BBC bosses are accused of treating ‘loyal’ older viewers ‘with contempt’ as they AXE the phone vote for Strictly Come Dancing ahead of show’s return

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As a self-proclaimed champion of personalized entertainment experiences, I must express my concerns regarding the recent decisions made by BBC management. The proposed elimination of telephone voting for Strictly Come Dancing, alongside several popular programs, might unintentionally convey a sense of disregard towards our faithful older viewers who have consistently engaged and supported these shows over the years.

While it’s essential to embrace modern technology and innovate, let us not lose sight of what brought us here in the first place – the connection with our audience, fostered by traditional methods like phone voting that many cherish. Instead of treating our loyal viewers with contempt, let’s find a harmonious balance between nostalgia and progress.

On a Monday, it was shared by the channel that their long-standing voting system, which used a premium phone number, was no longer relevant and economically unsustainable to maintain.

Earlier this year, BT discontinued its phone service provision to the BBC, while the broadcaster reported that over 90% of votes for Strictly Come Dancing last year were submitted online.

From now on, viewers are invited to cast their votes online for various programs such as Strictly and BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year, using their BBC accounts.

Last year, the Eurovision Song Contest also scrapped premium telephone voting.

however, this action has ignited worries that it might estrange older audiences. Dennis Reed, head of the advocacy group Silver Voices, expressed his concern that such a transformation could render the elderly feeling disregarded or politically unrepresented.

In simpler terms, he expressed to The Telegraph that once more, the BBC seems to be demonstrating a lack of respect towards its long-time elderly viewers who do not have internet access but engage via telephone polls. These older individuals are being excluded from active participation as a result.

The strategy appears to be a subtle push to get more people streaming content on iPlayer, potentially hinting at a premature phase-out of traditional broadcast television, an ambition that the BBC seems particularly focused on.

Caroline Abrahams, director of Age UK charity, stated: “Not being able to call into a BBC vote might appear insignificant, but for an older individual who has relished participating in this manner and doesn’t use the internet, it could feel like another painful instance of the world advancing and leaving you significantly behind.

In response to growing concerns that the digital shift might lead to social isolation among the elderly, this action is taken. This includes services like scheduling medical visits or parking payments now being offered online.

In the year 2023, telecommunication companies faced accusations that their transition to digital landlines potentially endangered senior citizens.

The deployment of these devices has raised worries that they may malfunction under critical situations, following a series of severe incidents where personal alarms stopped functioning during emergencies.

The popular dancing competition, “Strictly Come Dancing,” is gearing up for its flashy premiere on September 20. During this event, the contestants for this season will be matched with their professional dance partners.

2021’s lineup features Dani Dyer from Love Island, La Voix who gained fame on Drag Race UK, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, an Olympian, Balvinder Sopal from EastEnders, footballer Karen Carney (Lioness), Ross King who works as a Showbiz correspondent for Lorraine, Thomas Skinner who appeared on The Apprentice, and internet personality Ellie Goldstein.

This month, in addition to rugby player Chris Robshaw, Neighbours actor Stefan Dennis, YouTube personality George Clarke, Doctor Who actress Alex Kingston, Emmerdale’s Lewis Cope, Geordie Shore’s Vicky Pattison, and sportsman Jimmy Floyd Hasselbank will be dancing in the ballroom.

Following the latest scandal that has engulfed Strictly, I find myself once again expressing my deep concern. Last month, a male celebrity was taken into custody under suspicion of rape. This event unfolds in the series of controversies the show has found itself embroiled in recently.

The man under investigation is currently being questioned by the police regarding accusations of sharing private, intimate images without consent.

According to reports from the BBC, they’ve emphasized that the accusations do not pertain to anyone involved in this year’s edition of the show. As a result, the program is expected to proceed as usual.

The broadcaster is currently investigating a family-friendly program, following allegations that two of its performers were found to have used cocaine.

During the investigation related to drugs, suspicions arose about one of the stars, as the crew reportedly detected alcohol odors on their breath while they were working on the show.

The upcoming season of the controversy-ridden show is stirring up more debate, with its airing on screens scheduled only a few weeks from now in 2025.

In the recent event series, Wynne Evans, aged 53, faced allegations of inappropriate conduct and was required to issue an apology for reportedly making an offensive sexual comment during a public press gathering. He disputed that it was a sexual remark, but later lost his job with the BBC.

In the 2023 series, Amanda Abbington, aged 51, left prematurely, subsequently leveling accusations at her dance partner Giovanni Pernice, who is 34 years old. She claimed that he was “unnecessarily abusive, cruel, and mean.

Although most accusations against him were dismissed, an investigation did validate some of her claims about verbal abuse and harassment.

In the same year, television personality Zara McDermott (aged 28), a previous contestant on Love Island, was deeply troubled after an incident that took place in a training room involving Graziano Di Prima, aged 31. This incident involved Di Prima admitting to kicking a documentary maker, which subsequently led to his dismissal from the show.

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2025-09-09 03:04