It came as the first episode of the BBC One show’s 2025 series aired on Saturday night

A Strictly Come Dancing legend has shared his honest thoughts on the 2025 launch show, revealing what didn’t happen in ‘his day’ on the popular programme.

The first episode of the brand new series aired on Saturday night (September 20) and saw hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman welcomed the 15 new celebrity contestants into the ballroom for the first time.

opened with a skit featuring a video message from last year’s winner, comedian Chris McCausland, who was seen refusing to give the Glitterball trophy back to presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

With help from judge Craig Revel Horwood, the hosts finally got their hands on the trophy, before the professional dancers and judges were seen teaming up for an elaborate dance number, before the celebrity contestants appeared on a silver staircase positioned on the ballroom floor.

Chris and his professional dance partner Dianne Buswell then went on to reprise their tear-jerking, Bafta TV award-winning waltz to You’ll Never Walk Alone, which they also performed during last year’s final as their favourite dance of the series.

And Brendan Cole, who is best known for being a professional dancer on the show from 2004 to 2017, had a lot to say about it.

The 2025 series kicked off with a spectacular pre-recorded launch show(Image: PA)

Speaking exclusively to the Manchester Evening News, via Sky Vegas, he said: “In the opening VT, I had my head in my hands thinking, what are they doing? It just wasn’t the kind of telly I like. Not that it was necessarily bad, but it wasn’t to my taste – it didn’t feel like the Strictly I was ever part of. “

Brendan added: “That said, the rest of the show was good. The way they put the pairings together, the way it was filmed and shot – I thought all of that worked brilliantly.”

As for the rest of the launch show, all eyes were on Strictly’s new celebrity contestants as they appeared on the dance floor for the first time, and discovered who their professional dance partner would be.

But as the pairings were revealed, it was confirmed that four pros wouldn’t be competing in the contest this year alongside Gorka Marquez, who ruled himself out as he returned as a judge on the Spanish version of Strictly.

“It wasn’t like that in my day [not being paired with anybody],” Brendan told us. “Back then, you were either there for the gig or you weren’t. I don’t necessarily like the way the pros are treated now with regard to that.

“At the end of the day, without them the show wouldn’t be a show, and there’s maybe a lack of respect towards them. That said, the pros do sign their contracts, so they know what they’re agreeing to – it’s not a surprise. But still, it was different in my day, and it simply wouldn’t have happened.”