Strictly Come Dancing Has A Strange Connection To This Massive Film Franchise

The 2026 competition has begun, but Strictly's filming location is more important than you think.

Strictly Come Dancing 2026 has officially begun, and the series has had a bit of a refresh. With new hosts, new dancers and new celebrities to enjoy, the latest edition is attempting to throw the rulebook out the window and create a new tone for the show. 

While Blackpool week is the event that every dancer wants to reach, as they get the chance to show off their skills in the iconic tower ballroom, Strictly’s current filming location is more important than you think. Because it actually has a surprising connection to one of the biggest movie franchises of all time. 

Where Is Strictly Filmed? 

Strictly Come Dancing is filmed at Elstree Studios, where both the live Saturday night program and Sunday results show are hosted. It’s a television set, specifically designed to endure 13 weeks of production. The studio is located in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire and was built between 1925 and 1926.

It was originally imagined as a state-of-the-art motion picture facility, designed to boost the British film industry. Its first shoot was Madame Pompadour in 1927! While the original proposition for the studio suggested it would cost around £1 million to build, the true valuation of the final project has been lost to history. 

Hundreds of carpenters, steelworkers and labourers came together on the build, which required up to 40 acres of land to be cleared before any work could begin. In 1996, the site went through renovations as it was saved from demolition, and in both 2022 and 2025, future-proofing experts were brought in to secure the studio’s next stages of life. An additional £2 million is currently being pumped into Elstree as it goes through yet another upgrade. 

Which Film Franchise Shot At Elstree? 

If you were alive in 1977 you might remember the incredible impact that the release of the very first Star Wars had. There was nothing else like it, and the proud builders of Britain knew they had a stake in the movie. Not only had British crews been brought together to support the production, but the first Star Wars was actually shot in one of the nation’s most notable studios. 

Elstree not only hosted the original Star Wars but would also go on to set the backdrop for scenes in both The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. It was in 1999 that the George Lucas sound stages were built at Elstree as a celebration of the filmmaker, with some of the prequel trilogy also using the studio for minor pickups. 

Strictly Come Dancing now films on George Lucas Stage 2, keeping the magic of that set alive! It’s a strange connection, but one that shows just how versatile British engineering can be.