The Crowds Tune In To Strictly As The Show Enjoys Record Viewing Numbers

Good news for Strictly fans as the reality television programme had its biggest launch for three years as it returned to the BBC last night.

The red carpet premiere was watched by an phenomenal average of eight million viewers, with a peak of 9.8 million viewers.

The dancing shoes have been dusted off and the Strictly Come Dancing celebrity entourage proved they were ready for the challenge.

It was the celebrity dancing show’s biggest series debut since 2009 when it pulled in 8.4 million.

The show is usually in a primetime tie with rival reality show ITV1's The X-Factor, although the two shows avoided going head to head last night. There was also a resurgence for the X-Factor last night after weeks of disappointing ratings.

However, the dramatic singing show has struggled to meet last year’s audiences so far, with last Sunday’s programme recording the lowest audience for five years as it slipped below eight million viewers.

But last night’s audition show saw the audience rally to give the highest ratings of this series with an average nine million tuning in, including viewers who were watching on ITV’s +1 channel.

Strictly, which hosts Fern Britton, Denise Van Outen and Johnny Ball among its contestants, returns in three weeks to give the hopefuls a chance for intensive rehearsals before the contest proper begins.

We looking forward to a bit of ballroom dancing...

Check out some inside gossip here and here…

Jerry Hall struts her stuff before the show even begins...