Strictly Come Dancing has kicked off its 20th anniversary season with a glamorous lineup of celebrities vying for the coveted glitterball trophy. The show's hosts, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, returned to the iconic ballroom on Saturday, September 16, for the pre-recorded launch episode on BBC One.
The familiar faces of judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Howard, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke also made a comeback, ready to critique the 15 new couples.
However, the pre-recorded opening video, featuring the professional dancers and hosts showcasing their moves on a party bus, left some viewers at home feeling embarrassed.
On X (formerly Twitter), one fan wrote, "All this is so cringe." Another added, "#Strictly The dreadful acting is making me cringe big time! " A third person said, "Nah sorry the intro is naff! ." A fourth social media user said, "Well this intro is crap.", reports the Mirror.
Nevertheless, some fans were thrilled to see the show return: "Oh this intro sketch is so camp i'm a bit obsessed." Someone else agreed: "Love the opening so glad Strictly is back."
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The upcoming series of Strictly follows a period of controversy for the beloved show, with much of the criticism centred around professional dancers Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, both of whom have since exited the programme.
Giovanni, who was paired with actress Amanda Abbington in the 2023 series, has refuted any allegations of abusive or threatening behaviour during rehearsals.
Graziano admitted to accidentally kicking his TV star partner Zara McDermott during a rehearsal session last year. The BBC pledged to address any complaints with "care, fairness and sensitivity", yet many questions about the 'true' events remain unanswered.
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BBC's director general, Tim Davie, has subsequently apologised to Strictly participants who had negative experiences. Speaking at the unveiling of the BBC's annual report, he expressed his disappointment upon hearing that several celebrity contestants had lodged complaints about abusive behaviour from their professional partners during rehearsals.
He confirmed the show's return but cautioned that professionals should not blur the line between competitiveness and "unacceptable" behaviour. He further stated: "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
