BREAKING NEWS: Strictly’s Aljaz Škorjanec Hit By Major Setback Just As New Series Gets Underway
Strictly Come Dancing fans have reacted to Aljaž Škorjanec’s new celebrity partner, with some viewers predicting the professional dancer could face a difficult run in the 2026 series.
The 36-year-old returned to the BBC ballroom this year after a number of professional dancers left the programme, including Nadiya Bychkova, Gorka Márquez and Luba Mushtuk.
During Saturday night’s launch show on September 19, Aljaž discovered he would be partnered with Gavin & Stacey actress Melanie Walters.
The programme introduced a brand-new way of revealing the couples, with celebrities dancing with several professionals in a “musical chairs” style routine before switching partners until the music stopped.
It was only then that the final pairings were confirmed.
Fans Compare Aljaž to Anton Du Beke
Following the reveal, some viewers began discussing whether Aljaž could be taking on a role previously associated with Anton Du Beke during his years as a professional dancer.
Melanie is the oldest female celebrity competing in this year’s line-up and was listed at 12/1 to win in the source report.
That prompted some fans to speculate that Aljaž might have been given a partnership that could make reaching the later stages more challenging.
One Reddit user asked: “Do we think Aljaz is the new Anton in terms of partners?”
The comparison refers to Anton’s reputation during his years as a professional on Strictly, when he was frequently paired with older celebrity contestants.
His former partners included Lesley Joseph, Ann Widdecombe and Susannah Constantine, with several of those partnerships finishing towards the lower end of the leaderboard.
Another fan responded to the discussion by writing: “It’s sad because I quite like him. But yeah he’s not going to make it far this year.”
Someone else simply posted: “Poor Aljaz!”
Those comments are viewer predictions rather than any indication of how Melanie and Aljaž will actually perform once the live competition begins.
Melanie Receives Plenty of Support
Not everybody reacted negatively to the new partnership.
Some viewers immediately threw their support behind Melanie after the pairing was announced.
One fan affectionately referred to the actress as “mother” on X, while another declared: “I’m team Melanie!”
The positive reaction suggests that the couple could still build a strong following once viewers see their first full competitive routine.
As with every Strictly series, early predictions can quickly change once the celebrities begin performing for the judges and public.
New Pairing Format Brings Extra Suspense
This year’s launch show changed the usual method of revealing celebrity-professional partnerships.
Rather than simply announcing each couple individually, celebrities and professionals danced together and repeatedly changed partners during the routine.
The format meant viewers had to wait until the music stopped before discovering who would be paired for the series.
For Aljaž, that moment confirmed Melanie as his 2026 celebrity partner.
The actress is best known to many viewers for playing Gwen West in Gavin & Stacey, while Aljaž has years of experience competing in the Strictly ballroom.
Plenty Still to Be Decided
Although some fans have already predicted an early exit, there is no guarantee that Melanie and Aljaž will struggle.
The pair have yet to perform their first scored routine, and much will depend on choreography, judges’ marks, improvement across rehearsals and public support.
Age alone does not determine how far a contestant progresses on Strictly, and the launch show offers only a limited indication of how a partnership will develop.
For now, however, the pairing has already sparked plenty of discussion.
Some viewers fear Aljaž could be facing another season away from the later stages of the competition, while others are firmly backing Melanie before the first live show has even taken place.
Their first competitive performance will provide the clearest indication yet of whether those early predictions are justified.
