Strictly pairings surface online, sparking fan disappointment ahead of pre-recorded launch

Online posts have revealed several of the celebrity-professional pairings for this year's Strictly launch, which was pre-recorded on Wednesday ahead of the September 19 broadcast, prompting many fans to describe themselves as "gutted." The source of the leak remains unverified, though one outlet says it possesses the full list but will not publish it. Reactions on social media range from disappointment to excitement, with some viewers upset that a favored professional appears to be "benched."

The leak follows recent rehearsal difficulties that forced Katya Jones, 37, and her ex-husband Neil, 44, to withdraw after injuries, causing them to miss group routines. In addition, Strictly released its first trailer, showcasing glitter-filled backstage scenes at the Elstree studios and featuring judges Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke. The promo also introduced new presenters Johannes Radebe, Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe, who replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, and confirmed the departure of long-standing professionals such as Karen Hauer, Gorka Márquez, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk and Michelle Tsiakkas in favor of fresh talent, including former contestant Ellie Taylor.