Strictly fans want a big change to the show as the semi-final approaches

Virgin Radio

6 Dec 2021, 09:20

We’re reaching the business end of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, with Saturday’s upcoming show being the semi-final, and fans are hoping for a major change to its format, because they are sick of seeing spoilers.

The way that things currently work is that Sunday’s dance-off show is actually pre-recorded on Saturday night, directly after the live Saturday show has finished. 

While the votes are being counted, the hosts and judges get changed into different outfits, to make it look like they are filming on a different day. Sunday’s elimination show is then recorded on the Saturday night, with everyone referring to the previous show as “last night”, and it is then aired on the Sunday.

Whilst it certainly makes logistical sense to record the programmes back-to-back, it is causing some social media users to accidentally come across spoilers. Because the elimination actually happens on Saturday and isn’t aired until Sunday, some fans are seeing spoilers leaked from the set in the intervening day, and they are unhappy about it!

One person wrote on Twitter: “Please don’t retweet strictly spoilers. If you rt then u ruin it for ppl who don’t wanna see them. If ppl wanted to see them they would follow the account.”

Someone else wrote: “There’s a strictly spoiler account which tweets who has left before the result show because audience members contact them and tell them. I never check it myself, ruins it.”

A commenter begged: “Can I just say STRICTLY SPOILERS, PLEASE STOP! #nomorespoilertweets”

Another person added: “They really just need to get rid of Sunday night and do a longer live show on a Saturday… half the time some muppet on here will just spoil it all for everyone.”

Strictly used to unveil the public results live on Saturday shows, and one Twitter user suggested they should go back to doing that, saying: “They only started doing Sundays to rival the X Factor who did it - so now that X Factor isn't on anymore can they put the results back on Saturday again?! #Strictly”

Fans who were unfortunate enough to see spoilers, and those of us that watched the elimination show last night, will know that the latest celebs to be in the dance-off were (and here comes the spoiler if you haven’t seen the show yet) BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker and AJ Odudu. 

Dan and his partner Nadiya performed a Tango to Santa Maria by Gotan Project, while AJ and her partner Kai danced their Salsa to Rhythm Is Gonna Get You/Get On Your Feet by Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine.

Following what was a very strong dance-off, the judges decided to save AJ and Kai, but they were all full of praise for Dan’s efforts. Craig Revel Horwood said: “Dan, I think you did such a great job in the dance off, that’s the best I’ve ever seen you dance, ever!”

Anton Du Beke added: “It’s a thing to make the quarter-finals of Strictly Come Dancing, and to pick this year of all years, to make the quarter finals would have guaranteed you a place in the final in any other year.”

Upon being eliminated, Dan said: “The last 11 weeks have been absolutely amazing, I’ve genuinely loved every second of it." 

AJ Odudu and Kai Widdrington will join Great British Bake Off champion John Whaite and his dance partner Johannes Radebe, EastEnders' Rose Ayling-Ellis and her dance partner Giovanni Pernice, and presenter Rhys Stephenson and his dance partner Nancy Xu in the semi-final.

You can watch the semi-final next Saturday at 7.05pm on BBC One and iPlayer. And remember to be wary of spoilers if you are on Twitter after the show!