Has Strictly Lost Its Sparkle? Bookies Cut Cancellation Odds Amid Cast Complaints

Strictly Come Dancing was once the jewel in the crown of Saturday night TV with millions of viewers tuning into see their favourite celebrities compete in glamorous costumes for the glitter ball trophy.

But now, ahead of the show’s upcoming series, bookies are offering odds as low as 8-1 the programme with be the last ever following multiple controversies, a lacklustre line-up of Z-list stars and less women than men agreeing to take part and with good reason.

The long-running BBC series has truly lost its sparkle after former contestant Wynne Evans, 53, was accused of inappropriate behaviour and forced to apologise for making an unacceptable sexual remark on stage at a press event, which led to him resigning from the Strictly tour.

In 2023, actress Amanda Abbington, 51, complained about professional dancer Giovanni Pernice, 34, being ‘unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean’ during their rehearsals which she said caused her to quit midway through the season.

And in the same year, former Love Island contestant Zara McDermott, 28, was left ‘incredibly distressed’ following her experience in the training room with Graziano Di Prima, 31, who admitted to kicking the documentary maker, resulting in his axing.

Now, it appears that female celebrities are too terrified to sign up, with six women appearing on the cast this year compared to nine males, and bosses have certainly lowered the previously high bar with who they allow to take part.

The cast this year includes several former reality stars such as Love Island winner Dani Dyer, ex-Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison, Apprentice candidate Tom Skinner, RuPaul’s Drag Race runner-up La Voix, and Gladiator Harry Aikines-Aryeetey.

Strictly bosses previously banned influencers and reality stars from taking part with now the likes of former Apprentice contestant Tom, who was fired by Lord Sugar in 2019, deemed famous enough to compete, with one Daily Mail reader saying: ‘More than half are not celebrities.’

And the disappointing line-up hasn’t gone unnoticed as thousands of Strictly fans took to platform X to voice their criticisms, with one writing: ‘The bottom of the barrel has been well and truly scraped.’

Another said: ‘The Strictly line-up is complete and it’s truly abysmal’ as another person wrote: ‘This is without a doubt the worst starting line-up. Wondering if the past two years has caused so much damage to its reputation. Is this the beginning of the end?’

‘Safe to say this is the worst Strictly line-up of all time,’ another user posted.

John Hughes commented: ‘One of the weakest, most uninspiring ‘celebrity’ line-ups in years. The show is still having difficulty signing up female contestants, it seems, following previous scandals with male pros.

‘Time for Strictly to be rested as a result series and have three or four specials per year?’

Commenting on the mundaneness of the cast this year, another user on X said: ‘They should do some kind of study to see if the Strictly line-up really does get less glamorous every time because like?’ 

A TV source added: ‘Strictly isn’t the show it used to be. It has been hit by scandal after scandal and now it’s impossible for it to recover.

‘Bosses used to be very particular about the lineup but now celebrities who have previously been on a host of shows, even winning I’m A Celeb in Vicky’s case, have been recruited.

‘The lack of women in the cast this year says it all, females are afraid to take part due to the controversies of recent years while few changes have been made to ensure safety in the training rooms.

‘It’s sad because the show was once so loved by viewers of all ages but there’s an unavoidable darkness now and insiders even believe this could be the last ever series.’

It comes after Strictly was hit with drug allegations after two of the show’s stars were allegedly caught taking cocaine and it was widely talked about among the cast.

The BBC has launched an investigation this month into the alleged drug taking while last week the Sun on Sunday reported that a 10-year show veteran was previously offered cocaine by one of its stars at a wild party.

It’s the second successive year where less female contestants have signed up to Strictly after fewer women joined the line-up in 2024.

There were nine male celebrities and only six women after Amanda spoke on her experiences having competed on the show.

During an interview on Channel 4 News in July last year, Amanda described the aftermath of her time on Strictly as ‘brutal’ and ‘unforgiving’ after she and her family received death threats from Giovanni fans.

She said: ‘There were five or six people previous to me that had the same experience.

‘It was unnecessary and when it was getting thrown at me I would shut down. I have been in abusive situations before so I recognised the red flags so I would shut down and I wouldn’t be able to do the job because I felt attacked… It was not conducive to a happy environment.’ 

TV presenter Laura Whitmore, who was partnered with Giovanni in 2016, said she felt ‘broken’ and ‘cried everyday’ during her time on the show as she supported Amanda with her claim against the Italian pro dancer last year.  

Following a BBC investigation, six of Amanda’s allegations towards Giovanni were upheld and he was cleared on 11 out of 17, and has since gone onto win the Italian version of the competition with his now girlfriend Bianca Guaccero.  

This year’s cast also includes EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal, Game of Thrones star Kristian Nairn, Lioness Karen Carney, Lorraine Showbiz correspondent Ross King and influencer Ellie Goldstein, who made history when she became the first model with Down syndrome to cover British Vogue magazine.  

Rugby player Chris Robshaw, Neighbours actor Stefan Dennis, YouTuber George Clarke, Doctor Who actress Alex Kingston, and sportsman Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink will also be taking to the Strictly ballroom next month.  

BBC bosses will be praying for an unforgettable series to give the show its sparkle back.