Strictly Come Dancing Sees Ratings Dip for First Live Show Amid New Hosting Trio Criticism

Strictly Come Dancing saw a decrease in ratings for its first live show of the season on Saturday, with 4.8 million viewers tuning in, a notable drop from the 6.2 million who watched the equivalent show last year. This marks the first time since 2019 that the initial live episode has recorded lower ratings than the pre-recorded launch show.

The revamped series also introduced a new hosting trio, with Josh, Emma Willis, and Johannes Radebe taking over from long-time presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. The new presenting setup has drawn mixed reactions from viewers, with some criticizing the dynamic and suggesting that three hosts were not necessary.

Adding to the competitive landscape, the Strictly live show faced stiff competition from the UEFA Nations League match between England and Spain, which aired on ITV1 and attracted three million live viewers. The pre-recorded launch show the previous Saturday had peaked at 5.8 million viewers, a slight increase from the previous year's peak of 5.6 million, though it averaged 5.3 million, down from 5.4 million in 2025.

While the peak figure for the launch show showed a small rise, it remains below the viewership numbers recorded before the program faced controversies in recent years, including allegations regarding the treatment of contestants and backstage culture, which led to the departure of professional dancers and prompted the BBC to implement stricter welfare measures. Prior to these issues, the 2023 launch show peaked at 6.7 million viewers.

A spokesperson for Strictly stated that the show was the most-watched program of the night with a peak of 5 million viewers, adding that overnight ratings do not fully capture the viewership in an on-demand environment. The scores from the first week will be combined with those from the following week before the initial elimination.

Viewers took to social media platform X to share their opinions on the new hosting arrangement. Comments suggested that while Josh was not the primary issue, the need for three hosts was questionable, with some proposing he would be better suited to a different role to provide comic relief. Others felt that Emma Willis was a natural host and could lead the show effectively on her own.

Despite the viewership dip and hosting criticism, the first live show saw YouTuber John Nellis and his partner Katya Jones top the leaderboard with a Foxtrot, earning 31 points. Other notable performances included Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington's Samba, scoring 29, and EastEnders actress Lacey Turner with Vito Coppola's Cha Cha, which garnered 27 points. The celebrity lineup, which had been previously described by some as the "worst-ever," appeared to warm to the contestants as the live show progressed.

The show's strategy of including social media influencers and reality stars, such as Love Island winner Cach Mercer and YouTube personality John Nellis, is seen as an attempt to attract younger viewers, mirroring a trend seen in the US version, Dancing With The Stars. This approach aims to leverage the large social media followings of these personalities, though the core demographic for Strictly remains viewers aged 55 and older.