Strictly responds as ratings drop compared to 2026's new-look launch episode

The BBC has responded after Strictly Come Dancing's first live show of 2026 dropped 1 million viewers in its initial broadcast compared to the launch show the week before. It's the first time the launch show has performed better in overnight ratings than the first week of the competition since 2019.

The episode that just aired averaged 4.8 million viewers when it aired on Saturday night, while the launch show averaged 6.2 million the week before.

In a response issued to Digital Spy, a spokesperson for the show stated that the viewing figures for the initial broadcast aren't everything, and catch-up streams on iPlayer are very important for the show.

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The BBC's statement reads: "Strictly was the most watched programme of the night, with a peak of 5 million viewers. As ever, overnight ratings do not give the full picture of all those who watch in an on-demand world."

Saturday's edition was at the top of iPlayer's most-popular chart after airing, but has since dropped to third place behind today's early-release EastEnders and the latest episode of new spin-off drama The Split Up, which aired last night.

A likely reason for why the first live show shed so many viewers is because of what was airing over on BBC One's main rival.

At the same time as Strictly was happening, ITV1 was airing the live UEFA Nations League match between England and Spain.

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The weekend's show was the first time we got to see the presenting trio of Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe doing their thing live.

Fans weren't sure about the placement of the new hosts, especially because it was hard to hear one of them quite a lot throughout the episode.

Will the show have worked through its teething issues by the time it returns this weekend?

Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturday and Sunday nights on BBC One and iPlayer, while It Takes Two airs on BBC Two and iPlayer on weekday evenings.

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Joe Anderton is a freelance news writer at Digital Spy, having worked there since 2016. In his time, he's covered a host of live events and interviewed celebrities big and small. A big fan of TV and movies both mainstream and obscure, Joe also enjoys video games and in particular PlayStation. Joe currently does not use Twitter, but he only ever used it to tell people to watch the film Help! I'm a Fish.