The judge spoke out ahead of the first live show on Saturday, following the Strictly Come Dancing launch on BBC One last weekend, where the 15 celebrities learned their pro partners.

Rippon showed off her famous flexibility during her first Strictly Come Dancing routine to secure an impressive score of 28.

Strictly Come Dancing's Amanda Abbington was boycotted by some BBC viewers on Saturday

To Get The Party Started by Shirely Bassey

Scoreboard topping Paso Doble

The pair delivered a stunning routine on Saturday evening - during the first live show of the year.

Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin delivered a sensual samba to Touch by Little Mix during the first live BBC show tonight.

The EastEnders star is a favourite to life the Glitterball trophy

Love Island's Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima impressed the Strictly Come Dancing judges and viewers with their Cha Cha Cha to Crush by Jennifer Page on Saturday's first live show

Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkleman had some big news for couples on the BBC show and viewers at home

The first live show of the 2023 series of Strictly Come Dancing returns to our screens - follow our blog for live updates, juicy gossip and reaction to the celebrities' first dances

All the marks

Strictly Come Dancing's Nancy Xu was left bleeding after the dance with Les Dennis

Strictly Come Dancing 2023 is officially underway, with the second episode of the glitzy competition back today.

The actress, 49, described the dancer, 33, as being like 'a little brother' in the pre-recorded VT saying she 'already loves him'.

The TV personality and presenter was seen getting emotional as he supported his son Bobby during his first dance.

Angela Rippon made her Strictly Come dancing debut on Saturday night alongside pro partner Kai Widdrington

Giovanni Pernice and Sherlock star Amanda Abbington danced the Viennese Waltz to Pointless by Lewis Capaldi for their first live show of the series, amid rumours of a 'clash' between them backstage