September 22nd 2024.
Last night, the highly-anticipated first live show of Strictly Come Dancing graced our screens, and it did not disappoint. The dazzling performances from the celebrity contestants and their professional partners left viewers in awe and wanting more. And it seems the show's bosses have every reason to celebrate, as the viewing figures have shown great promise, bouncing back from an initial slump on launch night.
The star-studded lineup, which included names like Chris McCausland, Tasha Ghouri, Pete Wicks, Nick Knowles, Shayne Ward, and Sarah Hadland, took to the dancefloor with their professional partners. The judges, Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke, were on hand to provide their scathing criticism and occasional glowing scores. JLS star JB Gill even soared to the top of the leaderboard with an impressive 31 points.
But it wasn't just JB and Amy's partnership that soared on Saturday night. The ratings also saw a significant increase of one million viewers from the previous weekend. And if you want to be the first to get all the latest news and rumors from behind-the-scenes of Strictly, you can join our WhatsApp channel and become a part of Metro's Strictly community. Simply click on the link and select "Join Chat" to stay updated on all the gossip about your favorite pros, judges, and celebrities. Don't forget to turn on notifications so you never miss a spoiler drop!
According to the BBC, last night's show, which aired from 7pm until 9:30pm, averaged an impressive 6.4 million viewers. The show's opening number, a lively jive performed by Nick Knowles, set the tone for the rest of the evening. And while Pete Wicks may have divided the panel with his paso doble, the show peaked at 6.6 million viewers and acquired a huge audience share of 49.4%.
But the numbers are expected to rise even further in the coming days as Strictly fanatics catch up and re-watch the show on BBC iPlayer. This comes after a slightly lower viewership for last year's launch show and amid controversy surrounding the axed professional dancers who have denied allegations of misconduct in training. However, it's worth noting that these overnight figures have fluctuated over the years, and an increasing number of people now watch on-demand, which is not accounted for in the initial numbers.
As the first live show of the season, there was no public vote this weekend, which means all the contestants will return to dance again next week. The judges' scores will be combined, and one couple will face the dreaded dance-off, which will ultimately cut their Strictly journey short.
After their first dances, Love Islander Tasha has emerged as the new hot favorite, with bookies predicting her for glitterball glory due to her impressive cha cha cha. She and her returning pro partner, Aljaz Skorjanec, wowed the judges and received a score of 30 points. Shirley was particularly impressed, telling Tasha that she is on her way to having "one of the most spectacular leg actions" ever seen on the show.
But the star of the night was undoubtedly comedian Chris, who made history as the show's first-ever blind contestant. Paired with Aussie pro Dianne Buswell, the beloved Scouser nailed his cha cha cha to "Twist And Shout," which earned him 23 points. Judge Anton was in awe, declaring it "one of the most extraordinary things" he's ever seen. And while Toyah Willcox may be in trouble after landing at the bottom of the leaderboard with just 12 points for her tango, it was Paul Merson and Towie's Pete who joined her in the danger zone with a score of 17 each for their American smooth and paso doble, respectively.
But it's still early in the competition, and anything can happen. As for the viewers, they have already taken TV star Chris to their hearts and have been showering him with praise. And when Craig gave him some critique, Chris simply brushed it off, saying he was too tired to care and even offered to drive Craig home. But Chris wasn't the only one clapping back at the judges last night. Podcaster Pete also hit back after Anton criticized his timing, declaring that he has "no rhythm." Looks like there may be some fireworks in the coming weeks!
As the show continues next Saturday at 6:15pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, we can't wait to see who will come out on top. Will Tasha's potential take her all the way to the glitterball trophy? Or will someone else surprise us and take the crown? Share your thoughts on who you think will win Strictly 2024 in the comments below! And if you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, don't hesitate to get in touch with The Agency entertainment team. You can email us, call us, or visit our Submit Stuff page. We'd love to hear from you!
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