Entertainment · TV & Streaming · 3 hrs ago
Michael Barrymore says Strictly Come Dancing has become too safe
Michael Barrymore has criticised Strictly Come Dancing as too controlled and safe, and says the show should take more risks.
The 74-year-old former ITV presenter told Radio Times he believes audiences want something less predictable.
His comments come as the BBC has changed Strictly’s hosts, replacing Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman with Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe.
The new team has received mixed reactions, and the launch show averaged 5.3 million viewers, down from 5.4 million in 2025.
Strictly’s audiences remain below earlier levels after controversies over the treatment of celebrity contestants and backstage culture led to two professional dancers leaving and tougher welfare measures.
The BBC’s changes have not yet brought a ratings rebound, though the launch figure was only slightly lower than last year’s.
The judges’ contracts end after this season, and whether any will return remains uncertain.
Michael Barrymore says Strictly Come Dancing has become too safe, controlled and contrived.
The former television presenter urged the BBC show’s producers to take more risks.
He said audiences now require more after years of watching television and using social media.
His comments come as Strictly begins a new series with a changed format and presenting team.
The launch show averaged 5.3 million viewers, slightly below the 5.4 million recorded in 2025.
- Who
- Michael Barrymore, a former Saturday-night television presenter.
- What
- He criticised Strictly Come Dancing as too safe, controlled and contrived, and called for producers to take more risks.
- When
- His comments were published on 20 October 2026.
- Where
- The comments were made to Radio Times. Strictly Come Dancing is a BBC show.
- Why
- He said audiences require more after years of watching television and using social media.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Before a series of controversies, the Strictly launch averaged 6.3 million viewers and peaked at 6.7 million.
The launch show averaged 5.4 million viewers.
The pre-recorded launch show averaged 5.3 million viewers, and the programme had a new format and presenting team.
Barrymore’s criticism of Strictly was published.
- Barrymore’s age
- 74
- 2026 launch audience
- 5.3 million viewers
- 2025 launch audience
- 5.4 million viewers
- Pre-controversy launch average
- 6.3 million viewers in 2023
- New presenters
- Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe
1 source
What people are saying
It’s too safe.
Producers have to be willing to take more risks.
It’s too controlled and contrived… It’s not what people want any more.