This will be my first time watching it so I'm not familiar with the schedule. Was going through the schedule on BBC1 and was surprised to see Strictly's not on this week or next! Is this because they want to give the partners time to prepare, I'm assuming? If anyone could tell me when it properly starts that'd be great, thanks!

It starts on Friday the 25th of September (probably at 9 PM) and continues on Saturday the 26th of September (first weekend is a double fixture; a few couples dance on the Friday and the rest on the Saturday*).

* Saturday being a longer show

Yes, they give us a little taste then snatch it away again for 3 weeks But I'm sure all the celebs will reappear by then looking like the next Fred or Ginger....

Thanks a mill @Sherlock_Holmes and @GoinGaga

I'm also going to add as this well, that no couples will have to face the dreaded bottom two until the second week.

Yes, starts on the 25th, second show on the 26th, but the first elimination (dance-off) will be on the 4th, after week 2 the night before. The idea is that everyone does 1 Ballroom, 1 Latin in the first two weeks, but it's been known for that to not work (Holly Valance & Russel Grant both did Cha-Cha-Cha followed by Salsa).