Strictly Come Dancing announces huge new addition to BBC show after 20 years-Pierra Willix-Entertainment – Metro

Strictly Come Dancing will be getting a shake-up with a brand-new themed week being introduced to the long-running series.

This year marks 20 years on screen for the BBC dancing show, which first launched in 2004.

Over the years the themes in special weeks have been Movies, Musicals and Blackpool.

Now another will be added to the mix.

The news was announced on tonight’s episode of It Takes Two, with host Janette Manrara sharing the update.

‘Now the critics love Movie week, right? Halloween week is scarily good, and Musicals week is Wicked! Well, to celebrate our 20th year it’s time for a Strictly first,’ she began.

Strictly Come Dancing has announced a new addition to the series (Picture: BBC)

‘I can reveal this year that there is a new themed week, and it is…Icons!’.

She continued: ‘On Saturday November 2 you can all look forward to Icons week. It’s time to go Gaga as Strictly honours a group of icons from the music industry. All of our couples will be wowing you with dances to different legends.’

A clip was then shown of a dance routine performed by the pros and led by Johannes Radebe to Beyonce’s Run the World (Girls).

However, many Strictly fans seemed unconvinced.

‘Icons week? Cos we’ve never had dances to Gaga, Beyonce, Whitney, Tina, Mariah, Elton, Nina, Madonna etc before…which producer phoned that in via ChatGPT?’ user Hannah posted on X.

Icons week will be added to the specials line-up as part of the show’s 20th anniversary celebrations (Picture: BBC)

‘How about celebrating iconic routines of strictly past- returning pros and winners participating in group routines or as additional dancers in celeb routines. Nothing about this celebrates the shows anniversary,’ Amy shared.

‘All of that buildup just for a theme week 😢and it doesn’t really scream “anniversary”,’ desmoongirl added.

The BBC has explained so far: ‘In this brand-new special week, which will be part of this series and beyond, the remaining couples will take to the ballroom floor to honour music icons.

‘Our Strictly Come Dancing stars will pay tribute to some of the most recognisable and influential people in the music industry.

‘This new week will be dedicated to music legends from across the decades.’

A sneak peek at the pros performing a Beyonce medley was shown on It Takes Two (Picture: Kieron McCarron/ PA Wire)

The national broadcaster also revealed Icons week, which will air the week after the Halloween special, won’t be a one-off either and will become part of the series moving forward.

Retired themes from past seasons of Strictly include Around the World week and BBC 100 Week, in which the contestants performed to theme tunes from iconic BBC shows to commemorate the broadcaster’s centennial.

Last week, the first themed week of the series got underway, with the remaining 14 contestants (minus Nick Knowles who had to sit out due to an injury) paying homage to movies like Barbie, Harry Potter, Mrs. Doubtfire, Rocketman and The Little Mermaid.

So far this season Olympian Tom Dean and his partner Nadiya Bychkova have been sent home, being followed by Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones on the most recent episode.

It Takes Two airs weekdays from 6.30pm on BBC Two. Strictly Come Dancing continues Saturday at 6.20pm on BBC One.

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