Arneldo
12-08-2009, 06:53 PM
Strictly Come Dancing producers have decided to axe the show's Sunday night results episode, it has been announced.
The scheduling shakeup, which was first tipped last December as part of a major revamp, will see the ballroom competition's performances and weekly elimination featuring in a single show on Saturdays, likely to last for 90 minutes.
A BBC spokeswoman told The Mirror: "We wanted to make Strictly Come Dancing an unmissable TV event so we are packing all the action into one dramatic show. Audiences will be watching, voting and seeing who is in and who is out on Saturday night."
Strictly's eliminations aired live on Saturday evenings for the first four series, however this format was scrapped in 2007 in favour of a pre-recorded results episode airing on Sunday nights. The move meant that the identity of the axed celebrity was usually leaked online hours before broadcast.
A show insider added: "The BBC are going back to the original format of having Strictly all on Saturday. It works well and the excitement builds through the night so hopefully it will work in the ratings battle with The X Factor."
The decision comes as The X Factor revamps its own scheduling for the first time in the programme's history, with performances airing on Saturday and results now following on Sunday.
Other planned changes to Strictly this year include the introduction of Alesha Dixon as a replacement for Arlene Phillips on the judging panel.
I think this is the best thing for 'Strictly' and it's definitely going to be tough for XF, as usually XF gained more viewers after 'Strictly' ended on the Saturday.
The scheduling shakeup, which was first tipped last December as part of a major revamp, will see the ballroom competition's performances and weekly elimination featuring in a single show on Saturdays, likely to last for 90 minutes.
A BBC spokeswoman told The Mirror: "We wanted to make Strictly Come Dancing an unmissable TV event so we are packing all the action into one dramatic show. Audiences will be watching, voting and seeing who is in and who is out on Saturday night."
Strictly's eliminations aired live on Saturday evenings for the first four series, however this format was scrapped in 2007 in favour of a pre-recorded results episode airing on Sunday nights. The move meant that the identity of the axed celebrity was usually leaked online hours before broadcast.
A show insider added: "The BBC are going back to the original format of having Strictly all on Saturday. It works well and the excitement builds through the night so hopefully it will work in the ratings battle with The X Factor."
The decision comes as The X Factor revamps its own scheduling for the first time in the programme's history, with performances airing on Saturday and results now following on Sunday.
Other planned changes to Strictly this year include the introduction of Alesha Dixon as a replacement for Arlene Phillips on the judging panel.
I think this is the best thing for 'Strictly' and it's definitely going to be tough for XF, as usually XF gained more viewers after 'Strictly' ended on the Saturday.