Strictly disappointment as three pros snubbed and no same-sex couple
Some Strictly viewers were disheartened when it was revealed which pros will not have a celebrity partner and that there were no same-sex couples this year.
The dancing show returned in an explosion of colour on Saturday after the BBC launched an internal investigation into allegations of abuse behind the scenes. Amanda Abbington quit 2023's Strictly early and later claimed Giovanni Pernice bullied her, which he denies. The pro has left the show after nine years and instead will appear on the Italian Strictly series. Fellow dancer Graziano Di Prima was later sacked after it emerged he kicked his celebrity partner Zara McDermott. He told The Daily Mail: "I'm not a monster. I am not abusive."
The 2024 Strictly partnerships were revealed in the launch show, and Amy Dowden made her return to Strictly after she was forced to sit out from last series because she was undergoing chemotherapy following a breast cancer diagnosis in May 2023. Aljaž Škorjanec made a comeback to the show too, having previously quit and spent time as a stay-at-home dad to his daughter Lyra whom he shares with Janette Manrara.
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It was also a big moment for pro dancers Neil Jones and Nadiya Bychkova who both got celebrity partner once again for the 20th anniversary series. Jones made a cheeky quip about it, sharing a sweet photograph of his daughter wearing a babygrow that said: "My daddy FINALLY got a partner."
As the pros were brought back into the Strictly spotlight, it meant some of the pros who had celebrity partners last year would be without this series. Kai Widdrington, Carlos Gu and Lauren Oakley will still dance on Strictly Come Dancing each week but they haven't been given a celebrity partner this year. Instead, they will play a big part in the group routines on the dance floor.
It's not possible to please everyone when it comes to the Strictly partnerships but do the BBC ever get the pairs wrong? Cast your thoughts in the poll below.
No same-sex couples
After the pairings were revealed, some fans shared their disappointment on social media that there were no same-sex couples this year on Strictly. Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin narrowly missed out on the Glitterball trophy last year and they were one of the most-talked about pairings. Among the comments, one person wrote: "so no same-sex couple at strictly this year? massive let down."
Someone else wrote: "Strictly has a great record in very recent years of including people with disabilities, as well as same-sex dance couples. One needn’t be at the expense of the other, and it has been reported as a deliberate choice not to continue with same-sex pairings. That is a step backwards."
Another added: "On the whole, the pairings are fine, but having no same-sex pairings (even if it was because of a drop out) and benching Kai and Carlos feels like the producers pouring fuel on the fire. #Strictly."
Read more from The Independent:Strictly has no same-sex couples this year – the loss to choreography alone is massive
Kai Widdrington
Kai Widdrington narrowly missed out on the final in Strictly 2023 while dancing with Angela Rippon, the oldest ever contestant to compete on the show. Earlier this year, it was revealed he had split from fellow pro Nadia Bychkova who has got a celebrity partner this year.
The dancer expressed his disappointment at not getting a celebrity partner but he remained hopeful he could get a partner next year. He told The Daily Star: "Everyone wants to get a celebrity. Unfortunately it wasn’t my time this series. Two boys couldn’t have one this series and sadly I am one of them. Some of us don’t get partners and that’s the way it is. Let’s see what happens next year. Hopefully I’ll get one then."
However, Widdrington proved there was no bad blood about him not getting a professional partner as he praised the 20th anniversary series. "The line-up of celebs this year is amazing. It is going to be a fantastic series, as it always is," he added to the newspaper.
Many people rushed to share their support for Widdrington on social media beneath his last Instagram post. One of them wrote: "Can’t believe you don’t have a partner this year."
Someone else added: "Such a shame Kai that you don’t have a partner on strictly this year!"
Another said: "So disappointed you don't have a Strictly partner this year."
Read more from Manchester Evening News: BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Kai Widdrington breaks silence on not getting celeb partner after fans 'upset'
Carlos Gu
Carlos Gu also broke his silence on not getting a celebrity partner this year. Last year, the pro taught Angela Scanlon how to dance. On his Instagram stories, he wrote: "Thank you all for the messages and support." His words were followed by four blue hearts.
Beneath his last Instagram post, Strictly fans shared their disappointment that he didn't have a bigger role on Strictly this year. One wrote: "Wish you had a partner in SCD this year. Love watching you dance."
Someone else said: "Gutted you haven’t got a partner on this years strictly!"
Read more from HuffPost: These Are The Strictly Come Dancing Professionals Who Don't Have Celebrity Partners This Year
Lauren Oakley
Lauren Oakley has yet to speak out about not getting a celebrity partner this year. In the 2023 series, she danced with newsreader Krishnan Guru-Murthy and they had a wonderful Strictly experience. Fans shared their disappointment that Oakley didn't have a partner. One person wrote: "Lauren!!!!! No celeb partner this year!!! I'm devastated!!!! You're an amazing dancer!!!!"
Another wrote: "It is criminal you haven’t got a partner this year. Absolutely dreadful decision."
Someone else said: "Gutted Lauren was so excited to see you with a partner you and Kai are the best don’t know what there thinking."
Read more from Daily Record: BBC Strictly Come Dancing backlash as fans left fuming over Lauren Oakley 'snub'
How many people watched Strictly?
Strictly's 2024 launch attracted nearly a million fewer viewers than last year, audience figures revealed, with an average of 5.5 million viewers watching the BBC One show. Viewing figures have fluctuated over the years. It is worth noting that an increasing number of people watch on BBC iPlayer or catch-up TV which are not reflected in overnight data.
Read more from PA: Nearly a million fewer viewers tune in for Strictly launch show
Strictly Come Dancing streams on BBC iPlayer.
