BBC Strictly Come Dancing has revealed a shake-up to the judge’s vote that determine who stays during the Sunday show. Tonight was the first chance for viewers to watch the stars in action ahead of the first elimination next week.
All fifteen partnerships were announced last week, with couples including Amy Dowden and Thomas Skinner, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Karen Hauer, George Clarke and Alexis Warr, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Lauren Oakley, Stefan Dennis and Dianne Buswell.
Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas return as judges to cast their eye over the contestants as they learn the art of ballroom dancing. Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman host the programme.
Towards the end of the first live show, Claudia and Tess revealed that the power is no longer in Shirley Ballas’ hands. As the head judge, Shirley was responsible for breaking ties between her peers and eliminating the celebrity she didn’t see fit to progress in the competition.
However, now it’s been announced that the power is going to be shared between the four judges, with a different judge holding the power each week.
The change will start from next week, when the first couple will be eliminated from the series. As of yet, Strictly aren’t revealing which judge has the power, but the celebs are worried.
Some fans were upset by the shake-up, with one disgruntled viewer taking to X to say: “I think would’ve made more sense for it to be down to the public vote instead of a different judge each week but okay.”
Another added: “I was hoping it would be a ‘public vote if the judges are tied’ but nope.”
During tonight’s show, Claudia revealed she attempted to make conversation with cast member Vicky Pattison but she shut her down due to nerves.
Claudia said: “We have almost never had somebody as nervous as you. I tried to talk to you earlier and you went ‘No.’ You looked in shock at those comments. How do you feel now?”
Vicky said: “I don’t even know. I was so scared beforehand and I just didn’t know what they were going to say and the fact there are some nice bits in there I’m shocked.”
