The glitz and glamour of Strictly Come Dancing’s Movie Week dazzled audiences on Saturday, but the sparkle was dimmed by ongoing fan frustration with the show’s revamped results format. Despite a wave of complaints flooding social media after last week’s debut of the new layout, the BBC has doubled down, keeping the controversial changes for Sunday’s results show. As thirteen contestants brought Hollywood to the dancefloor, fans found themselves distracted—not by the performances, but by something far more grating: the music and the new results show structure.
Movie Week delivered unforgettable moments, with former Emmerdale star Lewis Cope stealing the spotlight. Paired with professional dancer Katya Jones, the 30-year-old actor ignited the stage with a fiery paso doble to The Plaza of Execution from The Mask of Zorro. Dressed in a sleek black suit, hat, and mask, Cope’s performance earned a standing ovation from judge Motsi Mabuse and guest mentor, actor Cynthia Erivo. The judges were equally impressed, awarding the first 10 of the series, propelling Cope and Jones to the top of the leaderboard with a stellar 37 points.
Hot on their heels was former Love Island winner Amber Davies, who wowed with an elegant American Smooth to Sixteen Going on Seventeen from The Sound of Music. Scoring 35 points, Davies secured second place, cementing her status as a frontrunner after topping the leaderboard the previous week.
Not every star shone as brightly, however. TV personality Ross King struggled, landing at the bottom with just 19 points for his paso doble to the Thunderbirds Are Go theme. As the second elimination looms on Sunday’s results show—following the departure of Thomas Skinner and Amy Dowden last week—tensions are high for the remaining contestants.
Adding to the drama, Neighbours actor Stefan Dennis was absent from Saturday’s show due to illness. In an emotional Instagram comment, Dennis apologized to fans, saying he was “so sorry” to miss the performance. According to Strictly’s rules, Dennis and his partner, last year’s champion Dianne Buswell, will receive a bye to next week’s show, giving them a chance to return stronger.
Buswell, addressing concerned fans, clarified speculation about her own health, stating, “Just to clarify as I have had loads of people messaging me thinking this is a cover-up for me not being able to dance. Firstly, we wouldn’t lie, especially about someone being sick, and secondly, I am fine. Yes, I am pregnant, but I’m also very capable and feeling good.” She added that contingency plans are in place should any professional dancer face health challenges, reassuring viewers of the show’s transparency.
While the dancefloor drama captivated viewers, it was the results show that sparked the loudest outcry. The new format, introduced last week, has drawn relentless criticism for its music, pacing, and overall structure. Fans took to X to vent their frustration, with @Imongen_Alanah summing up the sentiment: “I hate the new results show layout. Hate the music. Hate the waffle from the judges. Hate the It Takes Two ad, hate it all.” Others echoed her discontent, with @Raggedydocs declaring, “I cannot stress enough how much I dislike this new results show format,” and @Occfox lamenting, “They haven’t changed this awful new format and music back to how it used to be then.”
The backlash continued as @Popboy84 invoked the age-old adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” while @DanielDM27 directly appealed to the BBC, asking, “Can you tell me why they strictly have changed the results music and format when there was nothing with how it was before? The change doesn’t seem to be popular with the viewers too.”
The new music, in particular, has become a lightning rod for criticism, with fans arguing it disrupts the show’s iconic rhythm and emotional weight. The revamped format, which includes extended judge commentary and promotional segments, has been labeled as unnecessary “waffle” that detracts from the tension of the elimination reveal.
As Strictly Come Dancing heads into its next week, all eyes will be on whether the BBC responds to the fan uproar or continues with the divisive format. With Stefan Dennis set to return and the competition heating up, the show remains a rollercoaster of emotion—both on and off the dancefloor. Will the producers heed the fans’ pleas and restore the classic results show? Or will the new music and layout become the new normal, testing the loyalty of Strictly’s devoted audience?
For now, the spotlight remains on the dancers, but the background noise—literally and figuratively—has fans demanding change. As the elimination looms tonight, one thing is clear: the rhythm of Strictly Come Dancing is facing its toughest critique yet.