This year, the BBC rolled out a series of alterations to Strictly Come Dancing, which has sparked considerable discontent amongst online fans.
On Sunday (October 5), audiences witnessed the results programme, which prominently showcased a revamped voting mechanism.
Instead of ringing up to support their preferred partnership, viewers must now scan a QR code displayed on screen to cast their votes digitally.
Audiences will be required to register for their BBC account or establish one online at no cost to submit their votes. It’s evident that the termination of premium-rate telephone lines has proved deeply unpopular with fans, with numerous viewers incensed that it’s excluding a substantial segment of the home audience.
The flagship broadcaster has now issued a statement in response to the flood of grievances it has encountered regarding the axing of the reality programme’s phone voting system. This comes after Amy Dowden and Thomas Skinner found themselves eliminated first.
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Fans are no longer able to vote by phone, instead placing their votes online(Image: PA)
According to Express, they said: “We understand that the changes to the premium-rate phone vote are disappointing for some viewers.
“We know fans of Strictly who like to vote by phone will be impacted, and it’s not something we would have chosen.”
“The decision to discontinue such services was made by BT, who previously supplied this to service providers working with the BBC and other broadcasters. We have carefully explored phone voting alternatives that would be in line with Ofcom regulations, including ensuring that the Strictly vote is timely and reliable.
“Unfortunately, no viable replacement is available, and so voting will now take place online for all BBC programmes. Online voting is already the most popular method on BBC shows with the majority of votes in the last series of Strictly cast this way.”
They continued: “To support those new to online voting, clear instructions will be provided during the show. All you need to cast a vote is a free BBC account, which is quick and easy to set up. Full details are available on our ‘Get the Best out of the BBC’ page.”
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Viewers argued the decision will isolate a large portion of their fanbase(Image: PA)
Following Strictly’s publication of a detailed guide explaining the new voting process on Instagram, numerous followers voiced their concerns for viewers unable to participate online.
One user commented: “My nan has been a fan of Strictly for years and is not online at all. It’s really upset her as she loves to support her favourite couples each year.”
Another expressed anger, adding: “Not everyone has internet access or the computer skills for this, particularly the older fans, of which I am sure that there are many. For a show that’s seemingly doing its best to promote inclusion, this makes that gesture feel quite performative.”
A third person agreed, saying “This is a ridiculous change. Some people have been watching for 20 years and have no idea how to do anything online. You’re excluding a large amount of your audience for no reason.”
Meanwhile, others maintained that this transformation was inevitable and that numerous elderly viewers are remarkably current with technology.
One user highlighted: “Every family member I have in that generation uses Facebook and WhatsApp to contact family and is a competent smartphone user; this tech has existed for nearly two decades now.”
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The BBC has addressed the voting changes after sparking backlash from fans(Image: PA)
Another concurred: “People moaning about elderly people not being able to vote – my grandparents all use the internet over the age of 80 and 90 and no issues. Don’t understand the panic.”
However, that wasn’t the sole modification to the results programme, as they unveiled a completely fresh running order for the evening broadcast. Previously, the professional dancers kicked off proceedings with a group routine before revealing half of the outcomes.
Prior to the final announcement of the cast results, Claudia Winkleman presented the judges’ feedback and the musical performance before concluding with the feared dance-off and sending one pair home from the contest.
Yet this year, programme makers transformed the structure, beginning instead with a recap of the previous evening’s programme, relocating the group dance to the middle of the broadcast, and dividing the results portion into three segments rather than two
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