Strictly Come Dancing confirms new spin off - with Dianne Buswell involved

Strictly Come Dancing is back this weekend for its brand new season, with new hosts, new professional dancers, and a revamped It Takes Two. Now, the BBC has announced that it is launching another spin-off to grow the brand.

Titled Strictly Pro Dance Off, this new show will be a bite-sized entry in the franchise on CBBC, but like the main show, it will be live.

Airing every Saturday morning during Saturday Mash-Up!, each 7-minute episode will feature three Strictly pro dancers in a virtual studio.

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One pro will take the other two through a routine, while also teaching viewers the techniques involved, and those two will then face off in a dance battle.

The announcement says that the lead pro will hold the score paddles, but also teases that there will be an "interactive" element.

Episodes will also provide some "behind-the-scenes fun", and serve as a way to get to know the five new pro dancers as well as spend time with the returning favourites.

Dianne Buswell will serve as the lead pro for the first episode, with Kai Widdrington and Lauren Oakley performing a Jive to impress her.

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"Strictly Pro Dance Off brings everything children love about Strictly into a short, energetic new format made especially for them", said Sarah Muller, Senior Head of Commissioning for BBC Children’s and Education 7+.

"Viewers will see the professional dancers learning, teaching and getting competitive, while discovering more about the different styles and techniques that bring the ballroom to life."

Strictly Come Dancing returns this Saturday (19 September) to BBC One and iPlayer. Strictly Pro Dance Off premieres on the morning of the same day as part of Saturday Mash-Up! on CBBC.

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Joe Anderton is a freelance news writer at Digital Spy, having worked there since 2016. In his time, he's covered a host of live events and interviewed celebrities big and small. A big fan of TV and movies both mainstream and obscure, Joe also enjoys video games and in particular PlayStation. Joe currently does not use Twitter, but he only ever used it to tell people to watch the film Help! I'm a Fish.