Strictly viewers criticise Movie Week show and unchanged three-host format in week two

On the second live Saturday show of Strictly Come Dancing (3 October), the Daily Express and Daily Mail reported viewer complaints on social media about the Movie Week tone and the unchanged presenting trio.

2 outlets · 0L · 0C · 2R

First reported about 2 hours ago Account updated about 2 hours ago

Image: Daily Mail

Image: Daily Express

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The story, neutrally told

Right · 1Strictly Come Dancing returned on Saturday 3 October on BBC One with Movie Week, in which the contestants dressed as favourite film characters. Right · 1The Daily Express reported that viewers "switched off" minutes in, after a professional group number inspired by the animated film Zootopia. Right · 1It quoted social media users calling the show a "Cringe fest", saying "Movie week is too early" and that "It's turning into a comedy show".

Right · 1The Daily Mail reported that viewers were frustrated that producers had kept the same presenting format as in week one, with Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe on the studio floor and Johannes Radebe in the "Clauditorium". Right · 1Viewers on X said the producers had "ignored the public" and not "listened" to fan concerns. Right · 1After the first live show, viewers had called Widdicombe a "spare part" next to the more experienced Willis. The Mail said he missed a cue during a link, while some critics argued that "Josh is really not the problem" and that the BBC's decision to hire three hosts and assign their roles was at fault.

Right · 1The Mail said the first live show drew 4.8 million viewers, against 6.2 million for last year's first live show. It said this was the first time since 2019 that the first live show had rated lower than the pre-recorded launch, and noted that England v Spain on ITV1 drew three million live viewers. It added that catch-up viewing would raise the figure. Right · 1The Mail said Willis responded to the criticism during the week with an Instagram post quoting "You'll get judged either way, so may as well pick the fun option."

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Framing: Both tabloids build the story from critical social media posts: the Express on the tone of Movie Week, the Mail on the unchanged presenting trio and falling ratings.
Emphasis: Viewer complaints and quotes from X; the Mail adds ratings figures and the earlier 'spare part' criticism of Widdicombe.
Leaves out or plays down: Neither quotes the BBC, the production team or the presenters on the week-two show, and neither reports any positive viewer reaction. The Express cites four posts and gives no figure for how widespread the complaints were.
Charged language: “brutal one-word complaint”“Cringe fest”“spare part”“ignoring the public”
For example: “Strictly fans 'switch off' minutes into show as they issue brutal one-word complaint” — Daily Express

“Taking to X, viewers called out show bosses for 'ignoring the public' as they questioned why they hadn't 'listened' to fan concerns” — Daily Mail