Where have the Strictly viewers gone? First results show sees another ratings drop

Strictly Come Dancing has suffered a sharp drop in overnight viewing figures, with just 4.5 million viewers tuning in for the first results show of the 2026 series.

The first elimination of the new series saw celebrity hairdresser Chris Appleton and professional partner Amy Dowden leave the competition after facing the dance-off.

But while the drama unfolded on Sunday night, the audience was considerably smaller than the figures recorded for the equivalent stage of last year’s competition.

According to ratings data shared by Digital i, the first Strictly results show of 2026 attracted 4.5 million viewers.

That follows 5.1 million viewers for Saturday night’s Movie Week, meaning the results programme lost around 600,000 viewers from the previous evening.

The figures also represent a substantial year-on-year fall.

The first results show of the 2025 series ultimately recorded a consolidated audience of around 7 million viewers, once additional viewing was included. On that basis, the 2026 overnight figure is around 2.5 million lower.

That equates to a drop of roughly 36 per cent — although the comparison needs to be treated with some caution because the 2026 figure is an overnight number, while the 2025 figure includes delayed viewing.

The decline is nevertheless striking, particularly given Strictly’s status as one of the BBC’s flagship entertainment programmes.

And Sunday’s show had plenty of drama to offer viewers.

Appleton and Dowden became the first couple to leave the 2026 competition following the dance-off, bringing an early end to the celebrity hairstylist’s Strictly journey.

Fans are still flocking to social media to share their unhappiness at the new presenting lineup. Unanimously, fans agree Emma Willis is a good choice of host – but Josh Widdicombe and JoJo continue to come under fire. Obvious tweaks to the format are receiving mixed reactions, with many viewers frustrated that Producers seem to be trying and testing new ideas week by week, in a bid to get it right whilst millions watch on.

The question now is whether the initial ratings dip is simply a reflection of changing viewing habits and will be reversed when consolidated figures arrive, or whether it points to a more significant fall in the show’s traditional television audience.

With the series still in its early weeks, the next few Saturday and Sunday-night ratings will be closely watched.

For now, though, Strictly’s first elimination has delivered a striking headline number: 4.5 million viewers — well below the audience recorded at the same stage last year.

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