Strictly Come Dancing bosses have revealed plans to revolutionise the 2024 series as it nears its 20th anniversary, aiming to make the beloved dance contest more inclusive than ever. In a bid to move with the times and cater to all fans, the show’s producers are introducing live signing for the first time, which will be accessible on BBC iPlayer and through the red button service. The team behind the revamp has praised the upcoming series as the “most accessible” to date, with the addition of audio description and subtitles ensuring that viewers can engage more fully with the live Saturday night performances, Sunday results, the launch episode, the Christmas special, and the highly anticipated 20th-anniversary show.
As part of a year-long initiative, the BBC is focusing on British Sign Language (BSL) to honour those who depend on it for daily communication, hoping to lead the way in removing barriers within television broadcasting. Kate Phillips, Director of Unscripted, expressed her pride in the channel’s commitment to inclusivity, stating: “Strictly Come Dancing has always been at the forefront of inclusivity and representation and I’m delighted that our 20th-anniversary series will be the most accessible yet for our audience.”
Kate further announced: “This is a great launchpad for our exciting new BSL season next year which will feature special programming and online resources shining a spotlight on the beautiful language of BSL.” Amidst this positive news, rumours are rife among BBC insiders that further changes could be on the horizon for the beloved dance show, following a scandal involving Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice. Amanda has alleged that during her time on the show last year, she found Giovanni’s conduct towards her occasionally “threatening and abusive”, accusing the professional dancer of bullying – allegations he vehemently denies. Despite his denial, Giovanni has been cut from the programme.
In the wake of these events, several celebrities have come forward with their own accounts of their time on Strictly, leading to Love Island star Zara McDermott’s partner Graziano Di Prima also being dropped from the show. There have been numerous calls for changes, including the possibility of the broadcasting behemoth introducing chaperones during training to ensure no misconduct occurs off-camera. Strictly will be back on BBC One later on in the year.