BBC Strictly Come Dancing viewers blast 'naff' 2024 launch show opening video
Strictly Come Dancing has made a dazzling return for its 20th anniversary, with a host of eager celebrities ready to dance their way to the top.
Presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman graced our screens again on Saturday (September 16), as the pre-recorded launch show glided onto BBC One.
Not only did Tess and Claudia make their anticipated return, but judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke also resumed their roles, prepared to assess the new cohort of 15 dancing duos.
Before the presenters could unveil the red carpet for the 2024 hopefuls, viewers were left cringing at the pre-filmed opening act, which saw the professional dancers and hosts grooving on a party bus.
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Formerly known as Twitter, social media buzzed with reactions, as reported by the Mirror. One viewer expressed: "All this is so cringe.", reports the Daily Record.
While another added: "# Strictly The dreadful acting is making me cringe big time! " A third shared their disappointment: "Nah sorry the intro is naff!" A fourth viewer was blunt in their critique: "Well this intro is crap."
However, not all feedback was negative, with some fans overjoyed by the show's comeback: "Oh this intro sketch is so camp i'm a bit obsessed."
In agreement, another fan declared: "Love the opening so glad Strictly is back." Amidst a storm of controversy that has surrounded the much-loved dance programme for months, the latest series of Strictly Come Dancing kicks off. The turmoil has largely involved two professional dancers, Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, who have both departed from the show.
Giovanni, who appeared alongside actress Amanda Abbington in the 2023 instalment of the series, has firmly denied any suggestions of abusive or threatening actions during their rehearsals.
Conversely, Graziano has owned up to accidentally kicking his celebrity partner Zara McDermott in a rehearsal mishap from the previous year. The BBC has committed to dealing with any grievances with "care, fairness and sensitivity" though the details of these events continue to be enveloped in secrecy.
Tim Davie, the chief of the BBC, has offered an apology to any participants of Strictly who've encountered negative experiences while on the show. At the disclosure of the broadcaster's annual review, he disclosed his "disappointment" at learning about complaints from several famous contestants regarding aggressive conduct from their professional dance partners in training sessions.
He underscored that Strictly is set for a return to television but sent a clear signal to the professional dancers that while ambition and competitive edge are expected, they must steer clear of "unacceptable" behaviour. He stressed: "There will be a degree of competitiveness and will to do well, but there are limits and the line should never be crossed. We never tolerate unacceptable behaviour of any kind."
Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturdays and Sundays on BBC One