When is the first BBC Strictly Come Dancing live show where couples perform?

Strictly Come Dancing is back to celebrate 20 years of glitz and glamour and stunning performances on the dancefloor. Another 15 celebrities will be donning their dancing shoes in a bid to lift the coveted Glitterball Trophy - watched on by millions of viewers.

For three months the star-studded line-up of contestants will tango, jive, salsa and quickstep with their professional dance partners. Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel-Horwood and Anton Du Beke will be back in the judges’ seats once more, ready to give their verdict on every step, arm, turn and finish.

The series will once again open with a special pre-recorded launch episode which will see the celebrities meeting the pro they've been paired with. In previous years, viewers have been treated to a group dance after the pairings are announced.

READ MORE: Strictly Come Dancing 2024 line-up in full

The 2024 Strictly launch episode will also see a "special, celebratory group dance" featuring all of the professional dancers to mark the return of Amy Dowden following her cancer treatment. The BBC says the quickstep routine "will see Amy front and centre as she dazzles the audience, alongside her fellow professional dancers".

The first live show where the couples will perform for the judges, is expected to be on BBC One the following Saturday, September 21. In previous years, there have been no eliminations following the first live show, with all scores carried over to the following week.

That means the first couple to leave Strictly Come Dancing in 2024 will do so in the results show on Sunday, September 29 following the second live show on Saturday, September 28.

The full list of celebrities taking part in Strictly this year is Olympic medalist and TV