Strictly celebrates Nick Knowles’ birthday in first live show of 2024

Strictly Come Dancing celebrated Nick Knowles’ birthday throughout the first dwell present of the collection by gifting the DIY SOS star a cake.

The BBC One dance competitors has returned for its twentieth anniversary collection amid an investigation launched by the company following allegations made about former skilled dancer Giovanni Pernice by his 2023 movie star dance associate Amanda Abbington.

Knowles, who was celebrating his 62nd birthday, and his dance associate Luba Mushtuk opened the present with a jive to We Constructed This Metropolis by Starship.

Choose Anton Du Beke mentioned they have been “uplifting” and added that he felt “elated” after watching their efficiency which scored 18 factors from the judges.

After their efficiency Knowles was gifted a cake from skilled dancer Carlos Gu who, showing in a hi-vis jacket and builder’s hat, grabbed a bit of the baked good and pushed it in Knowles’ face.

Elsewhere former discipline hockey participant Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin carried out a foxtrot to The place Did Our Love Go by The Supremes.

Quek, who was given 23 factors from the judges, was instructed by Motsi Mabuse that she was “shining” whereas head choose Shirley Ballas instructed her she had “angle”.

Final weekend the Strictly launch present noticed performances from the professionals with a celebratory dance marking the return of Amy Dowden, who missed out on having a celeb dance associate final yr amid remedy for breast most cancers.

Earlier than its new collection and amid the behavioural allegations the BBC mentioned it might introduce new welfare measures together with a chaperone who shall be current “always” throughout rehearsals.