Strictly Come Dancing 2018 faces backlash over ‘barrel-scraping’ line-up

Strictly Come Dancing 2018 faces backlash over ‘barrel-scraping’ line-up

Postby dutchman » Thu Aug 16, 2018 12:59 am

BBC criticised for chasing YouTube youth audience with Strictly celebrities unknown to older viewers

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YouTube stars and “Vick who”? The BBC is facing a backlash from viewers who complained that this year’s Strictly Come Dancing contestants are “scraping the barrel.”

Fans said that the “star names”, being drip-fed on a daily basis, fail to meet the fame threshold expected of Strictly “celebrities”.

DJ Vick Hope, co-host of the Capital Breakfast show, confirmed on Wednesday morning, was greeted with comments of “who” and “no idea who she is” on Twitter.

She joins Joe Sugg, the YouTuber who shot to fame with his prank and gaming videos and claims more than 25m social media followers.

“Who are these people? #scrapingthebarrel,” asked one viewer.

“So he’s on Strictly because he has followers? What happened to actually having a talent, he’s not a celeb therefore shouldn’t be on it,” said another.

Some expressed disappointment that Suggs, the 57 year-old Madness singer, wouldn’t be dancing.

Strictly professional dancer Kevin Clifton said Sugg was a “great signing” with a “huge young following that because of him may watch Strictly and become dance fans.”

“So much potential for inspiring kids to dance here.” Sugg immediately posted a video on his YouTube channel, which has 8.2m subscribers, promoting his Strictly appearance.

But television critic Ian Hyland argued: “I do not think Strictly should be chasing a ‘market’ it wasn’t really missing out on. It’s the biggest show on telly. It should be aiming higher.”

Nigel Pauley, a veteran showbusiness reporter, said: “BBC is chasing a fantasy youth audience which simply isn’t interested while alienating its actual viewing core. It’s already the biggest show – it’s reached its peak. This won’t boost that.”

Hope and Sugg join acid attack victim and campaigner Katie Piper, Red Dwarf actor Danny John-Jules and Steps singer Faye Tozer in the Strictly line-up revealed so far.


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