Accusations of bullying and sexual harassment, on-set affairs and brutal rehearsals – Strictly Come Dancing has been teetering on the brink.
Dogged by one scandal after another, producers have had to fire-fight a string of outrageous claims and inappropriate behaviour from both contestants and professional dancers, leaving the Corporation in constant crisis.
With opera star Strictly contestant Wynne Evans axed from the show over lewd comments last year, and Amanda Abbington’s claims of abuse against Giovanni Pernice leading to an internal investigation in 2024, all eyes were on controversial Thomas Skinner as this year’s series kicked off.
So, BBC bosses may have breathed a sigh of relief when the former Apprentice star – who admitted to an extra-marital affair just as the show began – was voted off in week one.
But, rather than the headline-grabbing scandals, it is actually the smaller format changes that have long-time viewers up in arms – and it could mean big trouble for the beleaguered show.
Producers have quietly made a series of adjustments, which may fly over the heads of casual viewers, but that have been picked up on and picked apart by its diehard fanbase, who have been tuning in for 21 years.
Almost cult-like in their devotion to Strictly, these fans have been flooding social media with their disdain for the shake-up, lobbying producers to change it back to how it was.
‘This new format is awful,’ raged one viewer on X, while another wrote: ‘I miss the classic Strictly, bring back the good old days.’
All eyes were on Thomas Skinner (pictured with dance partner Amy Dowden) as this year’s installment of Strictly kicked off, after it was revealed he had had an affair
Before the series began last month, an excited Craig Revel Horwood revealed to the Daily Mail that there would be a few subtle shifts, saying: ‘It’s very exciting. There are a few changes happening this year… we are adding a few extra and interesting things to the show, which is going to be great’.
‘The judges will be playing more of a role and have a big number in the opening show that I’m looking forward to.’
But, producers might be forced to roll back their carefully planned format variations if they want to keep their fans happy and their viewing figures consistent – as of this year, 5.4 million watched the launch show.
So here are the six changes that have left viewers spitting feathers at their television screens:
Dance-off reveal
One of the most obvious changes to Sunday night’s results show – filmed on Saturday and broadcast the following evening – is the elimination reveal. In previous years, every couple saved from elimination has been given the chance to celebrate before being interviewed by Claudia Winkleman. Each couple would stand on the studio steps and wait to hear who was through to next week.
This gave every celebrity contestant the chance to be interviewed one-on-one with the host and for viewers to see their reaction to being saved.
But now, the group is whittled down to the final four celebrities in one go, shown on a four-way split screen, and they are forced to wait until Tess Daly announces which of them is in the bottom two.
On Sunday, this meant that former Geordie Shore star, Vicky Pattison, and football pundit, Karen Carney, who were in the final four – but not in the dance-off – missed out on having an interview.
Ross King and Jowita Przystal with Tess Daly (left) on Sunday’s show
On social media, fans were quick to react: ‘I absolutely hate the new layout of the results. Leaving both dance off couples to the end? Not speaking to either of the safe couples or seeing them be excited to make it through? Change that back.’
Judges’ waffle
Some of the format changes have been implemented to make room for more judges’ chat, with Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Anton du Beke now getting more screen time.
Viewers have picked up on the fact that the judges are speaking for longer while giving their comments following the dances in the main show.
As those watching at home complained: ‘Also I hate the new results show layout… Hate the waffle from the judges.’
On Sunday night’s show, the panel were also seen discussing the dances in more depth with guest judge Cynthia Erivo going over the same performances that had been commented on the previous day.
They also all joined Ms Winkleman for a chat on the sofa, reiterating what they thought about some of the dances.
Music change
Another switch-up to the show is the introduction of new music, which plays as viewers and contestants wait to find out who has made it through to the next week.
The easily recognisable but subtle strings and the low, foreboding roll of the original elimination music has been scrapped this year in favour of something more dramatic.
New music has been introduced as contestants wait to find out if they have made it through to the next week
A louder and more high-pitched piece of music, occasionally turning into with what sounds like a pulsating heartbeat, now plays as the couples await their fate.
One viewer moaned that the new backing track ‘doesn’t build the tension well,’ while another said it sounds ‘cheap’ and another described it as simply: ‘diabolical’.
Deciding vote
A more prominent and well-publicised change, revealed to viewers during the first show of the series, is that the deciding vote will no longer rest with just one person.
As head judge, the final decision of who should stay and who should go always rested with Ms Ballas when a vote was tied.
This meant that the former dance champion would bear the brunt of the criticism from fans when they felt the wrong person had been sent home.
Now it will alternate every week, with Ms Mabuse, Du Beke and Revel Horwood all taking it in turns to make the final decision.
It is thought this decision was made to prevent Ms Ballas from receiving trolling from viewers, but also to share the power among the other judges.
Lighting
A subtle change and one which might not be noticeable to some viewers is the slight shift in the lighting design on the set.
Eagle-eyed viewers noticed that there was a move towards more dramatic colours, with red LED lights being used more often than in previous years.
Used as another way to build the tension during the results show, the change irked some viewers, with one dubbing it ‘gaudy’ and another likening it to a ‘gameshow.’
Cold open
For years, the results show has opened with a show-stopping number performed by the troupe of professional dancers, who are more beloved to viewers than even the competing celebrities.
But on Sunday night, the show had a ‘cold’ open, with the camera focused on the stern-faced Ms Daly and Ms Winkleman, with that ‘cheap’ pulsating soundtrack playing in the background.
Viewers immediately showed their displeasure: ‘The Strictly results “cold” opening on Claudia and Tess and not with a pro routine makes me feel uncomfortable,’ complained one.
The celebrities and their partners stood nervously behind the presenters, before it cut to a lengthy recap of the previous night’s performances and backstage clips.
It wasn’t until halfway through the show, during which viewers had watched the first celebrities go through and an advert for spin-off show It Takes Two, that the professionals performed their routine.
Whether or not producers take viewers’ feedback on board and revert to the old format remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: without their five million viewers, the show won’t make it to 22 years on TV.
