The return of BBC's Strictly Come Dancing for its 20th season has been overshadowed by recent scandals, including allegations of bullying and abusive behavior against dancers Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, both of whom have been removed from the show. Despite the controversies, the launch episode celebrated the return of professional dancer Amy Dowden, who recently underwent treatment for breast cancer, and introduced new duty-of-care measures, such as the inclusion of chaperones in rehearsals. Some fans criticized hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman for not addressing the ongoing investigations during the live show, while presenter Janette Manrara defended the decision to focus on current contestants instead. The BBC has also scheduled a documentary to air following the launch, which will delve into the show's history and the recent scandals. Meanwhile, dancer Kai Widdrington expressed disappointment over not having a partner this season but maintained optimism for the show's future.