Strictly first look as Dianne Buswell shows off baby bump after sparking concern

Strictly Come Dancing is back with the first look at its 2025 series and between the celebrities and the professionals, the excitement is high. The professionals have shimmied their way back onto the dancefloor with an impeccable first performance as the countdown to find out who will take home the Glitterball Trophy is officially on.

Between a live performance from Jessie J, a first look at the contestants' glamorous outfits, and a sneak-peek at Dianne Buswell's baby bump, the first episode of the series will be setting the scene for what is expected to be a fantastic series.

First pictures see Dianne holding the Glitterball Trophy in the air as she's lifted by Kai Widdrington, proving once and for all that her pregnancy is not slowing her down, despite fan-fears that she wouldn't be doing any lifts this season.

As she was quizzed on the pregnancy on TikTok with someone claiming she wouldn't be able to do lifts, Dianne cheekily responded: "I sure can, darlin'."

The reigning Strictly champion confirmed on Chris McCausland's Winning Isn't Everything podcast that she would keep doing lifts on the show, but explained there would be "a bit more caution".

She said: "My doctor said that everything is normal. He said, basically, if you've done it before, like in terms of you're a dancer, you've done lifts, you've done this, you've done that, then crack on and keep doing what you were doing.

"He said, because you've danced since you were five, literally, this is what your body's meant to do. He said, you shouldn't stop what you do. So obviously, with lifts, you just do it with caution."

The fan-favourite announced her pregnancy earlier this week as she and her former Strictly partner Joe Sugg revealed they're expecting a baby boy together in 2026.

Jessie J, who recently announced that she had been diagnosed with early breast cancer and has been undergoing surgery, kicked things off in a red suit as she's seen giving a stellar performance while the dancers rally around her to kick off the show in style. Favourites Gorka Marquez, Neil Jones, Johannes Radebe, Amy Dowden and many more shining a light on the ballroom as the men perform in black trousers and tops with different shades of blue, while the women perform in the most dazzling blue frocks.

Judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke also took to the dancefloor with the fellow dancers as they stole centre stage to celebrate the start of the series.

The celebrities are also seen celebrating their first time in the ballroom after meeting their professional partners, and some are already tipped to take the spot already, with Dani Dyer and Lewis Cope both poised to battle it for the win already, but AceOdds is predicting that the former Love Island star will come out on top.

Other contestants taking part in the series include Thomas Skinner, Vicky Pattison, Stefan Dennis, Alex Kingston, Balinder Sopal, Chris Robshaw, Ellie Goldstein, George Clarke, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Karen Carney, La Voix and Ross King.

The cast will also welcome two new professional dancers, Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon.

The first look at the stars meeting their partners shows nothing short of excitement from them all, bar La Voix, who immediately chirped: "That's the one I said I didn't want" upon finding out who she was paired up with.

Happy professionals will be gearing up to work their celebrities hard for their gruelling training sessions ahead of next week's live show, but before things hit a new challenge, they've made the most of dancing with their fellow pros.