What time is BBC Strictly Come Dancing week 8 on tonight? As dances revealed

News Desk

22 minutes ago

LIVEUpdated 13 mins ago

Strictly Come Dancing is back on screens tonight for week eight, but professional star Kai Widdrington will not be dancing with Delta Goodrem due to ill health

Updated 17:58, 14 Nov 2026

It’s that time again – Strictly Come Dancing is back on screens in just a matter of hours. And the contestants are facing even more pressure tonight, with Blackpool being just one week away.

However, that doesn’t mean that the show won’t be filled with drama. This week, professional dancer Kai Widdrington has to miss performing with celebrity partner Delta Goodrem due to illness. It comes just weeks after Delta also missed an episode after suffering an injury.

Announcing the news, the BBC said: “Due to illness, Kai is unable to dance on tomorrow night’s show. Instead, Aljaž will step in to dance the Argentine Tango with Delta. We’re sending Kai all our love and hope he feels better very soon.” Aljaž previously danced during this series with Gavin & Stacey icon, Melanie Walters, but they were the second couple to be eliminated.

Meanwhile, Jaime Winstone is returning, having missed last week after she also suffered an injury. This weekend, fans will also be treated to a special fantasy-themed dance from the professionals, which will air during the results show tomorrow night. But that’s not all; Alan Cumming will be making a surprise appearance.

If you want the latest updates, follow our live blog – and remember, keeeeeeep dancing! Let us know your thoughts in the comment section by clicking here.

Strictly Come Dancing airs tonight at 6.25pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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What time is Strictly on tonight?

Set your alarms – Strictly is back in a matter of hours, and you won’t want to miss it.
The show will kick off at 6.25pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Dani Dyer ‘public’s favourite’, says Strictly pro

When asked who he thinks the public have been protecting, former pro Vincent Simone, has some strong opinions on the matter. He said: “Probably Dani Dyer, Lacey and John. I feel like they’re the public’s favourites so far, because they’re not trained dancers and they’re doing so well.

“They’re really humble and really funny, and I think that’s what Strictly should be about. But so far the dance-off has been the people who deserve to be in the dance-off. “

Speaking to Paddy Power Games, he added: “Between the judges and the people at home, they’re doing a good job. You can tell viewers have learned about ballroom dancing, because now they can see who’s good and who’s bad. The couples at the bottom are the ones I would have put there myself.”

Jordan LloydBeck

TV Reporter

Aljaz’s nerves ahead of comeback

With just hours to go until the show begins, Aljaz seemed a bit nervous and posted a video to Instagram where he said: “Good morning, Instagram, what a morning, what a day! Let’s do this!”

Aljaz is stepping in for Kai Widdrington this week, who is away due to illness, and will be dancing with Neighbours star Delta Goodrem. Earlier in the series, he was paired with Gavin & Stacey star Melanie Walters until their elimination.

The TV star, who is married to former It Takes Two host Janette Manrara, then revealed that his three-year-old daughter Lyra had presented him with a plush Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas as a good luck charm.

He added: “Before I left, the little one stopped me and said, ‘Please take this with you for luck. So here I am, it’s my little pumpkin, I think his name is Jack, he’s gonna be with me all day for good luck. We got this.” Read more here.

Daniel Bird

Assistant Showbiz Editor

Host ‘banned’ from having an opinion

Former It Takes Two host Fleur East has claimed she was “banned” from having an opinion during her stint on the show.
The singer and presenter joined It Takes Two in 2023 after competing in 2022. But this year, she was replaced by Ellie Taylor. She said: “For years, I wasn’t allowed to show any bias towards anyone. I can say who my favourite is now because I don’t work on the show anymore.”
And it’s no surprise that her favourite is her Hits Radio Breakfast co-host, Will Best. Fleur added: “He’s just had a baby, he’s doing 20,000 jobs, and he deserves to win.”

Daniel Bird

Assistant Showbiz Editor

Who left Strictly last week?

Bethany Antonia and her partner, Nancy Xu, were eliminated from the competition last week. The pair went up against Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby in the dance-off.
Anton Du Beke chose to save Cach and Maddie; Craig Revel Horwood opted to save Bethany, and Motsi Mabuse also chose to save Bethany and Nancy. Head Judge Shirley Ballas, who had the deciding vote, also opted to save Cach and Maddie, meaning Nancy left.

Daniel Bird

Assistant Showbiz Editor

Cach refuses to change – despite drama

Former Love Island star, Cach, has refused to change his dancing style – despite finding himself in the dance-off. Instead, the 25-year-old has insisted he will stay true to himself rather than be something he’s not. “I feel like there’s a good blend of showing who I am plus showing what I’m getting into,” he explained. “Obviously, I’m taking on their criticism heavily and I’m going to try and align that with the next dance that we do. But I think it’s very important to try and still incorporate a sense of myself within the dances too.
“Because if I go through this competition trying to be a ballroom and Latin boy, which has never, ever been me, then I might not have fun because I’m shaping myself to be something I’m not. So, I think it is important to still keep freestyle elements, for example, to just show my character and show what I like to do. I’m doing Strictly Cach-style!”

Daniel Bird

Assistant Showbiz Editor

Why did Jaime Winstone miss a week?

Last week, actress Jaime was forced to miss a week after suffering an injury. Writing on Instagram this week, she confirmed her fate, saying: “We are so happy to be back in the rehearsal room. We want to thank everyone for the most amazing show of love and support during this scary unknowing time. Huge love from this very grateful pair- Jaime & Carlos.”
A statement issued earlier this week revealed that the actress was “in considerable pain” but hoped to return to the dance floor. Jaime had torn an abdominal muscle, and doctors advised her to rest.

Who has left the competition so far?

Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden (week two)
Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec (week three)
Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon (week four)
Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr (week five)
Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał (week six)
Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu (week seven)

Why is Kai Widdrington not dancing?

Kai has been forced to pull out of tonight’s episode and will be replaced. A statement issued by Strictly said: “Due to illness, Kai is unable to dance on tomorrow night’s show. Instead, Aljaž will step in to dance the Argentine Tango with Delta. We’re sending Kai all our love and hope he feels better very soon.”
Aljaž was previously partnered with Gavin & Stacey’s Melanie Walters, but they were the second couple to be eliminated.

Week eight songs and dances!

Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu – Charleston to I Can’t Do It Alone
Delta Goodrem and Aljaž Škorjanec – Argentine Tango to Missing
Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley – Quickstep to Happy Days
Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin – Paso Doble to Everybody Wants To Rule The World
Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby – Charleston to Blame It on the Boogie
Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola – Foxtrot to Have You Met Miss Jones
John Newllis and Katya Jones – Jive to Pump It
Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita – Viennese Waltz
Will Best and Dianne Buswell – Paso Doble to Smalltown Boy

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