People who have attended Strictly Come Dancing recordings have warned future audience members this season about the incredibly long filming days, as sessions have run over schedule for the past fortnight. Users on Reddit revealed they did not leave the studio until midnight on Saturday October 3 and October 10, following the BBC broadcast of the live shows and the filming of the results show.
Results show overruns
While the live broadcast runs to a tight schedule, the recording of the results show has run way over time since it began this season. One attendee at the show on October 10 said: "The results show is where things started to get tiring. We were told the recording would finish around 23:15, but with constant retakes delaying everything, we didn't manage to leave until just after midnight."
The attendee claimed the retakes were mainly down to the new presenters, admitting: "It was pretty exhausting towards the end," but added they had fun. A source confirmed the running time to Express.co.uk, though insisted it was not totally down to the presenters.
Retakes blamed for delays
"Many of the pro dancers and celebrities messed up their short interviews and they had to be re-recorded which added quite a bit of time onto the evening," the source said. "Cach and Maddie in particular couldn't pull themselves together after getting a fit of the giggles, but neither Josh [Widdicombe] nor Johannes [Radebe], who were talking to them, were experienced enough to deal with it which didn't help."
The source added: "But the audience were losing patience with them as they had to do numerous retakes of what should have been a quite simple bit. The annoying thing is the results show is only 50 minutes while the live show is about two-and-a-half hours but filming takes almost as long. People sat near me were wondering why they couldn't just record it 'as live' to avoid all the stopping and starting."
Audience advice
Attendees the previous week shared a similar tale, also blaming retakes for the delays. "You are warned in advance that it is a long day anyway," the source said. "They advise you to have a substantial meal before you go as you are there from the afternoon until they finish. In between the main show they do give you biscuits and water and you can bring in snacks with you. The main issue with the overrun is transport and getting home, particularly if you are trying to catch a train or a coach."
This seems to be a new phenomenon, as someone who has attended twice in the past when it was hosted by Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly said this was not the case. "In both of those times I’ve been to watch it film I don’t recall any retakes… not saying there weren't any but not to the point that it's imprinted in my memory…not to add to the hate of the new presenters, just adding my memory!" they said.
While it is a very long day - almost eight hours if you get there when the doors open - popular consensus is that it is worth it. "It does lag in parts when they are changing over to the results show or setting up a new segment for that recording but it is still a fun evening. And it is great to see the dances properly and not just the 'TV edit'," an audience member added.
