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One of the Strictly Come Dancing professional dancers who has been left without a celebrity partner this year has spoken out as they mocked being 'benched'.

The hit BBC One dance contest returned to screens on Saturday night (September 20) with the 2025 launch show kicking things off in style.

Hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman officially kicked off proceedings as they returned to the iconic ballroom alongside show judges, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke.

As well as revealing which of the 15 celebrity contestants were paired with which of the talented professional dancers - including newcomers Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon - the launch show featured an epic performance from the pros - and the judges.

There was also an emotion

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