (Who is Cassandra , Taylor?)

That speculation will surely continue, but now that the album is out, fans can't believe their luck. Reactions on social media praised the sonic and lyrical range of the album, saying that "everybody gets everything," whether you listen to Swift for her synth-pop hits or her intimate folk songs.

Author and creator John Green couldn't wait to wake up his daughter to tell her she gets 31 new Taylor Swift songs today.

By the numbers: Will Taylor Swift break her own album sales marks?

Dania Kalaji

“The Tortured Poets Department” blasted to No. 1 on the U.S. iTunes album sales chart following its release. But will it live up to the success of her previous discography?

Here are all of Swift’s bestselling albums in the U.S. ranked to date, according to data from the Recording Industry Association of America.

“Fearless” (2008): 10 million units

“1989” (2014): 9 million units

“Red” (2012): 7 million units

“Taylor Swift” (2006): 7 million units

“Speak Now” (2010): 6 million units

“Reputation” (2017): 3 million units

“Lover” (2019): 3 million units

“Midnights” (2022): 2 million units

“Folklore” (2020): 2 million units

“The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection” (2008): 1 million units

“Evermore” (2020): 1 million units

TikTok rolls out new features to celebrate new album

Daysia Tolentino

As Swifties show their love for "The Tortured Poets Department" on TikTok, they have the chance to be featured in a "Fan Spotlight" carousel that highlights videos with the #TORTUREDPOETSDEPARTMENT hashtag.

TikTok released a "Taylor Swift In-App Experience" that serves as a landing page for all things "TTPD." Fans can complete challenges in exchange for limited-edition "TTPD" profile frames and some Taylor-related searches unlock animations inspired by the album. Searches for "Taylor Swift," "Taylor Nation," and "The Tortured Poets Department" lead fans to the landing page.

The features are particularly notable because Swift's music was pulled off the platform earlier this year as part of a disput between TikTok and Universal Music Group, though many of her tracks returned earlier this month .

Fans on TikTok have already been loving "TTPD," sharing numerous theories , tears and rankings .

Swift's song 'Fortnight' with Post Malone hits No. 1 on Apple

Jason Abbruzzese

That didn't take long.

The song "Fornight" off Swift's new album quickly hit No. 1 on Apple's top song chart. It features rapper and singer Post Malone.

Swift also took the next four spots with "The Tortured Poets Department," "So Long, London," "My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toy," and "Down Bad."

The National's Aaron Dessner on working with Swift: 'some of the most lyrically acute, intricate, vulnerable and cathartic' songs

Aaron Dessner, a musician who is part of the rock band The National, posted to Instagram about working with Swift on the album along with a pic of her in a studio.

He said that he has now worked with swift on more than 60 songs, including 17 across her newest release.

"I am forever grateful to Taylor for sharing her insane talents with and trusting me with her music. I believe these songs are some of the most lyrically acute, intricate, vulnerable and cathartic Taylor has ever written and I am continually astonished by her skills as a songwriter and performer," he wrote, adding in thanks to a long list of other artists and producers.

Will Swift break her own streaming records?

The October 2022 release of Swift's 10th studio album, "Midnights" shattered records on Spotify and Apple Music.

"Midnights" became Spotify's most-streamed album in a single day with 184.6 million streams when it debuted. Swift also broke the record for most-streamed artist in a single day on Spotify with 228 million streams.

The album also become the biggest album of all time by a female artist in Apple Music history by first-day and first-week streams worldwide.

Can Swift outdo herself?

Will Swift's album inspire a new college course?

As Swift became increasingly synonymous with American pop culture, universities around the country started creating entire courses dedicated to studying her lyricism and impact.

Some courses focus on Swift as a business and marketing mastermind, while others analyze her storytelling techniques with all the detail and skill of poetry analysis.

Time will tell whether this new album will inspire yet another college course. Our guess is with all the literary references, it's sure to be on some professors minds.

Read more in NBC News' article here .

Saturday is Record Store Day

The release of "The Tortured Poets Department" will come just in time for a notable day in the music industry calendar: Record Store Day on April 20. The annual event has been observed since 2007 to celebrate independent record stores and is often accompanied by exclusive drops by major artists.

Swift has yet to announce a special event, but the date is marked in the TTPD Timetable on her Instagram, suggesting she might have something up her sleeve.

Swift describes new album: 'Once we have spoken our saddest story, we can be free of it.'

Patrick Smith

Taylor Swift has offered fans a glimpse into the creative process behind "The Tortured Poets Society" and the emotions that inspired it.

In a press release Friday morning to accompany the new release, the artist said:

"The Tortured Poets Department. An anthology of new works that reflect events, opinions and sentiments from a fleeting and fatalistic moment in time — one that was both sensational and sorrowful in equal measure.

"This period of the author’s life is now over, the chapter closed and boarded up. There is nothing to avenge, no scores to settle once wounds have healed. And upon further reflection, a good number of them turned out to be self-inflicted.

"This writer is of the firm belief that our tears become holy in the form of ink on a page. Once we have spoken our saddest story, we can be free of it.

"And then all that’s left behind is the tortured poetry."

To sleep or stream? Swifties question staying up even later

Can you wait until the morning to listen to the 15 extra songs on Swift's anthology?

If you answered no, you're not alone. Online, fans joked that they didn't expect to get this little shut eye.

Among the fans: Gen Z Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla.

"I got votes in the morning. Do I sleep or listen" he wrote .

Others had similar thoughts.

"TAYLOR I HAVE A JOB OH MY GOD" wrote one fan, tagging the artist on X .

"lol Taylor I have to get up early to run errands before work please" wrote another X user.

Leave it to Swift to give us adrenaline to keep us all up a little longer.

'The Tortured Poets Department' becomes Swift's longest album

With the surprise release of 15 additional songs, "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology" has 31 tracks.

That now makes it Swift's longest album, edging ahead of "Red (Taylor's Version)" by just one track.

A list of all 15 of the extra 'Anthology' songs

• “The Black Dog”
• “imgonnagetyouback”
• “The Albatross”
• “Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus”
• “How Did It End?”
• “So High School”
• “I Hate It Here”
• “thanK you aiMee”
• “I Look in People’s Windows”
• “The Prophecy”
• “Cassandra”
• “The Bolter”
• “The Manuscript”

Surprise: a double album!

"The Tortured Poets Department" is a secret DOUBLE album.

In a 2 a.m. ET surprise, Swift announced an extra 15 songs.

"I’d written so much tortured poetry in the past 2 years and wanted to share it all with you, so here’s the second installment of TTPD: The Anthology," she wrote on X . "15 extra songs. And now the story isn’t mine anymore… it’s all yours."

It's 2 a.m.

Now what, Taylor?

ICYMI: Swift's powerhouse publicist Tree Paine gets profiled by WSJ

Swift's longtime publicist, Tree Paine, whom many fans know by name, was the subject of a lengthy Wall Street Journal article published Thursday ahead of the new album's release.

While she declined to be interviewed for the story, it delves into how she became one of the most powerful people in the entertainment industry since she joined Swift's camp in 2014.

“There isn’t a publicist in NY, LA or Nashville that wouldn’t jump at an opportunity to work with someone as talented as Taylor Swift and her management team,” Paine said at the time, according to the New York Post .

Read the full story here.

Couples are now wary of Swift's 'Lover' as a love song

Elena Nicolaou, TODAY

“Lover” — at least until recently — was widely received as one of Swift’s classic love songs. When the album of the same name came out in 2019, its title single was declared  first dance song material , or even a “ wedding waltz .”

In the song, Swift paints a portrait of quiet intimacy. Her wild “Red” days, of thrilling romances with highs and lows and uncertainties in between, had settled into something steadier with one person, captured by a simple chorus: “You’re my, my, my, my lover.”

But that interpretation is now in question, as Swift recasts some of her songs in a different light. Ahead of the release of “The Tortured Poets Department,”  she released five playlists on Apple Music , sorting old songs into groups inspired by the five stages of grief, or “heartbreak.”

Aaron Dessner is credited as a songwriter on five of 16 tracks

Dessner, who is a member of the bands The National and Big Red Machine, is one of two producers who worked on "The Tortured Poets Department."

He's credited as a songwriter on five of the 16 tracks on the standard album.

Dessner first collaborated with Swift on her eighth studio album, “Folklore,” for which he shared in the Grammy win for album of the year. He made several guest appearances with Swift on the U.S. leg of the Eras Tour, joining her onstage during the acoustic set for performances of songs they wrote together.

Here's what some critics are saying in their reviews

Angela Yang

The critics have spoken. Here's a roundup of some of their takeaways on "The Tortured Poets Department."

Billboard ’s Jason Lipshutz praised Swift’s boldness for releasing a “knowingly messy, wildly unguarded breakup album” at what’s arguably the peak of her career. It's more mature than her past heartbreak albums, he writes, and “not everyone will love it, but the ones who get it will adore it fiercely.”

Variety ’s Chris Willman wrote that the album can serve as an “unapologetically dramatic” soundtrack to listeners’ own heartbreaks.

Labeling it Swift’s most personal album yet, Rolling Stone ’s Rob Sheffield described it as “the cathartic confession of a woman who thought she had adulthood — and adult romance — all figured out, only to find herself realizing she knows nothing.”

And unlike on past albums, Swift doesn’t portray herself as a victim in this one, wrote the Los Angeles Times ’ Mikael Wood. Instead, the album emanates “a proudly villainous energy as Swift embraces her messiest and most chaotic tendencies.”

Jack Antonoff, Swift's longtime collaborator, posts love for album

Antonoff, Swift’s longtime collaborator and friend, shared his love for the new album on X .

"Love this album more than I can say," wrote Antonoff, who worked on “The Tortured Poets Department” as a producer.

Antonoff also co-wrote eight of the album's tracks.

Swifties are starting to post reax on X

In typical fashion after a Swift album drops, reactions from fans are pouring in online, and they TEND TO COME IN ALL CAPS.

As any Swiftie will tell you, listening to new music from the artist always proves to be a collective emotional experience.

Spotify appears to be holding it together (so far)

The last time Swift debuted a brand-new album, Spotify crashed. No major issues so far this time around.

Shoutout to the engineers and people behind the scenes who are probably working overtime to make sure Swifties don't panic.

We have a new countdown

Don’t go to bed yet! Taylor Swift’s Instagram page is displaying a new countdown to 2 a.m. ET. This wasn't on the timetable ...

Swift releases statement after album drop

In her first social media post after “The Tortured Poets Department” was released, Swift shared a statement about the album online.

These songs reflect her experiences from a moment in time that was equally “sensational and sorrowful,” she wrote, adding that it is a chapter now closed.

“Once we have spoken our saddest story, we can be free of it,” Swift wrote. “And then all that’s left behind is the tortured poetry.”

Who is Clara Bow?

Daniel Arkin

The 16th and final track on the album is named for Clara Bow, one of the leading lights of Hollywood’s silent era.

Bow, unlike a lot of stars from the 1920s, managed to successfully pivot to roles in talkies by the end of the decade. She co-starred in “Wings” (1927), which today is probably best known as the first movie to win the Oscar for best picture.

I’m not a Swiftie, so I don’t have much insight into how Taylor’s music connects to Bow’s acting career — but I’m curious how this track will be interpreted by the die-hards.

The album is here

BRB, we’re busy listening with the rest of y’all.

You can now choose a Swift-themed chat for your Instagram DMs

Instagram users can now set their direct message conversations to a new chat theme inspired by “The Tortured Poets Department.”

Bars, venues hold special Swift parties

On the eve of Swift’s album drop, event venues across the country (and around the world) hosted release parties so Swifties could get their first listen of the “The Tortured Poets Department” on the dance floor.

At Pianos in New York, music from across Swift’s discography will play until the new album drops at midnight. Attendees are encouraged to come in themed outfits and friendship bracelets, and the bar will be serving Swift-inspired cocktails.

In Los Angeles, El Cid is hosting a listening party complete with fan-made merch, giveaways and a themed wall for photos. Attendees can also expect performances from drag queen Jade Jolie, who appeared in Swift’s “You Need to Calm Down” music video.

Several Swiftie-themed events are also being held across the Washington, D.C., area, according to The Washington Post, which compiled a list .

A Swiftie mom and daughter are hosting their own album party

Kristie Gilmore, 36, is ready to celebrate with her daughter, who was born shortly after Swift's “1989” album and has been a Swiftie ever since.

Gilmore decorated her Boston-area apartment with balloons, signs and stickers in the color palette of “The Tortured Poets Department.” She sprinkled the table with handmade confetti of the album’s logo and made TTPD-themed “membership cards” for themselves and each of her daughter’s friends.

“They’ve been counting down since Taylor announced this album,” Gilmore said, adding, “They’re just hanging out, having a dance party. They’re gonna try to stay up till midnight and listen to it.”

What are the track lengths?

The average track length on “The Tortured Poets Department” is 4 minutes and 4 seconds, making it the third longest album across Swift’s discography.

The longest song is “But Daddy I Love Him,” which clocks in at 5 minutes and 40 seconds.

“I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)” is the shortest song, at 2 minutes and 36 seconds.

Travis Kelce shared his early thoughts about the album

Ahead of the Super Bowl, Swift's boyfriend, Travis Kelce, the star tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, weighed in on the new album.

“I have heard some of it, yes. It is unbelievable,”  Kelce said . “I can’t wait for her to shake up the world when it finally drops.”

The couple , who have become the internet's favorite love story , were most recently spotted at Coachella 's first weekend.

Taylor Swift beat reporter speaks to NBC's Hallie Jackson

USA Today’s Taylor Swift reporter , Bryan West, spoke with NBC News about the album drop and all the Easter eggs being spotted by fans.

Swift's music is back on TikTok despite UMG dispute

Kalhan Rosenblatt

Some songs that Swift fans know “All Too Well” returned to TikTok this month, months after they were removed.

The songs were among the many tracks Universal Music Group pulled off TikTok after the label and the platform  failed to reach an agreement  this year. (UMG has no relationship to NBCUniversal, the parent company of NBC News.)

UMG, known as one of the “Big Three” global music companies, cleared its music from TikTok in late January, saying it was doing so because of a lack of compensation for artists and songwriters. TikTok previously fired back at UMG, accusing the company of putting “their own greed above the interests of artists and songwriters.”

The economics of 'The Tortured Poets Department'

Doha Madani

Die-hard Taylor Swift fans will be spending a pretty penny on her latest album release as she releases four variants of the album with one exclusive track each.

Each variant of “The Tortured Poets Department” is named after the bonus song found at the end of the album: “The Manuscript,” “The Bolter,” “The Albatross” and “The Black Dog.” If a fan wanted to collect them all, the minimum for $13.99 CDs at a store would cost at least $55.96 before taxes.

Longtime Swifties are already familiar with her tendency to provide deluxe editions, as anyone who was around for her original “1989” release can recall the Target exclusive that included three bonus tracks and three voice memos recorded by Swift. 

Her “Midnights” release included a Target exclusive track that was added to streaming only months later, and in May she released a new song on “Midnights (The Late Night Edition).” But this is the first time Swift has put an exclusive song on each individual variant, with no clear timeline for when they might be added to streaming. 

2024: The year of Post Malone and the pop girlies

Rebecca Cohen

Fresh off of a collab with Beyoncé on "LEVII'S JEANS" from her now-famed "Cowboy Carter," Post Malone finds himself on another major release of 2024: Swift's "The Tortured Poets Department."

He joins Swift on the album's first song, "Fortnight." Swift announced that "Fortnight" would be the album's lead single and the song for which she is releasing a music video 8 o'clock tomorrow night.

"I’ve been such a huge fan of Post because of the writer he is, his musical experimentation and those melodies he creates that just stick in your head forever," Swift wrote on social media. "I got to witness that magic come to life firsthand when we worked together on Fortnight."

While best known for more rap-focused songs, Post Malone is clearly making the rounds in the pop music scene, having also recently collaborated with Noah Kahan on "Dial Drunk." But his back-to-back appearances on arguably two of the biggest albums from pop artists this year raise the questions: Is Post Malone becoming a pop girlie? Is he just having a moment? Or is it all of the above?

There's a book about Swift's impact headed to bookshelves

Rolling Stone writer and music historian Rob Sheffield's book "Heartbreak Is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music" will debut Nov. 12.

He's expected to dive further into Swift’s music and fan connection.

Swifties are celebrating with their own listening parties

Many Swifties are sharing their elaborate party setups online as they prepare to celebrate the album release at home.

Karen Rothdeutsch, 25, has decked out her bedroom in upstate New York with “The Tortured Poets Department”-themed decorations, complete with a platter of homemade cupcakes decorated to match Swift’s various vinyl variants.

“I just made my space a little more immersive for my first listen,” Rothdeutsch told NBC News. “I’ll be sitting in my bed with a box of tissues and a notebook, writing down my thoughts and probably checking into Twitter every so often to see what everybody’s thinking about it.”

She said she procured the decorations over the course of several weeks, but the whole setup cost her less than $100. While she decorates on a budget, she said she did splash out on the vinyl variants and collector’s edition CDs.

Swift's new album is already breaking a Spotify record

Spotify said on X that the “The Tortured Poets Department” became the most pre-saved album countdown page in the streaming service’s history.

Since its launch on March 28, TTPD's countdown page has ticked down to the album’s drop, now just hours away.

Was Swift's Grammys dress a 'Fortnight' Easter egg?

The white gown Swift wore to the 2024 Grammys, where she announced "The Tortured Poets Department," appears to have been an Easter egg.

Swift appears to be wearing a very similar dress in the teaser for the "Fortnight (feat. Post Malone)" music video, which will debut 8 p.m. ET tomorrow.

Swift was also pictured hugging Post Malone at the ceremony. Some fans online pointed out a similar shot of the two singers that appears in the teaser for the music video.

Swift drops 'Fortnight' music video teaser

Swift blessed fans with a teaser for “Fortnight (feat. Post Malone)," the album's first single.

"At this hearing, I stand before my fellow members of The Tortured Poets Department with a summary of my findings. Album tonight. Fortnight music video tomorrow at 8pm et," Swift wrote in a post on X , which was accompanied by a short video clip.

The black-and-white teaser gave a sneak peak of the visuals for the music video. It's a combination of dramatic period gowns and a bleak medical setting in this supercut that is reminiscent of "Poor Things," which Swift's longtime friend Emma Stone recently won the best actress Oscar for.

Swift had announced she'd be dropping a music video at 8 p.m. ET tomorrow by sharing a “TTPD Timetable” on her Instagram page this week.

Merch is here — and already selling out

Hours before the album’s release, themed merchandise for “The Tortured Poets Department” is now available to order online.

The merch drop includes hoodies, crewnecks and gold jewelry branded with the album’s logo. A display case for the album vinyls seemingly sold out within minutes.

ICYMI: The Eras Tour concert film is on Disney+

In case you need something to do as you count down to the new album, “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” is on Disney+. Swift announced the film would be available for streaming in February.

The film features all songs from the three Los Angeles tour dates during which it was filmed at SoFi Stadium. They include “cardigan,” as well as four additional acoustic surprise songs from the tour: “I Can See You,” “Maroon,” “You Are in Love” and “Death by a Thousand Cuts.”

Swifties online are freaking out over purported ‘leaks’

The internet was at it again this week, with some online circulating what they said were leaks of Swift's new album. It is unclear from where and when the apparent leaks originated, but one Reddit thread is already filled with commentary.

As early as Tuesday, "taylor swift leak" appeared to be blocked from searches on X. Instead, when a user tried to search the phrase, a blank page popped up with the message, "Something went wrong. Try reloading."

The secret message has been decoded

The sixth and final word of the secret message, “mortem,” was revealed today, hidden in the lyrics of the song “Begin Again.”

The complete secret message is: “We hereby conduct this post mortem.”

In a collaboration with Apple Music, Swift sorted some of her existing songs into thematic playlists , along with audio messages from her.

The messages seemed to confirm some fans’ theories that the playlists mirrored the five stages of grief — denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance — indicating that the new album may grapple with grief or loss. Swift later used a song from each playlist to reveal a hidden word on Apple Music every day leading up to the release of “The Tortured Poets Department.”

Swift sets fans loose on an international puzzle

Swifties had a big day yesterday after murals with QR codes were unveiled in cities around the world, including Mexico City, Paris and Chicago.

Fans stumbled upon the murals, which Swift had not announced, and scanned them to find a link to a YouTube Shorts video. Every mural had a unique code that led to a different video, each revealing a new letter as part of a word puzzle.

Fans came together online to help decode the puzzle, which seemed to hint at the new album's first track, because it spelled out "for a fortnight."

Swifties in Los Angeles flock to Spotify pop-up library

Many Los Angeles Swifties celebrated the new album with a pop-up library installation in partnership with Spotify.

The three-day event, which runs through today at The Grove, featured a sneak peek at some of the album's lyrics.

Fans posted videos of themselves lined up for hours to get a glimpse at the installation.

A manuscript was front and center at the installation, revealing new lyrics periodically as the pages were turned over the course of three days.

Many fans online tried to identify other potential Easter eggs in the pop-up library, such as a bust of a peace sign, quill and fountain pens and a globe that appeared to be pointing to Florida, the name of a track on the album.

Why is the album called 'The Tortured Poets Department'?

Fans were quick to note that “The Tortured Poets Department” is the longest title for a Taylor Swift album by a large margin, a distinction previously held by her third album, "Speak Now." Before "TTPD," "Speak Now" was her only album title consisting of more than one word.

Speculation surrounding the new album and its uncharacteristic title has primarily revolved around Swift’s  2023 breakup  with British actor Joe Alwyn after their six-year relationship.

After the album announcement, a  2022 Variety interview  between Alwyn and Paul Mescal resurfaced on X. The pair revealed in the interview that they were both members of a WhatsApp group chat titled the Tortured Man Club, prompting some fans to  draw parallels  between Alwyn and Swift’s upcoming album.

The true meaning of “The Tortured Poets Department” remains to be seen, but the album's rollout has featured references to famous poems like Charles Baudelaire’s “The Albatross,” among other literary references.

Clues keep coming

Speculation continues to grow over clues for lyrics, song titles and the album’s first music video.

Not much from Miss Swift so far

It's been a notably quiet rollout for "The Tortured Poets Department."

No themed Instagram grid overhaul, no lead singles, not even a cryptic calendar leading Swifties on wild goose chases for potential Easter eggs.

A week before the release, Taylor Swift was rocking out at Coachella instead of feeding her fans who are desperate for a hint of what's to come.

Aside from a hand-painted QR code on the side of a building in Chicago, a planned exhibit at The Grove in Los Angeles in partnership with Spotify and a quick video released Tuesday that appears to leave the "Midnights" era in the dust as viewers tour The Tortured Poets Department, Swift has been silent on what we can expect.

In the video , posted to her Instagram account, we did get a glimpse of a schedule that only showed release day, and on it, the promise of a music video on Friday at 8 p.m. ET. Fourteen tick marks beneath led some to think the music video could be for the 14th track on the album, or for the leading song, "Fortnight," since a fortnight is 14 days.

Swifties believing in the latter theory proved to be correct. Swift announced that the music video would be for "Fortnight" in a Thursday afternoon social media post.

Swifties online continue to grasp for any details to try to figure out what this mastermind might have in store for her beloved fan base.

What songs are on the new album?

Here's what songs are on the track list.

• "Fortnight (feat. Post Malone)"
• "The Tortured Poets Department"
• "My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys"
• "So Long, London"
• "But Daddy I Love Him"
• "Fresh Out the Slammer"
• "Florida!!! (Florence + the Machine)"
• "Guilty as Sin?"
• "Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?"
• "I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)"
• "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart"
• "The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived"
• "The Alchemy"
• "Clara Bow"

Swift has also announced four bonus tracks: "The Manuscript," “The Bolter,” “The Albatross” and “The Black Dog.” Each bonus track will be available on a separate vinyl variant and won't be on the streaming version of the album.

When does 'The Tortured Poets Department' drop?

Swift's 11th studio album, "The Tortured Poets Department," will be released Friday at 12 a.m. ET, or 9 p.m. PT.

It will be available for purchase on vinyl, on cassette, as a digital album and in CD form. It will also be on several streaming services, including Spotify and Apple Music.

But if you plan to stream “The Tortured Poets Department” right after its release, be prepared for potential delays. When Swift’s most recent brand-new album, “Midnights,” was released, Spotify  briefly crashed  because of intense demand.

Angela Yang is a culture and trends reporter for NBC News.

Doha Madani is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News. Pronouns: she/her.

Rebecca Cohen is a breaking news reporter for NBC News.

is culture and trends editor for NBC News Digital.

Masters 2024: Prize money payouts at Augusta National

I t says something about what it means to compete in the Masters that players aren’t thinking twice about the fact they have no idea what the prize money payouts were this week at Augusta National before teeing off in the opening round. Club officials don’t officially announce the purse until after a cut is made in the tournament. Frankly, the chance to win a green jacket, a spot in the Champions Locker Room and a lifetime exemption into the major are enough reward to make it worth everybody’s while.

That said, the uncertainty was ended on Saturday when the club announced this year’s prize money payout. For the third straight year, the overall purse at the Masters increased, growing to $20 million with Sunday's runaway winner, Scottie Scheffler, earning $3.6 million. This brings it in line with the $20 million purses offered in the PGA Tour’s signature events as well as the $20 million paydays being played for individually on the LIV Golf circuit.

RELATED: A brief history of the Masters prize money payout

This year’s prize payout is a bump from the $18 million the Masters offered in 2023, and up from $15 million in 2022. Amazingly, too, it was only three years ago that the overall purse was just $12 million. That’s a 66-percent increase in just three years’ time.

The Masters now matches the U.S. Open as the top paying men’s major championship, with the USGA also paying $20 million in prize money during last year’s championship at LACC. The PGA Championship bumped up its purse last year at Oak Hill to $17.5 million and the Open Championship paid $16.5 million at Royal Liverpool in 2023. All the majors are currently dwarfed by the Players Championship, which paid out $25 million in March with winner Scottie Scheffler earning $4.5 million.

Below is how much will be paid out to everybody who made the cut this week at Augusta National.

Win: Scottie Scheffler, -11/277, $3,600,000

2: Ludvig Aberg, -7/281, $2,160,000

T-3: Tommy Fleetwood, -4/284, $1,040,000

T-3: Max Homa, -4/284 , $ 1,040,000

T-3: Collin Morikawa, -4/284 , $ 1,040,000

T-6: Cameron Smith, -2/286, $695,000

T-6: Bryson DeChambeau, -2/286, $695,000

8: Xander Schauffele, -1/287, $620,000

T-9: Will Zalatoris, E/288, $540,000

T-9: Tyrrell Hatton, E/288, $540,000

T-9: Cameron Young, E/288, $540,000

T-12: Matthieu Pavon, +1/289, $405,000

T-12: Patrick Reed, +1 /289 , $405,000

T-12: Adam Schenk, +1 /289 , $405,000

T-12: Cameron Davis, +1 /289 , $405,000

T-16: Sepp Straka, +2/290, $310,000

T-16: Chris Kirk, +2 /290 , $310,000

T-16: Byeong Hun An, +2 /290 , $310,000

T-16: Nicolai Hojgaard, +2 /290 , $310,000

T-20: Taylor Moore, +3/291, $250,000

T-20: Lucas Glover, +3/291, $250,000

T-22: Keegan Bradley, +4/292, $175,500

T-22: Min Woo Lee, +4 /292 , $175,500

T-22: Harris English, +4 /292 , $175,500

T-22: Adam Scott, +4 /292 , $175,500

T-22: Rory McIlroy, +4 /292 , $175,500

T-22: Joaquin Niemann, +4 /292 , $175,500

T-22: Matt Fitzpatrick, +4 /292 , $175,500

T-22: Patrick Cantlay, +4 /292 , $175,500

T-30: Tom Kim, +5/293, $124,200

T-30: Jason Day, +5 /293 , $124,200

T-30: S.W. Kim, +5 /293 , $124,200

T-30: J.T. Poston, +5 /293 , $124,200

T-30: Rickie Fowler, +5 /293 , $124,200

T-35: Kurt Kitayama, +6/294, $103,000

T-35: Camilo Villegas, +6/294, $103,000

T-35: Akshay Bhatia, +6/294, $103,000

T-38: Russell Henley, +7/295, $86,000

T-38: Corey Conners, +7 /295 , $86,000

T-38: Hideki Matsuyama, +7 /295 , $86,000

T-38: Luke List, +7 /295 , $86,000

T-38: Ryan Fox, +7 /295 , $86,000

T-43: Phil Mickelson, +8/296, $72,000

T-43: Shane Lowry, +8 /296 , $72,000

T-45: Denny McCarthy, +9/297, $57,200

T-45: Jose Maria Olazabal, +9 /297 , $57,200

T-45: Brooks Koepka, +9 /297 , $57,200

T-45: Sahith Theegala, +9 /297 , $57,200

T-45: Jon Rahm, +9 /297 , $57,200

T-45: Danny Willett, +9 /297 , $57,200

51: Grayson Murray, +10/298, $49,200

52: Eric Cole, +11/299, $48,000

T-53: Adam Hadwin, +12/300, $47,200

T-53: Neal Shipley, +12/300, $0 (amateur)

T-55: Jake Knapp, +13/301, $46,000

T-55: Erik van Rooyen, +13/301, $46,000

T-55: Tony Finau, +13/301, $46,000

T-58: Vijay Singh, +14/302, $45,000

T-58: Thorbjorn Olesen, +14/302, $45,000

60: Tiger Woods, +16/304, $44,400

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