Dani Dyer Nerves Rise as 'Strictly Come Dancing' Faces Fan Backlash Over Revamp

Dani Dyer has voiced her anxieties ahead of the first live show of "Strictly Come Dancing," as the BBC's flagship dance competition navigates a significant revamp that has drawn criticism from some viewers. The launch of the 22nd season marks a new era for the show, with a revised presenting lineup and a restructured partner-finding process.

Dyer, returning for a second attempt after an ankle injury cut short her participation last year, shared her jitters via Instagram Stories from her dressing room. "I'm so excited, I'm s****ing my pants, of course. But I'm just so excited," she told her followers, expressing her anticipation for show day.

The BBC's decision to overhaul the established format has been met with a lukewarm reception from the audience. While the pre-recorded launch show saw a slight increase in peak viewership to 5.8 million, the average viewership dipped to 5.3 million, down from 5.4 million in the previous year. This figure also falls short of pre-scandal ratings that saw launch shows peak at 6.7 million viewers.

A particular point of contention for viewers has been the introduction of a new trio of hosts, replacing the long-standing duo of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. While Emma Willis received some praise, many viewers expressed a preference for Johannes Radebe to remain on the dance floor and questioned the necessity of a third host, Josh Widdicombe. Online comments reflected this sentiment, with many asking "why three presenters?"

Another significant change involved the method by which celebrities discovered their professional partners. This year, the reveal took place in the studio through a game resembling musical chairs, a departure from previous formats that viewers found disorienting, with some joking about hearing "CHANGE PARTNERS" in their sleep.

Among the pairings announced were Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin, who were partners last year. Bethany Antonia, an actress known for "House of the Dragon," was paired with Nancy Xu, fulfilling Antonia's request for a female dance partner. Love Island's Caacht Mercer will dance with newcomer Maddie Ingoldsby, while celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton has been teamed with Amy Dowden.

Australian singer Delta Goodrem will dance with Kai Widdrington, dog trainer Graeme Hall with Lauren Oakley, and actress Jaime Winstone with Carlos Gu. Sports YouTuber John Nellis is partnered with Katya Jones, and "EastEnders" actress Lacey Turner with Vito Coppola. "Emmerdale" actor Lawrence Robb will dance with Jowita Przystał, while Melanie Walters, the oldest contestant at 64, is paired with Aljaž Škorjanec.

Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey will dance with Julian Caillon, former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips with Alexis Warr, and British skeleton racer Tabby Stoecker with new professional Mark Karmalita. "Big Brother" presenter Will Best has been matched with Dianne Buswell.

Questions have also been raised about the celebrity lineup itself, with some viewers expressing unfamiliarity with the contestants, many of whom have large social media followings but are not widely known to the general public. John Nellis, for instance, a sports content creator, does not have a Wikipedia page.

The BBC's strategy appears to align with attracting younger viewers through influencers and content creators, a tactic that has yielded success for shows like "Dancing With The Stars" in the US. However, "Strictly's" core demographic remains older, with approximately 60% of viewers aged 55 and above. Even host Emma Willis admitted to not recognizing many of the contestants prior to the show's commencement.

The judges—Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood, and Anton Du Beke—presided over the celebrity pairings and the professionals' group dance. The success of the revamped show in recapturing former viewers and attracting new ones remains to be seen, especially in light of past controversies that led to stricter welfare measures and the departure of professional dancers.