Strictly Come Dancing 2022 viewing figures down over a million for first shows compared to last year

The glitz and glamour of Strictly kicked off once more correctly on Saturday night time (Image: BBC/PA)

The first reside present of the brand new collection of Strictly Come Dancing was watched by a median of 6.8million viewers, in line with in a single day scores.

This was a drop in viewing figures from 2021’s first reside present which was watched by a median 7.9million.

Saturday marked the primary competitors night time of the favored present with 15 couples battling it out on the dancefloor, which attracted a peak of seven.2million viewers, the BBC has stated.

Viewing numbers had been additionally down for the present’s launch episode on Friday which noticed the celeb contestants paired up with their skilled companions.

It was watched by a median of 5.4 million viewers, with a peak viewers of 5.6million.

Whereas final yr’s collection launch acquired a median of seven million viewers, peaking at 7.3million.

This yr’s first present attracted 6.8million viewers on common, whereas the launch present captured 5.4million – each down on final yr’s figures (Image: Man Levy/BBC)

This yr’s launch present was attributable to air on Saturday September 17 however was postponed attributable to schedule modifications forward of the Queen’s funeral. As a substitute the BBC confirmed the launch only a day earlier than the primary reside present.

Saturday’s present noticed actor Will Mellor and wildlife presenter Hamza Yassin place joint prime of the leaderboard, each attaining a powerful rating of 34 in week one.

Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps star Will carried out an electrical jive to Livin’ La Vida Loca by Ricky Martin along with his associate Nancy Xu which inspired judges Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas a lot that they gave him a standing ovation.

Will Mellor triumphed along with his jive taking him to the highest of the leaderboard (Image: Man Levy/BBC)

Hamza and his associate Jowita Przystal additionally dazzled with their joyful foxtrot to Islands In The Stream by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers to safe their prime mark.

Britain’s Acquired Expertise finalist Molly Rainford and new skilled Carlos Gu got here in third with a rating of 31 for his or her energetic samba.

Following their routine to Kiss My (Uh Oh) by Anne Marie and Little Combine, Motsi described the singer and actress as a ‘capturing star’.

Singer Fleur East and new skilled Vito Coppola took fourth place, with a rating of 29, for his or her electrical cha cha cha to Let’s Get Loud by Jennifer Lopez which closed out the present.

CBBC star Molly Rainford with new professional Carlos Gu additionally impressed (Image: Man Levy/BBC)

Paralympian Ellie Simmonds competed with Nikita Kuzmin (Image: Man Levy/BBC)

The twentieth collection additionally options two same-sex pairings, amongst them reigning champion Giovanni Pernice and BBC Radio 2’s Richie Anderson who delivered an lively cha cha cha to I’m Your Man by Wham! for his or her first routine.

Comic and actor Jayde Adams and professional Karen Hauer are the present’s second feminine same-sex couple, following within the footsteps of Katya Jones and Olympic gold medallist boxer Nicola Adams who had been paired up in 2020.

Giovanni Pernice and Richie Anderson are within the present’s second ever all-male partnership, and considered one of two same-sex partnerships for thsi collection (Image: Man Levy/BBC)

Jayde and Karen acquired a standing ovation from judges Motsi and Shirley, in addition to the studio viewers, after they carried out a vigorous samba routine to Dirrty by Christina Aguilera that includes Redman, touchdown them a rating of 23.

Metro.co.uk has contacted reps for Strictly.