Strictly Come Dancing Sees Ratings Dip for First Live Show Amid New Hosting Trio
The BBC competition's opening live broadcast attracted 4.8 million viewers, a decrease from last year's figures, as the new presenting team received mixed reactions.
Strictly Come Dancing experienced a notable drop in viewership for its initial live show on Saturday, with 4.8 million tuning in, down from 6.2 million for the same broadcast last year. This decline coincides with the debut of a new hosting trio and a revamped series format.
The new presenting team, consisting of Emma Willis, Josh, and Johannes Radebe, took over from long-serving hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Viewers expressed mixed opinions on the new setup via social media platform X. Many commented that three hosts were not necessary, with some suggesting Josh appeared awkward and underutilized.
The show also faced strong competition from the UEFA Nations League match between England and Spain, which was broadcast on ITV1 and drew three million live viewers. This marks the first time since 2019 that the first live show has garnered fewer viewers than the pre-recorded launch episode.
Last week's launch show recorded a peak of 5.8 million viewers, a slight increase from the previous year's peak of 5.6 million. However, the average viewership for the launch was 5.3 million, down from 5.4 million in 2025. While the peak figure showed a minor rise, it remains significantly lower than pre-scandal viewing figures, which saw the launch peak at 6.7 million viewers in 2023.
A spokesperson for Strictly stated that the show was the most-watched program of the night, reaching a peak of 5 million viewers, and emphasized that overnight ratings do not capture the full audience in an on-demand viewing landscape.
The celebrity lineup, initially met with some skepticism and branded 'the worst-ever' by some viewers, appeared to warm to the contestants as the night progressed. YouTuber John Nellis and his partner Katya Jones topped the leaderboard with a Foxtrot, earning 31 points. Other notable scores included Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington with 29 points for their Samba, and Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola with 27 points for their Cha Cha.
Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon scored 15 for their Quickstep, while former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr received 15 for their Cha Cha. Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał earned 20 for their Paso Doble.
Big Brother presenter Will Best and Dianne Buswell opened the show with a Samba, scoring 18. Skeleton racer Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita achieved 22 for their Jive, and House of the Dragon actress Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu garnered 26 for their Quickstep.
EastEnders star Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola received 27 points for their Cha Cha. Celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden scored 16 for their Tango, while Gavin & Stacey actress Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec earned 15 for their Cha Cha. Love Island star Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby scored 20 for their Quickstep, and dog trainer Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley received 24 for their Cha Cha.
Actress Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu scored 21 for their Tango. Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin achieved 22 for their Samba. Australian singer Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington closed the show with a Samba, scoring 29.
Producers have reportedly focused on casting stars with significant social media followings to attract younger viewers, a strategy employed by similar shows like Dancing With The Stars. This approach has seen influencers and content creators become regular features on the show, with past participants like Joe Sugg and Tasha Ghouri finding success.
However, the primary demographic for Strictly viewers remains older, with approximately 60% aged 55 or above. The show will not see its first elimination this week; scores from the first week will be combined with the following week's before the initial elimination takes place next Sunday.