BBC Strictly fans fume ‘what’s the point’ as live tour line-up slammed over missing stars: ‘Couldn’t be bothered!’
Strictly Come Dancing has concluded for another year, but fans still have the annual tour to look forward to.
On Monday, the line-up for Strictly Come Dancing Live! was announced, but while some viewers are hoping to catch their favourite couples from the series, others have been left disappointed at some of the notable absences.
BBC Strictly’s official Instagram account shared the long-awaited news about who they can hope to see if they attend one of the shows.
“The FULL line up for the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour has now been announced!” the post read.
Along with details about booking tickets, the caption continued to reveal the couples taking part would include Michelle Tsiakkas and Jamie Borthwick; Montell Douglas and Kai Widdrington; Wynne Evans and Katya Jones; Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec; JB Gill and Amy Dowden; Lauren Oakley; Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola; Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu.
Further professionals taking part are Dianne Buswell, Karen Hauer, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Jowita Przystal, Robbie Kmetoni and Jake Leigh.
Judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse were also listed as well as former professional and It Takes Two host Janette Manrara.
The news was met with a mixed response, with many fans unhappy over the absence of a few of the big names from the series, including winner Chris McCausland.
“What’s the point of the live tour if the winner isn’t there and half the pros couldn’t be bothered either. Should be part of the contract,” one complained in the comments.
Another penned: “Gutted Chris and Pete won’t be there! One of the reasons I actually booked tickets. still so so excited!!!!!”
“Where’s @p_wicks01 [Pete Wicks]?” another queried.
“As if the winner isn’t on the tour,” one more shared, with another echoing: “I was hoping to see Pete Wicks.”
“No Pete. pity,” another added, along with a crying face emoji.
However, others were left more excited by the announcement, with someone else adding: “Brilliant line up! Cannot wait!” (sic)
McCausland disclosed that he’d be giving the tour a miss during a recent interview following his emotional victory.
“I started the [comedy] tour in January this year and I did the first leg till May and then I was meant to be back out again in September but we moved the dates to accommodate Strictly,” he explained.
Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine, he continued: “It just wasn’t really a consideration at the time as I don’t think anyone thought I would be any good at it…
“I didn’t think I would be going off the back of Strictly on tour. I thought I would be going off the back of two months off.”
As the show’s first-ever blind contestant, McCausland, 47, made Strictly history.
Speaking immediately after finding out he’d been crowned winner, he commented: “It’s astonishing…” McCausland replied, seeming lost for words.
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“I don’t know what to say,” he continued. “I honestly thought I could go out in the first week or two.
“And I know no one went out in the first week but I thought I still could!”
“We’ve just lasted and lasted, and she has got so much out of me,” he added as he pointed to Buswell.
“I mean, she deserves this so much,” McCausland went on. “She’s just every day… positivity, belief and honestly one of the most easy people to be funny with I’ve ever met. Unless she changes her number, she’s stuck with me!
“And this is for her and it’s for everyone out there that got told they couldn’t do something or thought they couldn’t do something… and it just shows that with opportunity and support and determination, anything can happen.”