Strictly Come Dancing’s 2024 launch show was watched by almost a million fewer viewers than last year, figures have indicated. Overnight TV ratings suggest that an average of 5.5 million viewers tuned into watch the BBC One programme return from 7.20pm to 9pm, under a cloud of controversy surrounding its professional dancers.

While Saturday night’s Strictly Come Dancing launch mostly served as a joyful reminder of what has made the show such a hit in the last 20 years, it also ended on a more serious note. After the credits rolled on the pre-recorded launch,

The launch show of Strictly Come Dancing attracted nearly three-quarters of a million fewer viewers than last year. An average of 5.5 million viewers watched the BBC One programme last night, compared with 6.

Fans of Pete Wicks were spoiled for choice on Saturday night, with the TOWIE favourite making his debut on Strictly Come Dancing while also appearing on another TV show

On Monday's instalment of Good Morning Britain, reigning Strictly Come Dancing champion Ellie Leach shared her thoughts on the latest series.

Strictly Come Dancing 2024 hopeful Pete Wicks opened up about his troubled past before finding fame on The Only Way Is Essex in his candid new book, Never Enough

The celebrity and professional dancer pairings for this year's Strictly Come Dancing have been leaked online as filming for the 20th anniversary series gets underway