Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke has refuted reports that BBC executives are engaged in 'crisis talks' regarding the future of the popular show. Du Beke, a fixture on the series since its inception in 2004, defended the program's current hosts, its celebrity lineup, and its viewing figures in a recent interview with The Times.
The show has faced increased scrutiny this year following the departure of long-time hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, and the introduction of a new hosting trio: Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and former professional dancer Johannes Radebe. While Willis has been largely praised, Widdicombe and Radebe have reportedly drawn criticism for minor errors and timing issues.
Despite speculation that BBC bosses are considering changes to the presenting team for the next series, Du Beke expressed a calm perspective. "I never worry about all that," he told The Times. "I've seen it all before. All before."
He acknowledged missing former co-hosts Daly and Winkleman but emphasized the transient nature of showbusiness. "We go in on Saturday, judge the show, come away," Du Beke explained. "Whatever's in front of us doesn't matter. Showbusiness people are used to change. It hasn't changed anything about the show. The only thing you have is great excitement about new people coming in and joining the family."
Addressing the decline in viewing figures from a peak of 14 million to around 5.7 million for the current season's launch, Du Beke argued that the television landscape has fundamentally changed. "The viewing figures aren't what they were because [television's] all different now," he stated. "The key is the viewer percentage of whoever's watching the television at that moment. There's no point saying, 'We don't get 12 million viewers like we used to,' if only 5 million are watching television anyway."
Du Beke highlighted that last weekend's broadcast achieved a 58 percent viewer share, asserting that "every year over 50 percent of the population are watching."
The celebrity lineup for the 24th series has also been a point of discussion, with some critics suggesting a lack of household names in favor of social media personalities. Insiders have reportedly acknowledged challenges in securing major stars for the show after 22 years. However, Du Beke countered this, arguing that the contestants are not as unknown as some suggest. He pointed to examples like Lacey Turner from EastEnders and Olympic skeleton racer Tabby Stoecker as readily recognizable figures.
Despite these challenges and criticisms, Du Beke remains optimistic about the show's resilience and its ability to adapt and entertain.