Strictly Ratings Drop Amid Scandals and Notable Returns

Strictly Come Dancing's first live show of the new season saw a significant drop in viewership, with 6.4 million tuning in compared to 7.3 million last year and a high of 10.2 million in 2020. The decline in live viewership has left the show's producers concerned, especially amidst recent scandals involving accusations of bullying and abusive behavior by professional dancers Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima. Despite these challenges, the show featured notable performances, such as Chris McCausland, the first blind contestant, and professional Amy Dowden, who returned after cancer treatment. The BBC remains optimistic that catch-up views on BBC iPlayer will help boost the overall numbers. Strictly still managed to be the most-watched program on Saturday night, demonstrating its enduring appeal.