Entertainment

Strictly Come Dancing viewing figures down over a million compared to 2021

By Dustin Moskovitz

Kym Marsh and Graziano Do Prima during first Strictly live show

The glitz and glamour of Strictly kicked off again properly on Saturday night (Picture: BBC/Guy Levy)

The first live show of the new series of Strictly Come Dancing was watched by an average of 6.8 million viewers, according to overnight ratings.

This was a drop in viewing figures from 2021’s first live show which was watched by an average 7.9 million.

Saturday marked the first competition night of the popular show with 15 couples battling it out on the dancefloor, which attracted a peak of 7.2 million viewers, the BBC has said.

Viewing numbers were also down for the show’s launch episode on Friday which saw the celebrity contestants paired up with their professional partners.

It was watched by an average of 5.4 million viewers, with a peak audience of 5.6 million.

While last year’s series launch received an average of 7.0 million viewers, peaking at 7.3 million.

For use in UK, Ireland or Benelux countries only Undated BBC handout photo of hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly with the celebrities and professional dancers who will dance in Strictly Come Dancing 2022. Issue date: Friday September 23, 2022. See PA story Showbiz Strictly. Photo credit should read: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: Not for use more than 21 days after issue. You may use this picture without charge only for the purpose of publicising or reporting on current BBC programming, personnel or other BBC output or activity within 21 days of issue. Any use after that time MUST be cleared through BBC Picture Publicity. Please credit the image to the BBC and any named photographer or independent programme maker, as described in the caption.

This year’s first show attracted 6.8 million viewers on average, while the launch show captured 5.4 million – both down on last year’s figures (Picture: Guy Levy/BBC)

This year’s launch show was due to air on Saturday September 17 but was postponed due to schedule changes ahead of the Queen’s funeral. Instead the BBC showed the launch just a day before the first live show.

Saturday’s show saw actor Will Mellor and wildlife presenter Hamza Yassin place joint top of the leaderboard, both achieving an impressive score of 34 in week one.

Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps star Will performed an electric jive to Livin’ La Vida Loca by Ricky Martin with his partner Nancy Xu which impressed judges Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas so much that they gave him a standing ovation.

EMBARGOED TO 2110 SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 24 For use in UK, Ireland or Benelux countries only Undated BBC handout photo of Nancy Xu and Will Mellor in rehearsals for the first weeks show. Issue date: Saturday September 24, 2022. See PA story Showbiz Strictly. Photo credit should read: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: Not for use more than 21 days after issue. You may use this picture without charge only for the purpose of publicising or reporting on current BBC programming, personnel or other BBC output or activity within 21 days of issue. Any use after that time MUST be cleared through BBC Picture Publicity. Please credit the image to the BBC and any named photographer or independent programme maker, as described in the caption.

Will Mellor triumphed with his jive taking him to the top of the leaderboard (Picture: Guy Levy/BBC)

Hamza and his partner Jowita Przystal also dazzled with their joyful foxtrot to Islands In The Stream by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers to secure their top mark.

Britain’s Got Talent finalist Molly Rainford and new professional Carlos Gu came in third with a score of 31 for their energetic samba.

Following their routine to Kiss My (Uh Oh) by Anne Marie and Little Mix, Motsi described the singer and actress as a ‘shooting star’.

Singer Fleur East and new professional Vito Coppola took fourth place, with a score of 29, for their electric cha cha cha to Let’s Get Loud by Jennifer Lopez which closed out the show.


For use in UK, Ireland or Benelux countries only BBC handout photo of Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu during the live show. Issue date: Saturday September 24, 2022. See PA story Showbiz Strictly. Photo credit should read: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: Not for use more than 21 days after issue. You may use this picture without charge only for the purpose of publicising or reporting on current BBC programming, personnel or other BBC output or activity within 21 days of issue. Any use after that time MUST be cleared through BBC Picture Publicity. Please credit the image to the BBC and any named photographer or independent programme maker, as described in the caption.
CBBC star Molly Rainford with new pro Carlos Gu also impressed (Picture: Guy Levy/BBC)

For use in UK, Ireland or Benelux countries only BBC handout photo of Nikita Kuzmin and Ellie Simmonds during the live show. Issue date: Saturday September 24, 2022. See PA story Showbiz Strictly. Photo credit should read: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: Not for use more than 21 days after issue. You may use this picture without charge only for the purpose of publicising or reporting on current BBC programming, personnel or other BBC output or activity within 21 days of issue. Any use after that time MUST be cleared through BBC Picture Publicity. Please credit the image to the BBC and any named photographer or independent programme maker, as described in the caption.
Paralympian Ellie Simmonds competed with Nikita Kuzmin (Picture: Guy Levy/BBC)

The 20th series also features two same-sex pairings, among them reigning champion Giovanni Pernice and BBC Radio 2’s Richie Anderson who delivered an energetic cha cha cha to I’m Your Man by Wham! for their first routine.

Comedian and actor Jayde Adams and professional Karen Hauer are the show’s second female same-sex couple, following in the footsteps of Katya Jones and Olympic gold medallist boxer Nicola Adams who were paired up in 2020.

For use in UK, Ireland or Benelux countries only BBC handout photo of Richie Anderson and Giovanni Pernice during the live show. Issue date: Saturday September 24, 2022. See PA story Showbiz Strictly. Photo credit should read: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: Not for use more than 21 days after issue. You may use this picture without charge only for the purpose of publicising or reporting on current BBC programming, personnel or other BBC output or activity within 21 days of issue. Any use after that time MUST be cleared through BBC Picture Publicity. Please credit the image to the BBC and any named photographer or independent programme maker, as described in the caption.

Giovanni Pernice and Richie Anderson are in the show’s second ever all-male partnership, and one of two same-sex partnerships for thsi series (Picture: Guy Levy/BBC)

Jayde and Karen received a standing ovation from judges Motsi and Shirley, as well as the studio audience, after they performed a lively samba routine to Dirrty by Christina Aguilera featuring Redman, landing them a score of 23.

Metro.co.uk has contacted reps for Strictly.

Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday at 6:30pm on BBC One.

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Dustin Moskovitz