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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Hana Carter

Strictly viewers spot major change as Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman kick off series

Strictly Come Dancing returned to our television screens on Friday night and fans were quick to notice a major change.

Hosting duo Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman were reunited as the 2022 series got underway, but this time they'd ditched the social distancing rules.

Fans rejoiced to see the pals shoulder-to-shoulder as they presented the BBC prime time show.

"#StrictlyComeDancing crikey Claudia and Tess touching… on the bbc where everyone seems to stand 10 meters apart normally," one fan joked.

Another added: "It was so good to see Tess and Claudia without the social distancing!!! #Strictly"

"TESS AND CLAUDIA - THEY ARE TOUCHING !!!!!! #strictly," a third wrote on Twitter.

Strictly Come Dancing viewers were pleased to see Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman standing close together again (BBC/Ray Burmiston)

Another viewer added: "No more Social distancing #Strictly" with several clapping emojis.

The show came under fire last year after when the presenting duo were keeping a distance from each other - despite the dancers performing together.

At the time, one viewer tweeted: “Claudia and Tess should stop with the social distance stuff, so 2020 #Strictly.”

“What’s with the ridiculous social distancing? Claudia and Tess had a publicity photo with them hugging each other! #Strictly," another wrote.

The new line up was announced in tonight's show (PA)

Several viewers noticed that the judges had a clear plastic dividers between them on the panel.

“Why are they still doing stupid social distancing ? Judges with screens between them, Claudia and Tess stood apart, audience apart. You can fill out a football stadium now. Come on! #Strictly,” another added.

“I know COVID is still around etc but do they really need the Perspex between the judges as if they aren’t all mingling together off camera? #strictly," a third wrote.

The couple followed social distancing guide lines in last year's show (BBC)

As well as a lack of social distancing, there was another change to the programme - a female dance partnership.

Comedian Jayde Adams was paired up with Karen Hauer for this year's show.

"I think my partnership with Karen is more about sisterhood," she told Digital Spy. "And if you're in the dance world, which I was as a child, the sort of all-girl and all-male partnerships is quite commonplace.

"Obviously it's a new thing in these dance shows, the one that's in Australia and the one that's in America, but I think the world is changing and to me it just doesn't seem like anything that is abnormal to me. It seems like a completely natural thing," she said.

Fans were also pleased to see no dividers in between judges (BBC)

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She continued: "Also to be honest with you, if I was in a male partnership, show me one of the lads that's lifting me. I'm now going to be able to throw Karen Hauer around that dance floor.

"She's going over my head, I don't care! [laughs] I cannot wait to lift her because when I danced with my sister, I was the base and I used to lift her all the time and actually the last time I danced was actually with my sister... so this felt really natural for me."

Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@mirror.co.uk or call us direct 0207 29 33033.

Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday 24 September at 6:45pm on BBC One.

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