Ratings For Strictly Come Dancing's First Live Show Have Fallen For The Second Time, With The Competition's Opening Night Watched By An Average Of 6.1 Million Viewers

Ratings for Strictly Come Dancing’s first live show have fallen for the second time, with the competition’s opening night watched by an average of 6.1 million viewers

By Geraint Llewellyn for Web

1:39 p.m., September 17, 2023 | Updated: 1:39 p.m., September 17, 2023

Ratings for the first live show of the new series of “Strictly Come Dancing” fell again, with an average of 6.1 million viewers on Saturday, according to overnight ratings.

This was the second year in a row of declines, with an average of 6.8 million people watching the launch in 2022, after the glittering show previously attracted a whopping 7.9 million in 2021.

At the start on Saturday, the 15 celebrities presented themselves with their professional partners and attracted a peak number of 6.7 million viewers.

Last year’s launch averaged 6.8 million viewers, peaking at 7.2 million.

Web has contacted the BBC for comment.

Decline: The first live show of the new series of Strictly Come Dancing saw ratings fall again, with an average of 6.1 million viewers on Saturday, according to overnight ratings

New figures: At the start on Saturday, the 15 celebrities competed with their professional partners and reached a peak number of 6.7 million viewers (judge Shirley Ballas in the picture).

Strictly viewers have already tipped who they think will win the new series after the celebs hit the dance floor for the first time in a disco group show following its release.

And fans predicted Layton Williams would make history by becoming the show’s first same-sex couple to ever win, alongside pro Nikita Kuzmin.

This is despite the series facing a “fixed” row after fans claimed the actor was making an unfair move following his West End appearances and stage school training.

Following the performance, viewers took to Twitter in droves, writing: “A same sex couple will win this year, I can feel it in my bones!!!!!”.

A second said: “I’ve already picked who I think will win!” This Leyton guy…mind you…it helps that he’s already a dancer.

A third wrote: “Of all the dances, Layton and Nikita stood out.”

And: “Yes, Layton Williams will win this.”

With someone else branding his performance: “Winner Vibes.”

Decline: This was the second year in a row of declines, with an average of 6.8 million people watching the launch in 2022, after the glittering show previously attracted a whopping 7.9 million in 2021. (Will Mellor and his professional partner Nancy Xu pictured). show in 2022)

Impressive: And fans predicted that Layton Williams (l.) would make history by becoming, along with pro Nikita Kuzmin (r.), the show’s first ever victorious same-sex couple.

Dance shows: At the other end of the scale, 69-year-old Les Dennis failed to impress, while others said it was too early to rule him out (Les Dennis pictured with pro partner Nancy Xu)

Another fan wrote: “That was amazing!” “Layton is fabulous by the way.”

And, “Yeah, after that opening routine, I’m putting my money on Layton and Nikita.”

At the other end of the scale, however, 69-year-old Les Dennis failed to impress, while others said it was too early to rule him out.

One fan said: “I’m afraid Les Dennis is the runt of the litter.”

While another wrote: “Don’t write Les off completely – he has a background in theater so he’ll be good at storytelling and he shows a bit of rhythm.” It’ll be interesting to see how Nancy does her choreography for an older celebrity as Les adapts.

Earlier in the show, Strictly Come Dancing paid an emotional tribute to Amy Dowden after the dancer had to miss the show’s glittering start.

Love: Earlier in the show, Strictly Come Dancing paid an emotional tribute to Amy Dowden after the dancer had to miss the show’s glittering start

Tribute: Presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly called her the show’s ‘Welsh dragon’ as they dedicated the show to her from the judges and professional dancers (Amy pictured)

Hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly called her the show’s “Welsh dragon” as they dedicated the show of judges and professional dancers to her.

Caerphilly-born Amy, 33, was diagnosed with breast cancer in early May and began chemotherapy after doctors discovered another type of cancer in her body, meaning she couldn’t be paired with a celebrity for the new series.

Before the stunning show, Tess said: “Of course we are missing one of our professional dancers.”

“Our beautiful Amy Dowden is unwell and cannot be with us at the start of the series.”

She continued: “But she is our Welsh dragon and we know she will be back soon.”

Claudia then chimed in and said: “Amy, from all of your Strictly family, we send you all our love and can’t wait to have you back on the dance floor.”

Tess added: “That [dance] is for you!’.