BBC Strictly Come Dancing fans 'begging' as return after six years causes outrage

Strictly Come Dancing fans issued a demand to show bosses as the Samba-thon caused outrage. The BBC One dance contest returned to screens on Saturday night (November 23).

The remaining seven couples in the competition returned to the ballroom in Strictly's usual home of Elstree Studios following last weekend's epic Blackpool special.

But in an added twist, there was everything to play for on the dance floor as not only did the couples have the chance to perform their planned routines they'd been training for all week, they also had the chance to pick up some extra points.

READ MORE: BBC Strictly Come Dancing stars in double blow amid week ten live show ahead of final

The latest live show couldn't have got any better for Love Island star Tasha Ghouri as she was awarded the first perfect score of 40 of Strictly's 2024 series for her elegant American Smooth with her partner Aljaz Skorjanec.

Donning a flowing silver gown with a sparkly bodice, the 26-year-old delivered a series of high lifts and dips to Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi for the performance.

The couple had initially topped the leaderboard, but all of the contestants then took part in a Samba-Thon. Having performed their planned routines, the remaining Strictly couples returned to the ballroom floor together to impress the judges with their best Samba moves and were eliminated one-by-one before a winner was confirmed.

In the end, Tasha and Ajlaz came runner-up after scoring six in the special contest, and JLS singer JB Gill and Lauren Oakley - who were initially on a score of 39 - scored a seven, bringing both results to a total of 46.

Meanwhile, Olympian Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe came third with a score of 42, and Miranda star Sarah Hadland was in fourth place with her partner Vito Coppola after reaching a score of 40. EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas scored 34, whilst comedian Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell were at the lower end of the board with a score of 34. Finishing in last place was former TOWIE star Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał who scraped a total of 32.

But it's fair to say not all Strictly fans were impressed with the return of the Dance-A-Thon after six years. @AlexJoynes4 said: "I am begging that we never do the sambathon again please #Strictly." @Tellers_Alpaca asked: "Who thought it a samba-thon would be a good idea? #strictly."

@lucymaygoodwin wrote: "Oh that Samba-a-thon was the most stressful thing I’ve ever watched #strictly." @iamheatherh shared: "Whoever’s idea it was to bring the danceathon back and make it a SAMBA needs their contract for next year carefully looked at #strictly."

Not everyone, however, agreed. @LWM3_AWFC commented: "I've missed the dancethon chaos so so much #Strictly." @lisa_tibbs added: "#Strictly great samba-thon!"