Michael Barrymore Criticizes 'Too Controlled' Strictly Come Dancing

Veteran entertainer Michael Barrymore has criticized the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, describing it as "too controlled and contrived." Barrymore, formerly known as ITV's "Mr Saturday Night" for his popular weekend shows, suggested that the current format lacks the edge and risk-taking necessary to capture modern audiences.

Speaking to Radio Times, Barrymore, 74, stated that audiences today require more than what he perceives as a "too safe" show. He recalled his own Saturday-night television days, which featured hit programs like "Strike It Lucky" and "Kids Say the Funniest Things," drawing audiences of up to 15 million viewers. He believes producers need to be more willing to take risks.

Barrymore also commented on the trend of spreading risk across multiple presenters and judges, citing shows like "Bake Off" which feature four individuals in such roles. He suggested this approach allows shows to continue even if one personality faces cancellation.

His remarks coincide with a challenging start to Strictly's 22nd series. The show saw a change in its presenting team, with Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe taking over from long-time hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. This alteration has reportedly drawn mixed viewer reactions.

The pre-recorded launch show for the current series averaged 5.3 million viewers, a slight decrease from the 5.4 million recorded in 2025. While this drop is marginal, it remains significantly lower than figures achieved before recent controversies affected the program. These controversies included allegations regarding the treatment of celebrity contestants and the behind-the-scenes culture, which led to the departure of professional dancers Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima and prompted the BBC to implement enhanced welfare measures.

Prior to these issues, the Strictly launch in 2023 peaked at 6.7 million viewers and averaged 6.3 million. The BBC had hoped that a refreshed format and new hosting lineup would attract viewers back to the popular BBC One program, but current overnight figures suggest these changes have not yet led to a substantial ratings increase.

Adding to the network's potential concerns, sources close to the show have indicated worries that the departure of hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman could prompt the judges to also reconsider their involvement. The contracts for head judge Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood, and Anton Du Beke are set to conclude at the end of the current season, requiring renegotiation with the BBC.

Speculation suggests Shirley Ballas may not return for an eleventh series, with rumors of a potential move to the United States to be closer to her son, Mark, a professional dancer on America's "Dancing With The Stars," and his children. Insiders noted that the judges' continued presence was a source of continuity for the BBC this year, but their contracts are now up for renegotiation, and they could choose to leave if they are not satisfied with the terms offered.

In 2023, the judges reportedly sought an 11% pay increase on their salaries, estimated to be between £200,000 and £300,000 for the three-and-a-half-month engagement. BBC bosses rejected this demand, instead granting raises between 3% and 5%. A show source indicated that further significant salary increases are unlikely, especially given the recent decline in viewing figures, which may make it harder for the BBC to justify such costs.