TV
Strictly presenters face negative online reaction after first live show, new data reveals
Strictly Come Dancing’s new presenting line-up has faced a largely negative reaction online following the first live show of the new series, according to new social media analysis by William Hill Vegas.
The bookmaker analysed online conversation around Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe from the start time of Saturday’s opening show until midnight on Sunday using social listening tool Meltwater, alongside a broader search for discussion around the show’s new presenters.
The wider “Strictly presenters” search found that 52.9% of online posts were negative, compared with just 2.9% positive.
The individual searches showed a similarly mixed picture, although Radebe was the only member of the trio to record more positive than negative sentiment among the figures analysed, with 23.5% positive compared with 26.5% negative.
Willis recorded 12% positive sentiment against 64% negative, while Widdicombe registered 8.7% positive and 48.8% negative.
Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: “There has been plenty of discussion about Strictly’s new presenting team since they were announced, but it’s interesting to now have some data behind that reaction.
“The wider conversation around the new presenters is clearly more negative than positive at the moment, with more than half of the posts picked up in our broader search carrying negative sentiment.
“That doesn’t necessarily mean viewers have made up their minds after one live show, but it does show that the changes have created a significant amount of conversation online.
“Johannes has perhaps had the smoothest transition into the new role given his years on Strictly as a professional, but all three presenters are still finding their feet in a completely new format.”
