BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing Faces Crisis Amid Ratings Slump

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, November 1, 2026

Strictly Come Dancing is experiencing a drop in ratings and criticism of its new presenting team during its 24th series, prompting BBC producers to hold a crisis meeting to address these challenges. The show faces difficulties in attracting high-profile contestants and may see significant changes in its lineup and format to restore its previous success in future seasons.

The BBC’s flagship dance competition, Strictly Come Dancing, is facing challenges midway through its 24th series as ratings decline and new presenters come under scrutiny. According to insiders, senior producers are concerned about the show’s reception this year and have called a crisis meeting to address the issues in an effort to restore its former appeal.

Strictly, once a cornerstone of the BBC's primetime lineup with a viewership reaching 14 million, is now seen by some within the corporation as delivering a product below its expected standard. One source characterized the current series as a “Premier League product” performing at a “League One standard,” acknowledging that while the show remains highly regarded internally, it requires significant revitalization in terms of energy and glamour.

The current edition features a new presenting team comprising Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe, who replaced longstanding hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. While Willis has been praised for her role, Widdicombe and Radebe have drawn criticism for frequent missteps during live broadcasts, including errors in timing and delivery. This has prompted discussions among BBC executives about potential changes to the presenter lineup going forward, with at least one judge anticipated to step down and speculation that Radebe might transition to the judging panel.

Casting challenges have added to the show’s difficulties. Insiders revealed that securing high-profile celebrities for this year’s competition has proven increasingly difficult, partly because many prominent figures have already participated over the show's two-decade history. “You can see a big extra push to get better names, but they are harder and harder to get,” a source noted, highlighting the program’s longstanding reputation for strong lineups since its launch in 2004.

Despite the issues, the show continues to garner attention from notable figures in the entertainment world. Contestant Jaime Winstone, 41, shared that her performances have earned praise from celebrities such as Kelly Osbourne and Cara Delevingne. She also recounted a compliment from Taylor Swift, who expressed admiration for her dancing style.

While producers concede it is unlikely that meaningful changes can be implemented during the current series, the upcoming meeting aims to develop strategies to reinvigorate Strictly for future seasons, emphasizing the collective determination within the BBC not to abandon the show.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.