Strictly star Aleksandra Isaeva on fleeing Ukraine and facing war's reality

Ukrainian dancer Aleksandra Isaeva, a new professional on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, has spoken about how the ongoing war in her homeland brings her "back to reality" after fleeing in 2022. The 22-year-old, who moved to Italy after Russia's invasion, shared footage of the conflict on social media and expressed gratitude for support for Ukraine, saying she prays for a return to her family and native streets. Isaeva, ranked among the world's top 21 Latin dancers, was not paired with a celebrity in Saturday's launch show. YouTuber John Nellis leads the leaderboard, with scores carrying into next week's Movie Week.