Strictly Come Dancing's first live episode aired on Saturday (26 September), marking the debut of all 15 celebrity contestants on live television. Northern Irish social media creator John Nellis and his professional partner Katya Jones led the leaderboard with 31 points for their foxtrot to "Ordinary" by Alex Warren. Australian singer Delta Goodrem and her partner Kai Widdrington came in second with 29 points for their samba performance. The episode featured a new hosting trio—Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe—who shared responsibilities between the judges' table and the show's balcony. Dani Dyer-Bowen made her delayed debut, scoring 22 points, while EastEnders star Lacey Turner earned 27 points. A three-way tie at the bottom saw Melanie Walters, Shaun Wright-Phillips, and Dame Sarah Storey each receive 15 points. No couples were eliminated, as the opening show did not include a public vote. The competition will continue next Saturday, with the focus shifting to Movie Week. John Nellis, despite having 16 million online followers, was initially seen as one of the less-known contestants. His performance, however, impressed the judges and the audience alike. Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas were particularly moved, with Mabuse admitting the performance made her emotional. Anton Du Beke compared Nellis to cricketer Darren Gough, who was an underdog on the show's third series in 2005 but eventually won. Craig Revel Horwood was more critical, noting Nellis lacked swing and sway but praised his "classy, elegant and graceful" style. Before the first live episode, Nellis had the fifth best odds of winning Strictly Come Dancing, following Dani Dyer, Lawrence Robb, Delta Goodrem, and Lacey Turner. As tradition dictates, no one was eliminated in the first week. Week two scores will be combined with week one's, and a new leaderboard will be drawn up. Viewers will be able to vote for their favorites for the first time next week. This year, Movie Week will take place earlier in the competition, with the event scheduled for next Saturday (3 October).