[Johnr]

I wonder what the audience rating will be for this launch show? The 2023 launch got 4.6 million overnight I believe, so it will be interesting to see if they maintained this figure now a certain co-host is not there anymore.

I felt it a fairly rushed show, and of course, to try and annoy BBC 1, they overran and Call the Midwife was just starting as they announced who was in the skate off next week - a little trick by ITV to try and spoil the competition on BBC 1, but probably Strictly did this back in the autumn.

But they were really pushed for time with all that non filler such as Josie being wheeled out for 5 minutes for the competition (only for Stephen to do the actual voiceover with the details!)