Strictly Come Dancing bosses 'seek social media stars'
BBC bosses are actively seeking to recruit social media stars, according to a source.
Strictly Come Dancing bosses are prioritising celebrities with big social media followings.
Some Strictly fans have bemoaned the lack of big names ahead of the new series, but an insider has now revealed that it's a deliberate policy from the BBC.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "Although your traditional Strictly audience might not know who some of the signings are, that’s not as important as bringing in new viewers who are more than familiar with them.
"Their followers are vast in numbers, enthusiastic and, by sharing content on Strictly, raise the profile of the show massively.
"And, in time, the viewers who don’t know these people get to know them. If anything they end up going on much more of a ‘Strictly Journey’ than the stars you’d describe as ‘household names’."
This year's line-up includes Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton, Cach Mercer, Will Best, Dame Sarah Storey, Jaime Winstone, Bethany Antonia, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Graeme 'The Dogfather' Hall, Lawrence Robb, and Tabby Stoecker.
But the source explained that the BBC struggles to attract big-name celebrities these days, because the landscape has changed.
The insider continued: "Crucially the pipeline that used to feed these big shows has changed.
"Boyband and girlband stars aren’t as prevalent any more and, once upon a time, getting someone from a soap or a big drama was a massive deal, but now even that has diminished somewhat.
"There are so many TV shows across various channels and streamers and even the big shows don’t get the same viewing figures that they might have when Strictly started.
"Now, though, social media is continuing to boom and big stars from the world of TikTok, YouTube and Instagram are known to a vast section of society."
Strictly bosses are aware of the sea-change taking place, and they don't want the long-running BBC show to be left behind.
The source added: "There’s a sea-change taking place and Strictly doesn’t want to go against the tide. It can’t afford to."
