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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Sam Elliott

Strictly Come Dancing fans divided over unexpected studio change to live semi-final

Strictly Come Dancing viewers appear to be torn after a live studio audience was unexpectedly welcomed back to the studio on Saturday night.

The BBC show has been running without a crowd for the last few weeks due to Covid-19 restrictions.

After the lockdown lifted and London was placed into Tier 2, BBC bosses invited NHS staff and other key workers to watch the semi-final drama unfold - but the added atmosphere didn't please everyone.

Host Tess Daly announced at the star of the show that a socially distanced audience were watching and following the guidelines.

The crowd were vocal about their feelings towards the judges' scores as well as adding much-needed noise as the stars entered the dancefloor.

But not all viewers liked it - and some even claimed it 'ruined' the show.

Critics took to social media to put their point across as the exciting series reaches its climax.

One posted on twitter: "Strictly was so much better without the audience screaming every five minutes and it’s already ruined it by having them back".

Another agreed, adding: "Can we get rid of the #Strictly audience? It was better without them."

But many were just happy to see a real atmosphere back in the studio.

One user beamed: "It's really nice to see and hear a proper #strictly audience" while another said: "So nice to see an audience albeit small and socially distant in the #Strictly studio."

Viewers have been making their feelings known as the show reaches a crucial point.

Some even accused the show of "stitching up" HRVY and Janette by giving them such a difficult dance on the semi-finals.

They danced the Rumba - rarely seen in the programme because it is incredibly difficult technically.

The singer and the pro dancer received just 23 for their routine, pushing them right down to the bottom of the leaderboard.

Many thought HRVY, real name Harvey Lee Cantwell, did an incredible job despite the tough circumstances.

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