Strictly Come Yapping: Stop the cha-cha-chatting and give us more action, say viewers after dancing takes up just 18 per cent of airtime on first live show

Published: 18:42 EDT, 7 November 2026 | Updated: 19:00 EDT, 7 November 2026 When Strictly Come Dancing bosses hired three presenters to replace the double act of Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, they hoped it would add a new dimension to the show.Well, Josh Widdicombe, Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe have certainly brought one thing to the format – they talk more.Viewers warn they are switching off the BBC's flagship show because they 'couldn't take' any more of the 'uninteresting dialogue' that appears to have taken over as its main focus.The Mail on Sunday can reveal that in the first live week of this series, the time spent dancing totalled just 27 minutes of the 155-minute episode, making up just 18 per cent of airtime.The same episode last year was five minutes shorter at two and a half hours, but with half an hour of dancing – 20 per cent of the show.By contrast, performance time made up 32 per cent of the first week of the 2009 series. Critics suggest the increased talking time is part of a BBC trend to favour 'deep analysis' over action. Viewers warn they are switching off the BBC's flagship show because they 'couldn't take' any more of the 'uninteresting dialogue' In the first live week of this series, the time spent dancing totalled just 27 minutes of the 155-minute episode, making up just 18 per cent of airtime, the MoS can reveal The same episode last year was five minutes shorter at two and a half hours, but with half an hour of dancing – 20 per cent of the show Critics suggest the increased talking time is part of a BBC trend to favour 'deep analysis' despite fans' upset Fans have accused Strictly's new hosts - Josh Widdicombe, Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe - of 'constant gushing' Fans had earlier complained about the lack of 'proper' celebritiesFans accuse Strictly's hosts of 'constant gushing'. One said: 'Just show us dances, scores, a pro dance and a minute or two VT [videotape] for each couple, we don't need any more.'Viewers point out that after celebrities are given their scores by the judges, Ms Willis, 50, and Widdicombe, 43, add to the analysis, whereas Ms Daly, 57, used to send contestants straight up to speak to Ms Winkleman, 54.One said: 'I hate this thing where it needs all three presenters to go through the leaderboard. It's so annoying. It doesn't take three people to do it. Make the changes needed for next week, Strictly.'Fans had earlier complained about the lack of 'proper' celebrities. This year's signings include two Love Islanders, a dog trainer, content creators, and a hair stylist. The average age is 36 – the lowest in the show's 22 years – as the BBC chases younger audiences.One viewer said: 'I'm a huge Strictly fan but I'm bored with this long-winded c**p tonight.' The Mail on Sunday's findings are based on the live shows only. The BBC disputed them, saying the current series has featured 'significantly more dancing' than last year's at the equivalent stage.