BBC bosses on Strictly Come Dancing are standing firm behind a major format change to the show's results procedure, despite a vocal complaint from one of this year's leading contestants, Vicky Pattison.
The Controversial New Format
This series has introduced a significant shift in how the dance-off couples are revealed. In previous years, the contestants were split into two groups, with each group containing one pair destined for the dreaded dance-off.
However, the new system, which debuted in the 2025 series, sees all the safe couples announced during the Sunday results show. This leaves the 'final four' couples in suspense, waiting for a second announcement to learn which two of them will ultimately face each other to save their place in the competition.
Vicky Pattison's 'Awful' Verdict
Speaking on her Get a Grip podcast with friend Angela Scanlon, Vicky Pattison did not hold back her feelings. She branded the new rule 'awful' and 'vicious', revealing she has already expressed her strong views to the show's producers.
"I've sort of expressed how spicy I think it is," Vicky stated. Despite her objections, she confirmed that the producers are fully committed, adding, "They’re really behind it as a format. It isn't going anywhere."
Although she and professional partner Kai Widdrington avoided the danger zone last week, Vicky admitted it's inevitable she will face the dance-off at some point. "I know at some point, you know, I'll have to be in a dance off or whatever it is. I think it'll be terrifying," she said. "It will just be awful. As we all know, I don't deal with nerves very well or pressure. So I'm not looking forward to it."
A Levelled Playing Field?
While critical, the podcast conversation also acknowledged a potential upside to the change. Angela Scanlon argued that the new system helps to 'level the playing field' for the contestants involved in the dance-off.
She explained the disadvantage of the old format: "With the dance off, what you end up having is the first cohort that are through and the one person who gets potentially an hour... to get their head around being in the dance off, to have a little run through... And then you have the second cohort. So the second person revealed in the dance off is literally like a slap in the face and then get out there and do it. It's very difficult. So this evens the playing field a little bit."
Despite the Saturday night 'spice', Vicky was keen to highlight the positive atmosphere behind the scenes, describing a 'real family feel' amongst the contestants on Fridays, which she finds 'lovely'.
