Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Brendan Cole has criticised the show's new hosts, lengthy runtimes and lack of recognizable celebrities following a drop in viewing figures for the BBC series.
Speaking on Channel 5's The Jeremy Vine Show on Wednesday, the 50-year-old dancer addressed reports that Sunday's results episode attracted 4.5 million viewers, down from 6.2 million during the equivalent broadcast last year.
The slump follows a lower turnout for the opening live show, which recorded 4.8 million viewers compared to 6.2 million for the previous year's series launch.
Cole, who performed as a professional dancer on the BBC flagship ballroom competition from 2004 until 2017, argued that multiple major alterations have alienated long-standing fans of the programme.
He pointed to the runtime of the Saturday evening broadcasts as a significant issue for modern audiences. "It's a massive show. The show is too long 2 hours and 45 minutes on a Saturday night. People haven't got that much time to sit around watching television," Cole said.
Cole also highlighted the cast of celebrity contestants, comparing the line-up to other popular reality formats such as the BBC's psychological game show The Traitors. "If you take Traitors, you can put the face to the name, pretty much," Cole said. "Whereas Strictly, I think I knew three of them by name and face, the rest of them I don't know."
New presenting trio and viewer investment
The dancer explained that the simultaneous introduction of new professional dancers and new presenters created a barrier for audiences attempting to connect with the series.
"There's no investment, you've got all the new pros. The viewers don't know them so it's going to take some time," Cole said. "You've also got the new hosts. Now, there has been a massive backlash on the hosts on the show because it's not what people are used to and the signs are interesting. I'm not enjoying it so far."
The current series saw Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe step into the hosting roles on the live shows, taking over from long-serving presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
Evaluating the new trio, Cole shared distinct views on each presenter. "I think Emma is great. I think Josh is trying to be great, I don't think he's a bad host but does he fit Strictly? I'm not sure," he remarked.
Turning his attention to Radebe, Cole expressed reservations about his presenting style. "Johannes obviously fits Strictly but I don't want to hear 'my darling, my darling, my darling' every time somebody comes up the stairs," Cole added. "I think the BBC are probably looking now and thinking 'Eek, have we made the right decision?'"
Cole acknowledged how his comments might be received by viewers and industry observers, stating: "People will call me a bitter old pro, I probably am. I just have an opinion on the show and am heavily invested in it."
Professional dancer lineup changes
Cole also commented on a major reshuffle among the show's professional dancers, which saw established performers Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer, Michelle Tsiakkas, Luba Mushtuk and Gorka Marquez all given the boot from the line-up.
The five outgoing professionals were replaced by a new group of dancers comprising Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi, Maddie Ingoldsby and Mark Karmalita.
While Cole supported refreshing the roster in principle, he questioned the wisdom of implementing so many major changes at once. "I don't disagree with them moving on, you've got to change the show, make it better to move it on," he explained.
Referring to Hauer, Cole suggested her departure may have been timely. "I think Karen probably had enough herself, she didn't look particularly motivated in the last few years and maybe they made a decision to 'right, we've got to change it up,'" he said.
However, he warned that changing contestants, hosts and dancers simultaneously was proving difficult for viewers to accept. "But I think making those changes and the contestant changes, host changes, it's a massive change and I don't think people are loving it," Cole continued. "People are watching TV differently these days, I struggled to get through the main show. It's a big watch."
Comments on Amy Dowden and elimination history
Elsewhere during his television appearance, Cole directed specific criticism toward professional dancer Amy Dowden, asserting that she "hasn't been doing a very good job" on the programme following her battle with breast cancer.
Dowden became the first professional dancer eliminated from the BBC show for the second year in a row after she and her celebrity partner, hairdresser Chris Appleton, ended up in the dance-off during Sunday's results show.
"To be a pro on Strictly is a big job and one has to be up to the challenge. Amy has not been up to the challenge, in my opinion," Cole stated. "I don't think Amy's been doing a very good job for the last few years and she's been out first for the last few years. One can do the maths on that."
Speaking to Sky Vegas, Cole further criticised Dowden's teaching approach during routines. "She's standing out there counting him in. She's counting every step for him. It's very obvious that the job has not been done, and I don't think people are enjoying it," he said.
Dowden was diagnosed with stage-three breast cancer in May 2023 and underwent an initial mastectomy. Just months later, doctors discovered another type of cancer elsewhere in her body, forcing her to miss the 2023 series before returning to the dance floor in 2024.
In February 2024, Dowden revealed she was officially cancer-free after medical tests showed no evidence of disease. Despite the positive news, she continues to visit the hospital for regular check-ups, monthly injections, scans and follow-up treatments as part of a five-year recovery plan.
Upon her return in 2024, Dowden was paired with singer JB Gill, but was forced to withdraw halfway through the series after collapsing backstage. In the previous series, she was partnered with The Apprentice star Thomas Skinner, with the pair becoming the first couple to be eliminated.
The Jeremy Vine Show airs weekdays from 9.15am on Channel 5.
