Strictly Come Dancing 2023 fans slam 'underwhelming' show!

(Image credit: BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing 2023 was in Blackpool this weekend. It's always a big milestone for the show to be filmed in 'the home of ballroom dancing' and this year the visit to the seaside town was no different.

But after the glitter and razzle dazzle of Saturday night's show, the fans were left feeling distinctly 'underwhelmed' at the Sunday opening number.

In fact, they weren't impressed at all!

Strictly Come Dancing Harry Styles opener — Carlos and Nancy starred in this week's pro number (Image credit: BBC)

The Sunday evening results show opened with a group dance by the Strictly professionals - as usual.

This week Carlos Gu and Nancy Xu were up front and central in the dance which featured a Harry Styles medley.

This series of Strictly has blown the fans away with impressive group dances from the gentle same-sex romance story danced by Nikita Kuzmin and Vito Coppola, to the brilliant Barbie routine with Dianne Buswell as Barbie and Gorka Marquez as Ken, and the African-inspired dance choreographed by former winner Oti Mabuse.

But this week's group number failed to hit the spot with the fans!

In fact, the odd styling and lack of a theme, made the viewers take to social media to question exactly what was going on!

Nancy and Carlos lead the group dance in Blackpool — Was there a concept to this dance? (Image credit: BBC)

"Can't work out if it's the routine or the outfits but that felt a bit weird!" said one bewildered viewer.

"What was that group dance"? asked another confused fan!

What was that group dance and the costumes 😳 #StrictlyNovember 19, 2023

Can’t work out if it’s the routine or the outfits but that felt a bit weird! #StrictlyNovember 19, 2023

WHAT IS THE CONCEPT OF THIS WHAT IS GOING ON #strictlyNovember 19, 2023

Many viewers pointed out that it was disappointing that the group number did not feature any old-school ballroom dancing, meaning it was a let-down for Blackpool week.

All the way to the 'home of ballroom' for that opening number. #StrictlyNovember 19, 2023

"All the way to the 'home of ballroom' for that opening number," one viewer complained.

"I'm pretty disappointed we didn't get at least one pro group ballroom at Blackpool," another pointed out.

While another slammed the dance as being "not Blackpool worthy"!

This dance is hugely underwhelming - the choreography, singing and costumes was not Blackpool worthy!! #StrictlyNovember 19, 2023

I’m pretty disappointed we didn’t get at least one pro group ballroom at Blackpool #StrictlyNovember 19, 2023

Overall, the fans were in agreement that the dance was "underwhelming".

Well that opening was disappointingly underwhelming #StrictlyNovember 19, 2023

And one fan wasn't holding back!

"I would be raging if I paid to go to Blackpool," the viewer ranted. "Also I hate Harry Styles and these singers are rubbish."

Tell us what you really think why don't you!

I would be raging if I paid to go to Blackpool and I seen this dance, also I hate Harry Styles and these singers are rubbish #StrictlyComeDancingNovember 19, 2023

This week's results show ended with Angela Rippon and her partner Kai Widdrington being voted out.

Strictly Come Dancing continues next Saturday on BBC One. Check our TV Guide for more information.

Kerry is a writer, author and editor with a lifelong love of the soaps, a passion for TV drama of all kinds, and an obsessive devotion to Strictly Come Dancing.

She was features editor of All About Soap magazine for more than a decade, covering every bit of excitement from all the UK soaps and the Aussies and still writes about all the juiciest gossip from the Street, the Square and the Dales whenever she can.

Kerry’s also an author of historical fiction, and her two jobs collided when she got the chance to write two novels based on Emmerdale, and the Sugden, Tate and Dingle families, during WW2.