Strictly Come Dancing’s first live show ratings drop again for a second year with the

Strictly Come Dancing’s first live show ratings drop again for a second year with the opening competition night watched by an average of 6.1M

Published: 08:39 EDT, 17 September 2023 | Updated: 08:49 EDT, 17 September 2023

The first live show of the new series of Strictly Come Dancing saw it’s ratings fall again with an average 6.1M tuning in on Saturday, according to overnight ratings.

This was a drop for the second year in row, after an average of 6.8M watched the launch in 2022 after the glitzy show previously drew in a whopping 7.9M in 2021.

Saturday launch saw the 15 celebs paired with their pro partners, attracting a peak of 6.7M viewers.

Last year’s launch received an average of 6.8million viewers, peaking at 7.2 million.

MailOnline have contacted the BBC for comment.

Dipping down: The first live show of the new series of Strictly Come Dancing saw it’s ratings fall again with an average 6.1M tuning in on Saturday, according to overnight ratings

New figures: Saturday launch saw the 15 celebs paired with their pro partners , attracting a peak of 6.7M viewers (judge Shirley Ballas pictured)

Strictly viewers already tipped who they think will win the new series after the launch saw the celebs take to the dance floor for the first time in a disco themed group routine.

And fans predicted Layton Williams would make history by becoming the show’s first ever winning same-sex pairing alongside pro Nikita Kuzmin.

It comes despite the series facing a ‘fix’ row after fans claimed the actor had an unfair advance following his West End appearances and Stage School training.

Following the performance, viewers took to Twitter in their droves with one writing: ‘Same gender couple gonna win it this year I can feel it in my bones!!!!!’.

A second said: ‘I’ve already chosen who I think will win! That Leyton chap… mind you… it helps he’s already a dancer’.

A third wrote: ‘From the dance by all, Layton and Nikita stood out’.

And: ‘Yeah Layton Williams is gonna win this’.

With someone else branding his performance: ‘Winner vibes’.

Dipping down: This was a drop for the second year in row, after an average of 6.8M watched the launch in 2022 after the glitzy show previously drew in a whopping 7.9M in 2021. (Will Mellor and his professional partner Nancy Xu pictured on show in 2022)

Impressive: And fans predicted Layton Williams (L) would make history by becoming the show’s first ever winning same-sex pairing alongside pro Nikita Kuzmin (R)

Dancing shows: Meanwhile on the other end of the scale Les Dennis, 69, failed to impress while others said it was too early to rule him out (Les Dennis pictured with pro partner Nancy Xu)

Another fan wrote: ‘That was brilliant! Layton is fabulous by the way’.

And: ‘Yep, after that opening routine I am putting my money on Layton and Nikita’.

Meanwhile on the other end of the scale Les Dennis, 69, failed to impress while others said it was too early to rule him out.

One fan said: ‘I fear Les Dennis is the runt of the litter’.

While another wrote: ‘Don’t completely write off Les – He’s got a background in theatre so he’ll be good at storytelling and he does show some Rhythem. It’ll be interesting to see how Nancy adapts her choreography for an older Celeb like Les’.

Earlier in the show Strictly Come Dancing paid an emotional tribute to Amy Dowden after the dancer was forced to miss the series’ glitzy launch.

Love: Earlier in the show Strictly Come Dancing paid an emotional tribute to Amy Dowden after the dancer was forced to miss the series’ glitzy launch

Tribute: Hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly called her the show’s ‘Welsh Dragon’ as they dedicated the judge’s and professional dancers routine to her (Amy pictured)

Hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly called her the show’s ‘Welsh Dragon’ as they dedicated the judges and professional dancers’ routine to her.

Caerphilly born Amy, 33, was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier in May, and began chemotherapy after doctors discovered another type of cancer in her body, meaning she was unable to be paired with a celebrity for the new series.

Ahead of the show-stopping routine Tess said: ‘We are of course, missing one of our professional dancers.

‘Our gorgeous Amy Dowden is unwell and she can’t be with us for the start of the series’.

She went on: ‘But she is our Welsh dragon and we know she will be back soon’.

Claudia then interjected saying: ‘Amy from all your Strictly family we are sending all our love and we cannot wait to have you back on the dance floor’.

With Tess adding: ‘This [dance] is for you!’.