‘Strictly Come Dancing’ launch has been held off due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

Strictly Come Dancing launch has postponed due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II

Strictly Come Dancing launch has postponed due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II

The star-studded BBC latin and ballroom competition - which is hosted by Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly and judged by Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel-Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke - will be pushed back to next week due to the 96-year-old monarch being laid to rest on Monday (19.09.2022) at 11am.

According to the Sun newspaper, the first show of the season - which will feature celebs such as comic Ellie Taylor, Bros star Matt Goss, television presenter Helen Skelton and ‘EastEnders’ star James Bye - will air on Friday night (23.09.22) and then the first live show will be broadcast on Saturday, the following day.

This is the latest television event to be delayed by the death of the Queen after last week, the BBC pulled the airing of the finale of ‘Canada’s Drag Race’ on Thursday (08.09.2022), the day Her Majesty died.

The BBC and ITV all week have been amending their schedules to accommodate the period of mourning, such as replacing their usual line up with documentaries and special programmes about the royal family.

The statement announcing her death read: "The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.

"The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow."

Tributes from across the globe have poured in for Her Majesty - who sat on the throne for more than seven decades - including from world leaders such as US President Joe Biden.

The 79-year-old Commander-in-Chief said in a joint statement with his wife Dr Jill Biden, 71: “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was more than a monarch. She defined an era.

In a world of constant change, she was a steadying presence and a source of comfort and pride for generations of Britons, including many who have never known their country without her. An enduring admiration for Queen Elizabeth II united people across the Commonwealth. The seven decades of her history-making reign bore witness to an age of unprecedented human advancement and the forward march of human dignity.”

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