This year’s Strictly Come Dancing got off to a rather “painful” start on Saturday evening, according to a number of BBC viewers.
As is usual for the dance competition, the pre-recorded launch show introduces viewers to this year’s crop of celebrity contestants and the professional dancers they’ll be partnered with for the series.
Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman returned to oversee another launch show filled with glitz, glam, and sequins, and to kick off this year’s premiere, they welcomed back comedian Chris McCausland for a one-off comedy sketch.
Before the iconic theme music rolled, viewers watched a skit involving last year’s champion after he supposedly refused to return the Glitterball Trophy to Ms Winkleman and Ms Daly.
BBC Strictly: Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly kicked off this year’s launch with a comedy skit
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BBC
Mr McCausland locked the trophy in a safe and then locked himself inside his dressing room.
His former dance partner, Dianne Buswell, failed to convince him to leave and hand the trophy back, while the show’s resident vocalist Tommy Blaize also failed to serenade him out of the room.
The sketch drew to a close after head judge Craig Revel Horwood began reading Mr McCausland a poem through the door.
The poetry reference was a throwback to when the Strictly judge delivered a poem of his own following one of Mr McCausland’s routines last year.
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BBC Strictly: Chris McCausland returned to the show
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BBC
Clutching his ears to block out the noise, Mr McCausland returned the Glitterball before pacing down the corridor.
Mr Revel Horwood kept the skit going as he followed him down the hallway, before the action cut to Borehamwood and the ballroom where the cast of professionals took the reins of the show and delivered a show-stopping medley.
With the entire opening sequence taking a fair few minutes, it’s safe to say there were plenty of Strictly fans who’d rather the bosses had skipped the comedy skit.
“God, that was excruciating. Who writes this juvenile nonsense? #Strictly,” one X user complained within moments of the Mr McCausland sketch.
BBC Strictly: Dianne Buswell took part in the skit
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BBC
A second echoed: “I’m feeling actual physical pain from the desperately unfunny opening to #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing.”
“Not ready for 3 months of unfunny skits #Strictly,” a third weighed in before a fourth questioned: “Did they do this with Bill Bailey?? Bit cringe. #SCD.”
Elsewhere, a fifth echoed: “Well, that was a corny opening for the new series, but great to see Chris McCausland again. #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing.”
And a fifth added: “#StrictlyComeDancing These ‘comedy’ sketches just aren’t funny. It’s a Dancing Competition. Get on with the Dancing!”
BBC Strictly: The opening sketch was branded ‘excruciating’ by some fans
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BBC
However, the opening dance number from the pros, featuring of the likes of Kai Widdrington, Katya Jones, Dianne Buswell, Amy Dowden and the rest of the professionals, appeared to win viewers over.
“Now that was an opener! #Strictly,” one X user applauded following the racy routine.
A second was left emotional by the dance. “Teared up in the opening number am I alright? #strictly,” they said.
And a third kept the compliments coming for the opening dance: “Biggest slay this opening group number #Strictly.” (sic)