Nick Knowles tenderly hugged his fiancée Katie Dadzie as filming for the Strictly Come Dancing launch show kicked off in London on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Nick’s co-star Pete Wicks commanded attention in a floral sheer shirt and glitzy trousers as he was seen outside mingling with the pro dancers.
Television presenter Nick, 61, wore a blue suit with a pink shirt while Katie, 34, looked glamorous in a bridal white off-shoulder top and matching skirt.
Nick was all smiles as he introduced Katie, who was their to support, to Pete after filming.
Elsewhere, Pete had a conversation with a man in a light blue jacket as he left the afterparty at the studios.
Nick Knowles, 61, tenderly hugged his fiancée Katie Dadzie, 34, as filming for the Strictly Come Dancing launch show kicked off in London on Wednesday
Pete, 36, flexed his ripped body in the unbuttoned floral shirt – and also wore silver glitter trousers – and held a beer
Nick was all smiles as he introduced Katie, who was their to support, to Pete after filming
Nick finished his outfit with a red flower on his lapel and white trainers on his feet. He and Pete smiled as they walked in sync.
He and Katie have been together since 2019 and Nick proposed in August 2023.
Nick has four grown-up children, and Katie two young children, but the couple don’t share any together.
The gathering comes after the start date for the twenty-second series of Strictly was announced on Wednesday.
The new series will launch on BBC One on Saturday, September 14 but the first live show will be a week later.
With just a week to go until the professionals and celebrities will be seen on screen, Dianne Buswell led the stars heading to Elstree Studios on Wednesday for last-minute rehearsals.
Strictly Come Dancing released a very bubbly trailer ahead of the show’s return to screens this month.
After a bumpy ride in recent months following bullying allegations, Aljaz Skorjanec is steering the scandal-hit show in the right direction.
Nick and Katie have been together since 2019 and Nick proposed in August 2023. They have four and two children respectively (pictured in June)
Nick finished his outfit with a red flower on his lapel and white trainers on his feet. He and Pete smiled as they walked in sync
Elsewhere, Pete had a conversation with a man in a light blue jacket as he left the afterparty at the studios
The gathering comes after the start date for the twenty-second series of Strictly was announced on Wednesday
The new series will launch on BBC One on Saturday, September 14 but the first live show will be a week later
Nick sweetly and skillfully hugged Katie, and a blonde friend carrying a Chanel handbag, at the same time
Katie showed off her handbag to another woman, a curly blonde
She carried a large purple water bottle with her bag
Katie and Nick founded lingerie and sex toy company Boa Boa in 2023
The company has not been performing, and August reports allegedly showed the company to be £15,000 in the red
Katie showed off her bottle to the group. She and Nick have been together since 2019 and Nick proposed in August 2023
Nick has four grown-up children, and Katie two young children, but the couple (pictured) don’t share any together
A laughing Nick could not keep his hands off of Katie at the event
In the short clip, the professional dancer was the driver of the pink bus while his co-stars danced to Vengaboys’ We Like to Party.
Amy Dowden made a delightful comeback in the trailer after missing last year’s series due to battling breast cancer.
Dressed in feather bowers, pastel-coloured outfits and sequinned gowns, the professionals couldn’t wipe the smile off their face as they teased the show’s 20th exciting return.
The BBC flagship show has been plagued for months by allegations of ‘bullying’ and abuse by former professionals Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima to their celebrity partners Amanda Abbington and Zara McDermott.
As a result, professionals paired with dancers this year include the likes of last year’s winner, Vito Coppola, Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer, Neil Jones, Katya Jones and Nikita Kuzmin.
Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley and Michelle Tsiakkas complete the line up.
Meanwhile, despite playing a prominent role in the trailer, supposed fan favourite, Kai Widdrington, has not been paired with a celebrity this year due to a lack of women signing up this year.
Amy is returning to the show after being diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2023, when she found a lump the day before her honeymoon, and missed out on having a celebrity partner in that year’s series of Strictly.
When it was time to leave, Katie did so sans Nick, taking a blonde friend with her instead
Also staying behind was Pete who got friendly with a mystery woman
He shared a laugh with the man on the bridge who was leaning forward intently
Pete is currently promoting his debut memoir Never Enough: My Words Unfiltered
He is taking part in Strictly despite the horrible experience his best friend Sam Thompson’s girlfriend Zara McDermott had
However, Pete received Zara’s full permission to go ahead with the reality dancing programme
Pete showed off his shapely bottom in the tight silver trousers
He was initially apprehensive about joining Strictly because Zara’s experience was marred by her Strictly partner Graziano Di Prima’s inappropriate behaviour towards her
Pete joins stars such as JLS’ JB Gill, Toyah Willcox, Love Island’s Tasha Ghouri, and GoCompare adverts’ Wynne Evans
His last reality programme was series five of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, which aired in 2024
The 34-year-old announced in February that she would return to the show this year, after a mastectomy and chemotherapy left her with ‘no evidence of disease’ following tests.
The launch show of Strictly’s 20th anniversary series will see the dancers perform an ’empowering’ routine to celebrate Amy’s return, and will also see its celebrity contestants paired with their dancing partners.
Speaking about her Strictly return, Amy said: ‘I am so excited for every element of being back with my Strictly family.
‘I am so grateful to get this opportunity, especially as it’s such a special year for this legendary show. It feels like it’s my first year again.
‘I’m buzzing to see the whole team, for costumes, for dance routines, to meet the celebrities, the judges. Everyone’s laughing at me because I am just smiling constantly.
‘I’d like to dedicate this dance to my pink sisters who have supported me through the past year and to all those currently facing cancer.’
Viewers will also get a glimpse of the Strictly class of 2024’s dancing skills as they perform a group routine on the show.
STRICTLY LINE-UP 2024
Chris McCausland
Age: 46
Profession: Comedian
Chris says: ‘If anybody out there is thinking – How the hell is he going to do that? – then rest assured that I am thinking exactly the same thing.’
Dr. Punam Krishan
Age: Unknown
Profession: GP and broadcaster
Punam says: ‘I have watched Strictly every year and it feels extra special that it’s the 20th year, I can’t believe I will be the one getting Strictly-fied.’
Toyah Willcox
Age: 66
Profession: Singer, actor, presenter
Toyah says: ‘I’m super excited and love this show. To be a part of it, the spray tan the glitter. Its a landmark year for me I came a pensioner, Glasto and now I get spray tans.’
Pete Wicks
Age: 36
Profession: Reality star
Pete says: ‘Dancing live in front of the nation every Saturday? Absolutely terrifying.’
Shayne Ward
Age: 39
Profession: Actor and singer
Shayne says: ‘I’m no stranger to live TV, but dancing Latin and Ballroom in front of millions is a whole new level.’
Tom Dean
Age: 24
Profession: Olympic medal winning swimmer
Tom says: ‘Now I can officially talk about how excited I am to get stuck into something new, meet some brilliant people and get dancing’
Nick Knowles
Age: 61
Profession: TV presenter
Nick says: ‘I am going to really go for it I will throw myself at it 100 per cent!’
JB Gill
Age: 37
Profession: Singer
JB says: ‘A lot of the ballroom styles are very alien to me – I didn’t do those dances growing up. I am not a trained dancer.’
Wynne Evans
Age: 52
Profession: Opera singer, presenter
Wynne says: ‘The stuff I’m nervous about is the ones that involve jumping, I don’t really want to do the jive, I’m nervous about that.
Tasha Ghouri
Age: 25
Profession: Model and reality star
Tasha says: ‘I’ve been watching the show since I was little – it’s a firm Ghouri family favourite – so this is a total dream come true.’
Sarah Hadland
Age: 53
Profession: Actress
Sarah says: ‘I feel particularly excited to be part of such an iconic show in its 20th year.’
Jamie Borthwick
Age: 30
Profession: EastEnders star
Jamie says: ‘I had a ball doing the Christmas special, so when I was asked to join it was the easiest yes!’
Sam Quek
Age: 35
Profession: Former GB hockey player and presenter
Sam says: ‘I am so relieved it is out there now it has been hard to keep a secret! The rumours were spreading and I had to lie! I am used to dancing on a girls night out but I will give it my all’
Paul Merson
Age: 56
Profession: Former footballer
Paul says: ‘I won’t worry about it until it starts but when it does I will be nervous – I have only danced three times in my life!’
