BBC announces new Strictly Come Dancing spin-off hosted by former contestant days after 2026 series launch

Episodes will land immediately after the weekly results show wraps up, giving audiences an extended dose of ballroom drama following each elimination.

Mr West, a radio presenter who took part in Strictly back in 2022, brings first-hand experience of the competition to the hosting role.

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Mr Clarke, a self-professed Strictly superfan, completes the presenting duo for what the BBC is billing as an unmissable addition to the Strictly universe.

The format promises to capture raw, unfiltered moments from the ballroom floor in the minutes after each elimination.

Mr West and Ms Clarke will speak to the departing couple while their emotions are still running high, as well as chatting to the pair who narrowly avoided the chop in the dance-off.

Beyond the eliminated contestants, the presenting duo will also have access to the judging panel, the show’s new hosts, fellow celebrity competitors and any studio guests present on the night.

Ms Clarke will additionally serve as a regular backstage presence throughout the series, offering viewers a glimpse inside the rehearsal rooms and dressing areas.

The aim, according to the BBC, is to reveal “all of the immediate reaction that previously remained unseen” by the television audience.

Alongside the new spin-off, the BBC is rolling out a dedicated Strictly hub on iPlayer designed to house all supplementary content in one place.

This will include weekly training room episodes featuring Ms Clarke dropping in on couples during rehearsals to check on their progress, plus a standalone highlights programme recapping each week’s action.

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The streaming platform is also introducing fresh viewing tools for the main series itself.

For the first time, individual dances will be available as standalone clips, while a new chapter-scrolling function will let viewers navigate full episodes by segment.

According to the BBC, this means fans can jump straight to their preferred contestants or revisit standout moments without watching entire episodes from start to finish.

Saturday’s pre-recorded launch episode drew a peak audience of 5.8 million viewers, up 200,000 on last year’s equivalent according to BBC overnight figures.

That opener also served as the debut for Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe, who have replaced long-standing presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly at the helm of the main show.

The Strictly ecosystem has expanded further still this year, with Ellie Taylor, another 2022 series alumna, taking over as host of weekday companion programme It Takes Two, replacing Fleur East and Janette Manrara.

Sarah James, senior executive producer at BBC Studios, said: “With Strictly’s iPlayer audience growing year-on-year, this is the perfect time to announce a range of new exclusives that will bring viewers closer to Strictly than ever before.”