Strictly Come Dancing had a welcome boost in ratings overnight on Saturday.
Having suffered a coupling-up launch show low last week, with just over 7 million viewers, it seems fans were much more eager to watch the first run of live dances this weekend - bumping up to 8 million.
The BBC said an average audience of 7.9 million tuned in on Saturday night to watch the couples compete in front of the judges for the first time.
![Steady riser: Strictly Come Dancing had a welcome boost in ratings overnight on Saturday [Karen Hauer and Greg Wise are pictured]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/09/26/15/48412175-10030281-image-a-56_1632664956161.jpg)
Steady riser: Strictly Come Dancing had a welcome boost in ratings overnight on Saturday [Karen Hauer and Greg Wise are pictured]
The BBC One celebrity dancing competition was watched by a peak audience of 8.4 million and had a 47.9 per cent audience share.
Television presenter AJ Odudu impressed the judges as she topped the leaderboard alongside her partner Kai Widdrington with a score of 34 for her jive to Gold Dust by DJ Fresh.
Judge Motsi Mabuse hailed her routine 'the best dance of the evening, without a doubt'.
Great British Bake Off star John Whaite came joint second on the leaderboard with 30 in the competition's first all-male pairing alongside professional dancer Johannes Radebe.
![Boost: Having suffered a coupling-up launch show low last week, with just over 7 million viewers, it seems fans were much more eager to watch the first run of live dances this weekend - bumping up to 8 million [Nadiya Bychkova and Dan Walker are pictured]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/09/26/15/48412173-10030281-image-a-57_1632664959911.jpg)
Boost: Having suffered a coupling-up launch show low last week, with just over 7 million viewers, it seems fans were much more eager to watch the first run of live dances this weekend - bumping up to 8 million [Nadiya Bychkova and Dan Walker are pictured]
Olympic swimming champion Adam Peaty was also given a score of 30 by the judges after performing with Katya Jones.
No celebrities left the show during Saturday's episode. Instead, the judges' scores will be carried over to next week when viewers will have the chance to vote for their favourite of the 15 couples.
Celebrities including comedians Robert Webb and Judi Love, BBC Breakfast host Dan Walker, actor Greg Wise and actress Rose Ayling-Ellis are also among the stars taking part in the current series.
Record low: Strictly Come Dancing returned to screens for its 2021 run a week ago - drawing in 7 million viewers and peaking at 7.3 million
Dragon's Den star Sara Davies currently sits bottom of the leaderboard with a score of 17.
Last week, the series returned to screens for its 2021 run, peaking at 7.3 million.
While the number seems far from paltry, this was in fact the BBC's powerhouse series' least-watched 'pairing up' show since its inception.
The episode sees the pro dancers partnered up with their celebrity contestant for the first time, and was introduced as part of the format in 2010.
![Tuning in: While the number seems far from paltry, this was in fact the BBC's powerhouse series' least-watched 'pairing up' show since its inception [pictured hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/09/19/19/48111201-10006777-image-a-102_1632075536038.jpg)
Tuning in: While the number seems far from paltry, this was in fact the BBC's powerhouse series' least-watched 'pairing up' show since its inception [pictured hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly]
The most-watched pairing show took place in 2016, with 9.3 million tuning in. Last year, 8.6 watched, while 2019 saw 7.8 million glued to their TV screens. The first-ever pair up episode, 11 years ago, drew 8.7 million.
As writes The Mirror, a TV source blamed the clement September weather, saying: 'Lots of people had been out and about enjoying the early autumn sunshine and will probably watch on catch-up today.
'The ratings are sure to pick up once the live shows start next weekend, and viewers get to see whether the celebs can actually dance – or not.'
The viewing didn't take into account those watching on catch-up or on the BBC iPlayer.
TOM FLETCHER & AMY DOWDEN
Celebrity's Age: 36
Profession: McFly musician
Tom says: 'I’m so pleased the news is out it’s been so hard keeping it secret. Equal parts excited and terrified.'
Fun fact: Tom's McFly bandmate Harry Judd won Strictly Come Dancing in 2011. Tom's wife Giovanna Fletcher is the reigning champion of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!
ROBERT WEBB & DIANNE BUSWELL
Celebrity's Age: 48
Profession: Actor and comedian
Robert says: 'It's very exciting but with a slight undertone of quivering terror.'
Fun Fact: Robert squeezed into a shiny leotard to take the title of Let's Dance For Comic Relief in 2009, performing What A Feeling from '80s film Flashdance, beating the likes of Keith Lemon and Paddy McGuinness to the title.
RHYS STEPHENSON & NANCY XU
Celebrity's Age: 27
Profession: CBBC presenter
Rhys says: 'I have dreamt about being on this show, and I know for a fact that it is going to exceed every expectation'
Fun fact: Rhys has been an actor since the age of ten, performing alongside Matt Smith and Hugh Bonneville.
KATIE MCGLYNN & GORKA MARQUEZ
Celebrity's Age: 28
Profession: Actress
Katie says: 'I'm really not a dancer, but I'm so excited to learn a new skill on this crazy journey and cannot wait to slip into some sequins along the way.'
Fun fact: Katie, who played Sinead Tinker in Corrie, won a NTA for Best Serial Drama Performance in 2020.
TILLY RAMSAY & NIKITA KUZMIN
Celebrity's Age: 19
Profession: CBBC presenter
Tilly says: ’I'm going to put my heart and soul into this and can’t wait to get my dancing shoes on!'
Fun fact: Tilly's father is celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and the pair often star in dancing TikTok videos.
NINA WADIA & NEIL JONES
Celebrity's Age: 52
Profession: Actress
Nina says: 'I think I should do this before I’m too old and can’t walk anymore. I just want to grab life by the horns and just enjoy it.'
Fun fact: Nina is a JDRF Ambassador and was awarded an OBE in the 2021 New Year's Honours List.
ADAM PEATY & KATYA JONES
Celebrity's Age: 26
Profession: Athlete
Adam says: 'I'm really looking forward to doing something totally different and challenging myself away from the pool.'
Fun fact: Adam becoming the first British swimmer to defend an Olympic title at Tokyo 2020.
UGO MONYE & OTI MABUSE
Celebrity's Age: 38
Profession: Rugby player and sports pundit
Ugo says: 'What a dream come true! Strictly is the biggest entertainment show on TV and I can’t wait to show everyone I’ve got more than just dad dancing moves.
Fun fact: Beginning his rugby career at Harlequins in 2002, Ugo went on to make 241 appearances for the club where he scored 89 tries, won a Premiership and made his England debut in 2008.
AJ ODUDU & KAI WIDDRINGTON
Celebrity's Age: 33
Profession: TV presenter
AJ says: 'I think it's going to be really challenging. I can't wait for the sequins, the wigs, the glitz and the glamour.'
Fun Fact: Apocalypse Wow hosts AJ has featured on a whopping 14 TV shows this year, competing in the likes oF Cooking With The Stars and Celebrity Karaoke Club. She has appeared as a panelist on Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two in the past, too.
JOHN WHAITE & JOHANNES RADEBE
Celebrity's Age: 33
Profession: Great British Bake Off Winner and TV chef
John says: 'I'm so grateful, excited, and nervous to be joining the Strictly 2021 family... I've been wearing sequins and jazzy attire since I was three years old and can't wait to hurl myself, full throttle, around the most glamorous dance floor on earth'
Fun Fact: The duo are the first ever all-male partnering - the first in 17 years of the show.
SARA DAVIES & ALJAZ SKORJANEC
Celebrity's Age: 37
Profession: Businesswoman
Sara says: 'I'm really nervous because so far the producers keep asking me if I can dance... Truth be told – I haven't got a clue! I've not danced since I did ballet lessons when I was little.'
Fun fact: Sara was the youngest ever dragon on BBC show Dragons' Den.
DAN WALKER & NADIYA BYCHKOVA
Celebrity's Age: 44
Profession: Journalist
Dan says: 'I'm enjoying the experience when it starts of learning to dance. I'll be honest I'm not making room on any shelves in my house for the glitterball.'
Fun fact: Dan recently quit Football Focus after 12 years at the helm and has been covering Tokyo Olympics.
GREG WISE & KAREN HAUER
Celebrity's Age: 55
Profession: Actor
Greg says: 'It's about being out there and exposing yourself as someone who can't dance, and learning.'
Fun fact: Greg is married to the actress Emma Thompson who he met while filming Sense and Sensibility.
ROSE AYLING-ELLIS & GIOVANNI PERNICE
Celebrity's Age: 30
Profession: Actress
Rose says: 'I hope I will do the deaf community proud and break down more barriers. I am also very excited to learn an incredible new skill.'
Fun fact: Rose will make history as Strictly's first deaf contestant.
JUDI LOVE & GRAZIANO DI PRIMA
Celebrity's Age: 41
Profession: Comedienne
Judi says: 'I’m truly looking forward to pushing myself in something that I could have only dreamed of doing and now it’s actually coming true!'
Fun fact: Judi began comedy when she performed a set in front of her class for a degree module.
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Here he is! Anton Du Beke, 55, took his place on the judging panel alongside returning judges Shirley Ballas, 61, Craig Revel Horwood , 56, and Motsi Mabuse , 40
Loving it! The Strictly stalwart put on a pair of sunglasses while clad in a sleek tux
Ahead of the launch of the new series, it was revealed that two professional dancers on Strictly Come Dancing have refused to get Covid jabs, leaving some contestants reluctant to pair with them.
The pair are reportedly the only two pro dancers out of 18 who have not been vaccinated for the BBC hit show, and their identities have not been revealed.
BBC bosses are said to now be fearful that there could be a larger outbreak among those participating in the show.
A source told The Sun that if a 'proper outbreak' led to 'half the cast' contracting Covid-19, it would be 'curtains' for the show.
They added: 'Strictly already has to jump through hoops just to be able to broadcast. The dancers who won't get vaccinated have been a topic of conversation among cast and crew for weeks — even before the positive test.
'There were vocal protests from celebrities that they didn't want to be paired with them. It's a headache for bosses but employers cannot force workers to get jabbed.'
Wow! Strictly returned with a glittering show opener performed by the professional dancers
Golden girl: Luba Mushtuk was hoisted into the air while wearing a sequin tassel jumpsuit
An honour! Shirley opened by telling Tess and Claudia: 'I'm so excited. It's such an honour, such a privilege to be back here with everyone in this iconic ballroom'
On Saturday night, Shirley opened the launch show by telling Tess and Claudia: 'I'm so excited. It's such an honour, such a privilege to be back here with everyone in this iconic ballroom.
'I can't wait for everyone to see what we've got in store!'
Asked what it takes to win the glitterball Trophy, Anton pulled it up from by his side and joked: 'I don't really know. This is the closest I've ever come to this.
'They tell me hard work, listen to your partner and practice, practice, practice.'
Later, speaking to camera in a pre-recorded moment, he admitted: 'I hope they seat me on the opposite side to Craig. He's gonna be all rude and unpleasant and I'm gonna be lovely!'
What an entrance: Host Tess sat atop a plastic white horse as her blonde tresses billowed in the breeze
Introducing himself, Roberts Webb enthused about taking part in Strictly: 'It's one of the first things I've done that my children can actually watch,' before admitting his eldest was less impressed than his youngest daughter.
The comedian's professional dance partner was revealed as Dianne Buswell. After meeting, the red haired beauty taught her partner a few basic moves in a car park.
Speaking to Claudia, Dianne revealed
