Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia leaves fans fuming with on-air announcement

An announcement in the opening live show of Strictly Come Dancing 2025 left some fans unimpressed.

Hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman were back for the new series, introducing a new batch of celebrity contestants hoping to lift the Glitterball Trophy in December. Judges Motsi Mabuse, Dame Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke all took their seats, ready to critique the newest Strictly couples.

Fans learned each star and their professional dance partner would take to the ballroom for the first time live on air, performing for the judges, the audience and the viewers at home. But something revealed on the live show left fans asking "why?".

Not everyone was impressed as Claudia confirmed that from now on after years of a phone vote, fans now had to make their votes online. While there was no elimination this week, from next week fans will have to vote for their favourites online. Follow along with the action from tonight's first live Strictly Come Dancing show by reading The Mirror's live blog here.

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Fuming about it, one fan said on X: "Voting is now online only? Way to alienate and exclude a good chunk of your audience, Strictly..." Another fan agreed: "Online voting only! Why? I mean I do that anyway but why?"

It comes after the news Dani Dyer had to pull out of the show days before the first live episode. She shared a sweet message for her Strictly co-stars ahead of Saturday's episode after being forced to leave the show earlier this week due to an injury.

It was announced on Tuesday that the 29-year-old would no longer be able to compete on the show after a fall during rehearsals led to her fracturing her ankle. However, despite not being able to take part, Dani has sent a message of support to her co-stars.

Taking to her Instagram stories, the mum-of-three wrote: “Good luck to all the gorgeous cast starting there Strictly journey tonight. Can’t wait to watch you all, so proud & know how hard you’ve all been working.. see you all soon.”

The official Strictly Come Dancing Instagram page revealed the sad news of Dani’s exit as they captioned it: “Unfortunately due to an injury Dani Dyer is no longer able to compete in #Strictly 2025. She’ll be sorely missed and we wish her a speedy recovery.”

Dani said: “I had a fall on Friday in rehearsals and landed funny. I thought I had rolled my foot but it swelled up so badly over the weekend and after an MRI scan yesterday, it turns out I have fractured my ankle.

“Apparently doing the Quickstep on a fracture is not advisable and the doctors have said I am not allowed to dance, so I’ve had to pull out of the show.

“To say I’m heartbroken is the biggest understatement. I am so going to miss dancing with Nikita but will of course be watching closely and cheering all the couples on.”

Strictly Come Dancing continues next Saturday on BBC One. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , and Threads.