Strictly Come Dancing fans slam 2024 launch show minutes into BBC show
Strictly Come Dancing has returned with a bang for its 20th anniversary with a line-up of excited celebs ready to shimmy their way to victory.
Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman were back on our screens this Saturday (September 16), as the pre-recorded launch show sashayed onto BBC One.
However, not just Tess and Claudia made a comeback as judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke reclaimed their thrones, all set to critique the fresh batch of 15 couples.
But before the hosts could roll out the red carpet for the class of 2024, viewers at home squirmed at the pre-taped opening skit featuring the pros and presenters busting moves on a party bus.
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Social media, once known as Twitter, saw one viewer post: "All this is so cringe.", reports the Mirror. Another chimed in with: "# Strictly The dreadful acting is making me cringe big time! " A third lamented: "Nah sorry the intro is naff! ."
Meanwhile, a fourth blasted: "Well this intro is crap." Yet, not everyone was a critic, with some fans absolutely thrilled by the show's return: "Oh this intro sketch is so camp i'm a bit obsessed." Echoing the sentiment, another fan enthused: "Love the opening so glad Strictly is back."
The new series of Strictly Come Dancing is set to launch amidst a whirlwind of controversy that has plagued the beloved dance show for months. The drama has mainly centred around two professional dancers, Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, who have both exited the series.
Giovanni, who danced with actress Amanda Abbington in the 2023 series, has robustly refuted any allegations of abusive or threatening behaviour during their practice sessions.
On the flip side, Graziano has admitted to accidentally kicking his celebrity partner Zara McDermott during a rehearsal last year. The BBC has pledged to address any complaints with "care, fairness and sensitivity", yet the full story behind these incidents remains shrouded in mystery.
BBC's top boss, Tim Davie, has extended an apology to any Strictly participants who've had less than stellar experiences on the show. At the unveiling of the BBC's annual report, he expressed his "disappointment" upon learning that a number of celebs had raised concerns about aggressive behaviour from their pro partners during training.
He affirmed that Strictly will be back on our screens but issued a stern reminder to the pros that while a competitive spirit is expected, they must not veer into "unacceptable" territory. He emphasised: "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