Strictly Come Dancing viewers have been left divided after the BBC revealed the first five song choices for this year's Halloween Week, with several fans questioning whether the selections are spooky enough for the occasion.
The announcements, made on Tuesday, October 27, come days after former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips and his professional partner Alexis Warr became the latest couple to leave the competition, narrowing the field to ten partnerships ahead of Saturday's show.
What songs and dances were announced for Strictly Halloween Week?
Five of the ten routines have been confirmed so far. Delta Goodrem will perform a Viennese Waltz with professional partner Kai Widdrington to Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers, while presenter Will Best is set to deliver a Couples Choice routine to Nu Flow by Big Brovaz alongside partner Dianne Buswell, a nod to his Big Brother presenting duties.
According to Daily Star, the remaining three confirmed pairings were revealed on the show's official Instagram account: Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu will dance a Salsa to Filthy/Gorgeous by Scissor Sisters, Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita will perform a Quickstep to Little Mix's Black Magic, and Graeme Hall and Katya Jones will dance a Samba to Coconut by Harry Nilsson.
Why are fans questioning the Halloween theme?
The reaction online was swift and largely sceptical. beneath the Instagram post, one viewer asked: Since when is Black Magic a quickstep song? Another wrote: How can you salsa to Scissor Sisters?
A third commenter was blunter still about the overall theme: How is any of these songs apart from Black Magic Halloween? A fourth simply asked: It is Halloween week isn't it? The remarks were first reported by Wales Online.
Not everyone was convinced by the criticism, however. Can we quit these sort of comments every single week people say this and get proven wrong just wait and see, one supporter wrote. Another added: So here for Scissor Sisters. A third wrote: Nu Flow! Old school banger.
Shaun Wright-Phillips on his Strictly exit
The announcement came as Wright-Phillips gave his first interview since leaving the show, appearing on the Strictly spin-off programme It Takes Two on Monday, October 26, alongside Warr.
It was the second time the pair had landed in the dance-off during the series, and Wright-Phillips admitted he had sensed the result was coming.
I kind of knew. In my head I kind of knew so mentally I was already preparing myself from that moment, he told host Ellie Taylor.
As soon as we got into that room in the back, I was visualising straight away. We were running the steps where I made the mistakes and once again I was doing them fine so that confused me to the point where I knew them but I still made the mistake.
Warr, for her part, was quick to defend her former partner's efforts on the show.
That happens. I think... I want him to give himself grace for that because that's sometimes just what happens on the floor and with everything, she said.
Sometimes things don't always make sense but even when he did mess up, he kept pushing and he ended strong. He always kept pushing. He's a fighter, from day one until now. He just has that fight in him, that spirit.
What happens next on Strictly Come Dancing?
The ten remaining couples will now prepare for Halloween Week, which is traditionally one of the most anticipated editions of the Strictly calendar, with elaborate costumes and themed routines expected when the show returns to BBC One this weekend.
The judging panel of Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Anton Du Beke and Motsi Mabuse will once again assess the performances as the competition continues toward its later stages.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Strictly Come Dancing Halloween Week 2026?
Halloween Week is expected to air this weekend, following the announcement of the song choices on Tuesday, October 27.
Which couples have been announced for Halloween Week so far?
Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington, Will Best and Dianne Buswell, Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu, Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita, and Graeme Hall and Katya Jones have had their routines confirmed.
Who left Strictly Come Dancing most recently?
Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr left the competition on Sunday, October 25, after losing the dance-off for the second time in the series.