Strictly Come Dancing’s launch show ratings highest since 2021 as the opening competition night watched by an average of 6.1million

By William On Sep 18, 2023

The show’s viewing figures for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing climbed to their highest level since 2021 as an average of 6.1 million viewers tuned in on Saturday, according to the overnight ratings.

This was a jump compared to last year. where an average of 5.4 million viewers watched the very first show, after bringing in a whopping 7.9 million viewers in 2021.

The launch on Saturday saw the 15 celebrities paired with their professional partners, attracting a peak viewership of 6.7 million.

Last year’s first show averaged 5.4 million ballroom fans, peaking at 5.6 million.

MailOnline has contacted the BBC for comment.

New figures: The show’s viewing figures for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing have risen to their highest level since 2021 as an average of 6.1 million viewers tuned in on Saturday, according to overnight ratings

Back with a bang: Saturday’s launch saw the 15 celebrities reunited with their professional partners, attracting a peak viewership of 6.7 million (judge Shirley Ballas pictured)

Strictly speaking, viewers have already tipped off who they think will win the new series after the celebrities attended the launch dance floor for the first time in a disco-themed group routine.

And fans predicted Layton Williams would make history by becoming the first-ever winning same-sex pairing alongside pro Nikita Kuzmin.

It comes despite the series facing a ‘fix’ row after fans claimed the actor had been given unfair advancement following his West End performances and Stage School training.

After the performance, viewers took to Twitter in droves with the caption: ‘A same-sex couple is going to win this year, I can feel it in my bones!!!!!’.

A second said: ‘I’ve already chosen who I think will win! That guy from Leyton… mind you… it helps that he’s already a dancer’.

A third wrote: ‘The dance made Layton and Nikita stand out.’

And: ‘Yes, Layton Williams is going to win this.’

While someone else brands his performance: ‘Winner vibes’.

Throwback: This was a jump from last year, when an average of 5.4 million viewers watched the show, after bringing in a whopping 7.9 million viewers in 2021 (Will Mellor and his professional partner Nancy Xu pictured in 2022)

Impressive: And fans predicted Layton Williams (L) would make history by becoming the first-ever winning same-sex couple alongside pro Nikita Kuzmin (R)

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

Another fan wrote: ‘That was brilliant! Layton is fantastic by the way.”

And: ‘Yes, after that opening routine I’m putting my money on Layton and Nikita’.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the scale, Les Dennis, 69, failed to impress, with others saying 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 theatre, so he will be good at telling stories and he shows some rhythm. It will be interesting to see how Nancy adapts her choreography for an older celebrity like Les.

Earlier in the show, Strictly Come Dancing paid an emotional tribute to Amy Dowden after the dancer was forced to miss the glitzy launch of the series.

Love: Earlier in the show, Strictly Come Dancing paid an emotional tribute to Amy Dowden after the dancer was forced to miss the glitzy launch of the series

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

Hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly dubbed her the show’s ‘Welsh Dragon’ as they dedicated the judges and professional dancers’ routine to her.

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

Speaking ahead of the show-stopping routine, Tess said: ‘We are obviously missing one of our professional dancers.

‘Our beautiful Amy Dowden is unwell and she cannot be with us for the start of the series.’

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

Claudia then stepped in and said: ‘Amy, from your entire Strictly family, we’re sending all our love and we can’t wait to have you back on the dance floor.’

To which Tess adds: ‘This (dance) is for you!’.