“Strictly Come Dancing,” the beloved BBC television show, has captured the hearts of millions since its debut in 2004. Every year, celebrities from all walks of life take to the dance floor, competing for the coveted Glitterball Trophy. However, what makes the show particularly engaging for fans is not just the choreography or the glitzy costumes, but the voting process that allows the public to have a say in who stays and who leaves the competition.
In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about how the Strictly Come Dancing voting works, the different voting methods, how the public’s votes impact the competition, and what the judges’ role is in the elimination process.
How Does the Strictly Come Dancing Voting System Work?
The Strictly Come Dancing voting system has evolved over the years, but its core principle remains the same: the public has the power to decide which celebrities remain in the competition. Here’s how it works:
The Judges’ Scores
Each week, the Strictly Come Dancing judges – typically Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton du Beke – score the celebrities and their professional dance partners on their performances. The highest score is 10, and the range is 1 to 10. These scores are a reflection of the contestants’ dancing skills, performance, and ability to impress the judges.
While the judges’ scores are crucial, they are not the only factor in deciding which couple gets eliminated.
The Public Vote
After the performances, the public is invited to vote for their favorite couples. The voting typically happens after all the contestants have danced their routines for the night, and viewers can cast their votes via phone, text, or app (depending on the season). The public’s vote is a way for fans to express support for their favorite celebrities, and it often drives a lot of social media chatter and excitement.
Combined Judges’ Scores and Public Votes
Once the voting period ends, the combined public vote and judges’ scores are tallied. However, the public vote holds more weight in the elimination process. The judges’ scores provide an insight into the couples’ performance quality, while the public vote reflects how much love and support they are getting from the viewers at home.
Public Votes: The public’s votes help keep couples safe and send them through to the next round. In some cases, a contestant with a low judges’ score can survive if they have a strong public following.
Judges’ Scores: While the judges’ scores are influential, they are used primarily to provide a balance to the public vote. A couple with poor scores and low public support is likely to be eliminated.
The Dance-Off
In some cases, when the public vote and judges’ scores do not produce a clear winner, there may be a dance-off. In a dance-off, the two couples with the lowest combined scores (judges and public votes) must perform a routine again. The judges then decide which of the two couples should leave the competition based on their performance in the dance-off.
How Do You Vote on Strictly Come Dancing?
Voting for your favorite Strictly Come Dancing couple is simple and can be done in a few ways.You can take part in the voting process in the following ways:
Phone Voting
One of the most traditional methods of voting is via phone. A unique voting number is provided for each couple, and viewers can dial these numbers to cast their votes. Voting lines are typically open after the performances and will remain open for a few hours.
Text Voting
For a more convenient option, you can vote by texting. Each couple is assigned a special short code, and fans can text the corresponding number to cast their vote. As with phone voting, text voting is usually available after the live performances and lasts for several hours.
Voting via the Strictly App
In recent years, Strictly Come Dancing has also allowed fans to vote using the official Strictly Come Dancing app. The app is free to download, and it offers an easy way for users to vote for their favorite couples. You can cast your votes from anywhere, whether you’re watching the show live or catching up later.
Online Voting
Some seasons of Strictly have introduced online voting, where viewers can log onto the BBC website or a dedicated voting page to cast their votes. While this method has not been as widely used in the past, it provides another digital option for people to engage with the show.
Limitations on Voting
There are often limits on how many votes a viewer can cast. For example, a person can typically vote multiple times for the same couple, but only a set number of votes can be cast within a specific timeframe. It’s also important to note that premium-rate numbers may apply to phone and text voting, meaning there could be a cost involved, depending on your provider.
What Happens After the Voting Is Closed?
Once the voting period has closed, the results are counted, and the host announces which couples are safe for the week and which couples are in danger of elimination. The couples with the lowest combined scores from both the judges and the public votes will be placed in the bottom two and will have to face the dreaded dance-off.
The Dance-Off and Judges’ Decision
The two couples in the bottom two must dance their routines once more, and the judges will then decide who should leave the competition. The decision is based solely on the performance in the dance-off, rather than any accumulated votes or previous scores.
If the judges cannot reach a consensus on who should leave, the public vote may play a deciding factor. In rare cases, the public votes can be used to break a tie and determine the evictee.
How Do the Judges Influence the Eviction Process?
Although the public votes for their favorite contestants, the judges still play an important role in the elimination process. Their scores help shape the public’s perception of each couple’s performance, and they also have the final say when it comes to the dance-off.
Judges’ Critiques
After each performance, the judges provide feedback on the couples’ routines. They focus on aspects such as technique, timing, and choreography. Although their opinions are subjective, they offer valuable insights into what works and what doesn’t. Contestants who receive high praise tend to stay in the competition longer, while those who are critiqued harshly may struggle to garner enough public votes.
Judges’ Role in the Dance-Off
In the event of a dance-off, the judges play a crucial role in deciding who stays and who leaves. The dance-off serves as a tiebreaker when the public vote has not produced a clear result. The judges will consider the performances in the dance-off and vote to eliminate the couple they believe deserves to go home.
Why Is Voting So Important in Strictly Come Dancing?
Voting plays a critical role in the success of any couple in Strictly Come Dancing. Here’s why:
Audience Engagement: The ability for fans to vote allows them to become part of the show’s narrative. Voting gives viewers a sense of power, as they are directly influencing the competition.
Building a Following: Contestants who garner public support through their dancing, personality, and appeal can survive even if their judges’ scores are low. The public’s votes often reflect their connection with the contestants, their dance performances, and the personalities they show on screen.
Drama and Suspense: The voting process creates suspense each week, as fans anxiously wait to see who will be sent home. The combination of judges’ scores, public votes, and the dance-off ensures that every result is unpredictable.
FAQs
How does the voting system work on Strictly Come Dancing?
The Strictly Come Dancing voting system combines the judges’ scores with the public’s votes to determine which couples stay in the competition. After each performance, the judges award scores from 1 to 10 based on the quality of the dance. These scores are then added to the votes cast by the public, who vote for their favorite couples.
At the end of the voting period, the couples with the lowest combined scores from the public vote and the judges’ scores face the possibility of elimination. If there is a tie, a dance-off occurs, and the judges will decide who stays based on their performances in the dance-off.
How can I vote for my favorite couple on Strictly?
There are several ways you can vote for your favorite couple:
Phone Voting: After the performances, each couple is assigned a unique voting number. You can dial the number to cast your vote.
Text Voting: You can also vote by texting the unique number for your chosen couple.
Strictly App: The official Strictly Come Dancing app allows you to vote directly from your phone. The app is free to download and gives you the ability to vote easily from anywhere.
Online Voting: In some seasons, online voting via the official BBC website is also available.
Remember, the voting usually opens after the live performances and stays open for a limited time.
What happens if there is a tie in the voting?
In the case of a tie, when the public vote and judges’ scores result in two couples having the lowest combined total, there will be a dance-off. The two couples must repeat their performance, and the judges will decide which couple will leave the competition based on their performance in the dance-off. The public vote does not count during the dance-off.
How long do I have to vote for my favorite couple?
Voting usually opens immediately after the performances and closes at a specified time, typically about an hour after the show ends. However, the exact duration of the voting period can vary, so it’s important to keep an eye on the show’s announcements or the app for voting details.
Can I vote multiple times for the same couple?
Yes, you can vote for the same couple multiple times, but there are limits on how many votes you can cast within a specific voting window. For example, phone and text voting may allow multiple votes, but you can only cast a certain number of votes per phone number or per app session. The aim is to give as many viewers as possible a fair chance to vote.
Conclusion
Voting is a crucial element of Strictly Come Dancing, making the show interactive and engaging for viewers. While the judges’ scores reflect the contestants‘ dancing abilities, it is the public vote that truly decides who stays and who goes. This balance of judges’ feedback and audience participation ensures that the show remains dynamic, with suspenseful eliminations and drama each week.
The ability to vote multiple times, whether via text, phone, or the Strictly App, empowers fans to have a significant influence on the outcome of the competition. Whether you’re voting to support your favorite couple or to see a dramatic showdown in the dance-off, your vote helps shape the journey toward the Glitterball Trophy.
Participating in the voting process not only keeps fans connected to the show but also fosters a sense of community, with everyone cheering on their favorite celebrities as they dance their way to glory. So, the next time you’re watching Strictly Come Dancing, remember that your vote matters, and it could make all the difference in who gets to keep dancing another week.
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