TV personality and presenter Vicky Pattison has pitched a “new Strictly format” as more changes were revealed on the first results show of the 2025 series. Now in week two, celebrities took to the dancefloor with their professional partners for the second live show of the 2025 series last night, October 4.
In the first live show last week, September 27, no contestant was eliminated and the scores will be carried over and combined with this week. But there have been a number of changes to the format, such as a change to the voting system.
So far, the 23rd season of Strictly has brought about a major rule change as, for the first time, viewers will not be able to vote by calling premium-rate numbers. Last week, another change was also announced, as head judge Shirley Ballas will no longer have the deciding vote in the dance-off.
During the dance off, Shirley was responsible for breaking ties between her peers and eliminating the celebrity she didn’t see fit to progress in the competition. The power is no longer in Shirley Ballas’ hands and tonight, the decision falls to Motsi Mabuse.
But contestant Vicky Pattison, partnered with professional dancer Kai Widdrington, has pitched her own change to the loved dance series. In tonight’s result show, October 5, host Claudia Winkleman said to the star: “I believe you would like to pitch a new Strictly sort of format.”
Vicky replied: “So basically, I feel like everybody’s worked so hard and we’re all such good friends. So I would suggest rather than someone going home, we actually all just dance every week together and then have a nice time.”
The cast mates and audience all erupted into laughter, to which Claudia said: “The bosses are listening and they’re going to get completely back to you on that.” Vicky later said she’s “still gunning for” the her suggestion of a new format.
This week, Vicky, 37, and Kai performed their Foxtrot in a nod to Vicky’s home city, Newcastle. But tonight, fans also noticed a number of new changes to the format.
Usually, fans will know the results show begins with an opening number from the professionals, followed by the announcement of one couple facing the dreading dance-off. With interviews and musical performances throughout the show, the viewers later find out which of the remaining couples are safe and who else will take to the floor again in the hopes of securing a place in the following week’s show.
But tonight, October 5, Strictly fans were quick to comment that no opening number was performed. For years, Strictly has also played the same tense music when revealing which stars were safe and securing their spot for the next week and this also changed in tonight’s show.
And usually, we find out one contestant is in the dance-off earlier on in the episode – and this has also changed. In tonight’s episode, a few contestants were all told they were safe in the new format, before the show continued.
Taking to X, @Laurawithey said: “Where’s the professionals dance? #strictly.”@BelleBleubelle said: “#StrictlyComeDancing #strictly the new elimination build up music is rubbish. Why fix it if it ain’t broke??!!
On X, @michellepryde said: “So we don’t find out one couple whose in the dance off straight away? #Strictly.” And @mistydiazz said: “The flow of the results show just feels unnatural #strictly.”