Aljaž Škorjanec returns to the Strictly Come Dancing Ballroom as a Professional Dancer

July 9, 2024 – Aljaž Škorjanec will return to the Strictly Come Dancing Ballroom as a Professional Dancer for the brand-new series. After a two year hiatus, fan favourite Aljaž is waltzing back onto our screens for the 20th year of the nation’s favourite dance show. The news was revealed yesterday evening (Monday 8 July) on The One Show.

The multi-award-winning entertainment show, produced by BBC Studios, will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer for its new series this Autumn. As Strictly celebrates two spectacular decades of dance, this series promising to be extra special with even more glitz, glamour and unforgettable performances.

Aljaž Škorjanec is a World-Class Professional Dancer and a 19 time Slovenian champion in Ballroom, Latin and Ten dance, who graced the nation with his fancy footwork on Strictly for nine iconic series. Aljaž and his celebrity partner Abbey Clancy raised the Glitterball in his debut year on the show in 2013 and was a runner up in 2017 with partner, Gemma Atkinson.

Aljaž says: “I could not be more ecstatic to be back with the Strictly family! This year is such a special one for this legendary show, I can’t wait to be a part of it and make my return to the dancefloor. I had an absolute ball during my nine year stint on Strictly, during my time away I became a parent, which has been an exciting challenge in itself and now I’m ready to experience the Strictly magic again. It feels so right to be coming back, I missed the fun, glitter and the judges of course and I hope to make my daughter Lyra proud!”

Sarah James, Executive Producer of Strictly Come Dancing says: “We are all so thrilled that Aljaž is back in the Strictly Ballroom, bringing his incredible choreography and passion for dance. During his nine series he was a firm favourite with viewers across the country, I’m sure everyone is in for a treat as he joins us to entertain the nation for a very special 20th year of the show.”

The celebrity contestants joining the new series will be announced in due course.

Strictly Come Dancing is a BBC Studios Entertainment Production for BBC One and BBC iPlayer, commissioned by Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment at the BBC. The Executive Producer for BBC Studios is Sarah James, the Series Editors are Nicola Fitzgerald and Jack Gledhill and the Series Producers are Ciara Murray and Joe Turner. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Jo Wallace.