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The BBC has announced that the first live show of the new Strictly Come Dancing series achieved a peak of five million viewers.
Across the two-and-a-half-hour programme, an average of 4.8 million viewers watched on BBC One as the latest selection of celebrities danced live alongside their professional partners for the first time.
The edition also represented the initial live show for new presenters Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe, following the departures of Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly.
A Strictly spokesperson said: “Strictly was the most watched programme of the night, with a peak of five million viewers.
“As ever, overnight ratings do not give the full picture of all those who watch in an on-demand world.”
This follows last week’s launch show, which registered a peak of 5.8 million viewers alongside an average of 5.3 million.
Saturday’s edition currently holds the top spot on the most popular iPlayer chart.
Social media star John Nellis topped the standings with partner Katya Jones after impressing judges with a foxtrot set to Alex Warren’s Ordinary.
The panel awarded the routine 31 points, with Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas praising the routine as being “the best dance of the night” and Craig Revel Horwood saying it was “classy, elegant and graceful”.
Following closely behind were Australian singer Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington, who earned 29 points performing a Samba to Baiana by Barbatuques.
The show ended with three couples tied at the bottom of the leaderboard on 15 points.
Among them were Gavin And Stacey actress Melanie Walters and Aljaz Skorjanec, who performed a cha cha to Don’t Go Breaking My Heart by Sir Elton John and Kiki Dee.
They were joined by ex-footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr, who danced a cha cha to Lil Boo Thang by Paul Russell, and Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon following a quickstep to C’est Magnifique by Kay Starr.
The new presenters divided hosting duties, with Willis and Widdicombe standing by the judges’ table while Radebe met contestants on the balcony before scores were revealed.
The opening show contained no public vote or contestant elimination.
Strictly Come Dancing will return on BBC One on Saturday for movie week.
