Strictly suffers further ratings drop as viewers turn off from new presenting lineup

Strictly Come Dancing has suffered another ratings decline, with overnight figures suggesting the BBC ballroom competition is struggling to win over audiences under its new presenting line-up. According to Broadcast, Saturday night’s show attracted five million viewers, down on last week’s 5.1 million, as criticism of the revamped format continues and rival The Celebrity Traitors pulls in significantly bigger audiences.

The latest overnight figures show that the BBC’s flagship entertainment series attracted five million viewers, representing 44 per cent of the audience, between 6.15pm and 8.30pm on Saturday. Last week’s Movie Week edition drew 5.1 million viewers, or 44.3 per cent of the audience.

The figures mark a further setback for the long-running dance competition, which has traditionally been one of the BBC’s biggest Saturday-night draws. At the same point last year, Strictly was attracting 6.31 million viewers, with peaks of more than seven million.

The latest audience figures come amid continued debate about the show’s new presenting arrangements, with some viewers questioning the chemistry between the hosts and the amount of comedy woven into the live broadcasts.

Strictly viewers continue to criticise new hosts

The introduction of Josh Widdicombe, Emma Willis and professional dancer Johannes Radebe was intended to bring a fresh dynamic to the popular competition following the departure of longstanding presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

However, the new arrangement has divided viewers, with particular criticism directed at Widdicombe’s comedy-led approach and the way the presenters share their duties.

Some viewers have complained that the jokey interludes between performances interrupt the flow of the competition, while others have questioned whether the new hosting format has found its natural rhythm.

Former Strictly professional James Jordan has also criticised the presenting arrangement, describing Widdicombe’s humour as forced and suggesting the three-host format can feel excessive. His comments reflect a wider debate about whether the BBC has made the right changes to a programme whose familiar presentation style was a major part of its appeal.

There have been some signs of adjustment behind the scenes. During the results show following Movie Week, Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe presented together in a different arrangement, which received a more positive response from some viewers.

Despite the criticism, producers have so far made only limited changes to the on-air presentation, leaving the new team to find its feet as the competition continues.

Whether the format can win back sceptical viewers remains an important question for the BBC as the series moves towards its later stages.

The Celebrity Traitors pulls ahead in the ratings battle

Strictly is also facing a formidable rival in The Celebrity Traitors, which has reportedly been attracting audiences of around nine to ten million viewers each week.

The success of the reality competition has intensified the pressure on BBC entertainment programmes to hold onto viewers in an increasingly competitive television landscape.

While Strictly remains a familiar fixture of the autumn schedule, the latest figures suggest that nostalgia and a loyal audience may not be enough to prevent further declines if viewers are unhappy with the changes.

Meanwhile, reports that ITV is exploring a potential reboot of The X Factor could add another layer to the battle for Saturday-night entertainment audiences. The singing competition was once a major ratings force, and a return would give viewers another high-profile talent show to choose from.

For now, Strictly’s immediate challenge is to maintain interest in the remaining celebrities and their performances while addressing concerns about the presentation of the programme itself.

Who topped the Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard this week?

Away from the ratings debate, Saturday’s competition delivered another round of performances as the celebrities attempted to impress judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke.

Australian singer Delta Goodrem and professional partner Kai Widdrington finished at the top of the leaderboard for the second consecutive week, scoring 33 points for their salsa.

The performance earned them the highest score of the series so far, with the judges praising the energy and quality of their routine.

Olympian Tabby Stoecker and partner Mark Karmalita also impressed with their Argentine tango, scoring 31 points. They shared second place with Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby, whose Couple’s Choice routine also earned 31 points.

Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu secured fourth place with 28 points for their Viennese waltz, while Bethany and Nancy Xu and Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin both scored 27.

Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola opened the show with a samba that earned them 26 points, while Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley scored 25 for their jive. Will Best and Dianne Buswell also received 25 points for their waltz.

At the other end of the leaderboard, John Nellis and Katya Jones scored 20 for their cha cha cha, matching the totals achieved by Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystal for their rumba and Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon for their paso doble.

Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec scored 17 for their Charleston, leaving them in danger of elimination. Former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr finished last with just 15 points for their quickstep.

Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard

Position	Couple	Dance	Score
1	Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington	Salsa	33
=2	Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby	Couple’s Choice	31
=2	Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita	Argentine tango	31
4	Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu	Viennese waltz	28
=5	Bethany and Nancy Xu	American Smooth	27
=5	Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin	Tango	27
7	Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola	Samba	26
=8	Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley	Jive	25
=8	Will Best and Dianne Buswell	Waltz	25
=10	John Nellis and Katya Jones	Cha cha cha	20
=10	Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystal	Rumba	20
=10	Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon	Paso doble	20
13	Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec	Charleston	17
14	Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr	Quickstep	15

Scores are out of 40 and reflect the judges’ marks before the public vote.

Who left Strictly this week? Dance-off drama sees second celebrity eliminated

The results show brought another emotional exit, with Melanie Walters and professional partner Aljaž Škorjanec becoming the second couple to leave the competition.

The pair found themselves in the dance-off against Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr after the public vote was combined with the judges’ scores.

Both couples had to perform their routines again in a bid to convince the judges they deserved another week in the competition. Shaun and Alexis reprised their quickstep, while Melanie and Aljaž returned to the floor with their Charleston.

Craig Revel Horwood and Shirley Ballas voted to save Shaun and Alexis, while Motsi Mabuse chose to save Melanie and Aljaž. Anton Du Beke then cast the deciding vote in favour of Shaun and Alexis, resulting in a 3-1 decision to save the former footballer.

Melanie’s departure means she and Aljaž miss out on next week’s themed competition. The actress, best known for playing Gwen in Gavin & Stacey, had struggled to gain momentum in the contest, never scoring more than 17 points during her run.

The elimination also means Aljaž, a popular professional dancer and former Strictly winner, has left the competition earlier than many fans would have hoped.

Thirteen celebrity couples remain as the series heads into its next themed show.

Strictly prepares for Icons Week

Next Saturday, Strictly will celebrate some of the biggest names in music with Icons Week, giving the remaining celebrities the chance to draw inspiration from legendary performers.

The themed episode will offer a fresh challenge for the couples, who must combine the demands of their assigned dance styles with the character and personality of their chosen musical icons.

For contestants who have struggled with technique or confidence, the theme could provide an opportunity to embrace a stronger stage persona. For those already near the top of the leaderboard, it will be another chance to establish themselves as serious contenders for the glitterball trophy.

Shaun Wright-Phillips, in particular, will need to build on his improved dance-off performance if he is to avoid another appearance in the bottom two. Meanwhile, Delta Goodrem will be looking to maintain her strong form after topping the leaderboard for a second week running.

With the competition narrowing and another elimination approaching, the coming weeks will be crucial for the remaining celebrities.

However, the wider question for the BBC is whether the dancing can recapture the attention of viewers who have drifted away from the programme.

Strictly has weathered changes to its judges, professional dancers and presenters over the years, but the latest ratings decline suggests the new line-up still has work to do to win over its audience.

Strictly Come Dancing returns next Saturday at 6.15pm on BBC One, with Icons Week.

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