Strictly Come Dancing fans fumed as the partners for this year’s series of the BBC show were leaked just hours before the launch episode. 

The dancing show marks its 20th anniversary as it returns to British TV screens on Saturday night for its 22nd series.

Strictly’s launch episode on Saturday will see Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman host as the professional dancers perform – as well as the announcing of this year’s couples.

However fans were left furious when just hours before the episode, a spoiler account let slip all of the partnerships on social media.

The leak did not go down well with some fans, as they shared their outrage at some of the couples – sharing their upset at one dancer being paired with someone ‘rubbish’.

Strictly Come Dancing fans fumed as the partners for this year's series of the BBC show were leaked just hours before the launch episode on Saturday
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Strictly Come Dancing fans fumed as the partners for this year’s series of the BBC show were leaked just hours before the launch episode on Saturday

Strictly's launch episode on Saturday will see Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman host as the professional dancers perform - as well as the announcing of this year's couples
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Strictly’s launch episode on Saturday will see Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman host as the professional dancers perform – as well as the announcing of this year’s couples

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, fans wrote: ‘Gutted that [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] aren’t partnered up, my two favourite male dancers!’;

‘For the love of God, will they please give [REDACTED] someone decent? Do the producers hate her or what?’;

‘Poor [REDACTED] has came 12th 3 years in a row and they’ve gave her someone rubbish again (i like [REDACTED] but let’s face it, he’s not gonna be good),’;

‘Oh, what a shame, I really really wanted [REDACTED] to be with [REDACTED]!!!!!’

One of the professionals not paired with a celebrity partner this year is Kai Widdrington.

Kai broke his silence on Saturday after being axed from the main show line up for the 20th anniversary series.

The dancer, who made it all the way to Blackpool last year with his partner Angela Rippon, has opened up about his disappointment to not be part of a celebrity pairing.

Speaking to the Daily Star, Kai explained: ‘Everyone wants to get a celebrity. Unfortunately, it wasn’t my time this series. Two boys couldn’t have one this series and sadly I am one of them.’

The dancing show marks its 20th anniversary as it returns to British TV screens on Saturday night for its 22nd series
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View gallery

The dancing show marks its 20th anniversary as it returns to British TV screens on Saturday night for its 22nd series

However fans were left furious when just hours before the episode, a spoiler account let slip all of the partnerships on social media
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View gallery

However fans were left furious when just hours before the episode, a spoiler account let slip all of the partnerships on social media

The leak did not go down well with some fans, as they shared their outrage at some of the couples
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View gallery

The leak did not go down well with some fans, as they shared their outrage at some of the couples

‘Some of us don’t get partners and that’s the way it is. Let’s see what happens next year. Hopefully I’ll get one then.’

With the cloud of controversy hanging over the show the toxicity that engulfed the once-loved Saturday night juggernaut has acted as a deterrent for female celebrities.

This means that for the first time the lineup features an uneven split of six women compared to nine men.

However Kai admitted he is still very much looking forward to still being a part of this year’s ‘amazing’ series.

He added: ‘We have been filming a lot of the group routines. There are some amazing ones. We have worked really hard through the summer to get them ready for the series. One of the ones I feature in is very funny.’

Last month Strictly fans declared that bosses have made a ‘bad call’ after it was reported Kai wouldn’t have a partner.

While Kai has drawn the short straw this year, fellow professional dancer Neil Jones is over the moon to be dancing with a celebrity after only so far receiving two partners since joining the show in 2016.

Strictly's Kai Widdrington has broken his silence after being axed from the 20th anniversary main show line-up
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Strictly’s Kai Widdrington has broken his silence after being axed from the 20th anniversary main show line-up

The professional dancer, who made it all the way to Blackpool last year with his partner Angela Rippon, has opened up about his disappointment to not be part of a celebrity pairing
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The professional dancer, who made it all the way to Blackpool last year with his partner Angela Rippon, has opened up about his disappointment to not be part of a celebrity pairing

Speaking to MailOnline at the NTAs he said: ‘I just love everything about the show. I’m one of those that I love to support the other pros. I look at it as a I’m there for the whole show and to support them all.

‘I honestly say what I love about Strictly is 20 years now and every year there’s always changes happening and you ask yourself how can we get stronger?

‘And every year they get stronger and stronger and they they just have such a great support team. And so I just I love it.’

He added: ‘I’m always saying I’ll be back as long as you want me and as long as my body can hold.’