BBC Strictly Come Dancing fans ask 'why' as results show change sparks complaints

Strictly Come Dancing fans appeared to want to know what was going on as a change to the results show sparked complaints. The hit BBC One dance show returned to screens over the weekend with its spectacular Movie Week special.

The weekend's line-up was cut from 14 couples to 13 at the eleventh hour after DIY SOS star Nick Knowles and his dance partner Luba Mushtuk were forced to pull out of the show this weekend after Nick suffered an injury on Friday (October 4).

But the first special of the new series on Saturday night (October 5) went on as planned, and the couples channelled their inner film stars as they performed routines with songs from the likes of Mrs Doubtfire, George of the Jungle, Harry Potter, Dreamgirls and Rocketman.

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Then just 24 hours later, viewers saw singer Toyah Willcox and her professional dance partner Neil Jones have been voted off the 20th anniversary series of Strictly.

The pair danced off against former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson and his partner Karen Hauer during the second results show of the BBC series on Sunday night (October 6)

Toyah and Neil performed their samba to the song Poor Unfortunate Souls from The Little Mermaid a second time before Paul and Karen repeated their cha cha to the Magnificent Seven theme before the judges cast their votes.

Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke all chose to save Paul and Karen, automatically sending Toyah and Neil home, with head judge Shirley Ballas then agreeing she would also have saved the former England international.

Sunday’s results show also featured a “rom-com inspired” routine from the professional dancers and a performance of The Heart Asks Pleasure First from British singer Alexis Ffrench.

But Strictly viewers were confused when the programme started and went straight into the first set of results instead of showing the professional dancers' latest routine like they have done previously.

Flocking to social media, one viewer said: "WHY DO THEY KEEP CHANGING THE FORMAT #scd." Another asked: "Why have we stopped starting with a group number i’m so confused #strictly." A third noted: "They're opening with the results first?? don't they nearly go straight into a pro dance??? #Strictly."

A fourth posted: "I don't like this new format of not opening with the group dance. Looking forward to the rom com dance #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing." A viewer also fumed: "Not opening with the pro routine is just dumb. A change that doesn't improve the show. #Strictly." A sixth added: "Can we please go back to how things were? I hate these changes #Strictly."