Strictly Come Dancing has suffered another blow after a year of scandal when ratings for the final episode were released.
On the BBC show, Chris McCausland and his professional partner Dianne Buswell won the 2024 champions after becoming the show’s first blind contestant.
Chris, 47, beat finalists Tasha Ghouri, JB Gill and Sarah Hadland in the ‘greatest of all time’ final on Saturday.
In the final, which was the highest score ever, all the couples performed three dances each for the judges before hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced Chris as the winner of the much-sought Glitterball trophy.
Despite the praise and star-studded cast on this year’s show, it wasn’t enough to achieve the same level of viewership and the competition saw another drop in its ratings for the third time in a row.
Last year, the dance show peaked with an audience of 9.7 million, but failed to attract as many fans, peaking at 9.3 million viewers.
Last year’s average audience saw 8.8 million dance fans tune in to the BBC One show, but this year it had fallen to 8.6 million.
The news comes after the show also got off to a slow start, with the first live show grossing just 7.1 million, down from 7.8 million the previous year.
Strictly Come Dancing suffers another blow amid a year of scandal after ratings fell for the third year in a row despite Chris McCausland’s record-breaking win.
The hit BBC show saw Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell win the 2024 champions, beating Tasha Ghouri and Alijaz Korjanec into the spot in the final.
The drop in viewers tuning in echoed a similar drop for both its release and its first live shows, with almost a million people tuning out from the former.
But it’s not all doom and gloom for scandal-hit Strictly, as it was revealed earlier this year that the show remains the most-watched show on Saturday nights.
A source said the sun in September: ‘Strictly remains the most watched show on Saturday nights, getting twice as many viewers as its closest ratings rival.
‘And, although catch-up viewing numbers are increasing, the BBC has always prided itself on the dance show offering a shared experience.
“But it seems like fewer and fewer people are choosing to share it on a Saturday night.”
The BBC’s Latin and ballroom dance show returned to screens in the autumn amid a huge scandal and a surprise victory for the NTA on its 20th anniversary.
Throughout 2024, Strictly became embroiled in a scandal that began when Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington accused her partner Giovanni Pernice of harassment.
The station began an investigation that lasted months and the professional was not invited to return to this series.
The drop in viewers comes after a year of scandal over the hit BBC show in which actress Amanda Abbington accused her partner Giovanni Pernice of bullying.
Giovanni was cleared of ten of Amanda’s 16 allegations when the BBC investigation concluded in September, but remained absent for the current edition of the series.
Although bosses found Giovanni to be neither threatening nor physically abusive, he did confirm some of Amanda’s complaints about bullying and verbal harassment.
The BBC also agreed with Amanda that at times it seemed to be giving her overly negative feedback.
In a written statement, a spokesperson for Giovanni said: “We are pleased that this six-month review found no evidence of threatening or abusive behavior by Giovanni.”
Graziano Di Prima was later sacked by the BBC following allegations of serious misconduct towards his ex-partner Zara McDermott.
At the time, Graziano, 30, admitted hitting Zara during their sessions and claimed it scared her so much that she “locked herself in a bathroom.”
Mark Borkowski, Graziano’s spokesman, told BBC News: “There is never a time when kicking, or any sensation of it, is right.” And he knows it.
“He knows he made a mistake. He apologized at the time.”
Graziano Di Prima was later sacked by the BBC following allegations of serious misconduct towards his ex-partner Zara McDermott (pictured in 2023).
Referring to media reports, Mark added: “But it doesn’t acknowledge some of the issues around it.” The descriptions of what is discussed online and how you remember it are not aligned.
Upon its launch, the show took a hit when viewing figures plummeted amid scandals and grossed over a million less than usual.
Another minor controversy arose earlier this year when Katya Jones pushed her partner Wynne Evan’s hand away during a live broadcast.
Wynne, who appeared in spin-off series It Takes Two, admitted he had seen footage of the incident and confessed: “I can see how people may have misinterpreted it.”
Another minor controversy arose earlier this year when Katya Jones, 35, pushed her partner Wynne Evan’s hand away during a livestream. (pictured)
Wynne, who appeared in the spin-off series It Takes Two, admitted he had seen footage of the incident and confessed: “I can see how people may have misinterpreted it.”
Clinging to his arm, Katya said she “can’t stand” the criticism her co-star is receiving and was sympathetic that there was no crime.
She said: “The idea that it made me feel uncomfortable or offended in any way is complete nonsense, and to those who have doubts, you have been wrong.” So I hope this is the end and you continue to make me smile.”
She added: “I can’t sit by and watch this man being portrayed as someone he’s not.” In fact, it couldn’t be further from the truth.
“So I have to make it absolutely clear that this whole incident, with the handshake and the high five on Saturday night, was an inside joke between Wynne and I. Was it a dumb joke? Yes, it was a sick joke. taste? Yes.’