Strictly Come Dancing: Nicola Adams, Maisie Smith and HRVY take to the floor for Movie Week

Strictly Come Dancing kicked off Movie Week in spectacular fashion on Saturday as the show returned to screens without a live audience for the first time in its 16-year history.

Following news that the UK would be plunged into a month-long lockdown, bosses confirmed earlier this week that the show would continue without an audience, though the cast ensured it wasn’t any quieter in the ballroom, as they took to the floor with a slew of cinema-inspired routines.

Maisie Smith and Gorka Marquez set the bar early on with a stunning Frozen-inspired routine to the Disney track Into The Unknown, and although she earned plenty of praise she was warned that ‘she needs to spend more time on her footwork.’

Kicking off the show were Nicola Adams and Katya Jones, who impressed the judges with an energetic jive to Grease Lightnin’ from Grease.

Following the energetic routine judge Motsi Mabuse said: ‘I enjoyed that. I thought it had just started and then it was over and that’s a good sign.I thought it got a bit right and you werer a bit nervous but you passed through that.’

Shirley Ballas added: ‘I am a huge fan of this partnership, you had full content everything I expect to see in the jive, but that difficult transition that’s a move I dance to myself and I know how difficult it is. You executed it extremely well.’

The live show kicked off with a stunning tribute to James Bond with the professional dancers performing to a medley of the film series’ best theme songs, including No Time To Die, which had been due for release this month but has been delayed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Host Tess also paid a moving tribute to original Bond actor Sean Connery, who passed away last week following a lengthy illness. 

Earlier this week BBC bosses confirmed plans for a live audience at their shows in November would be axed as England was plunged into lockdown.

The new rules, which come into effect on Thursday until Wednesday 2 December, orders the nation to stay at home except for ‘specific purposes’. 

All home visits – including in gardens – are banned unless you are part of a support bubble. 

Strictly has now made the decision to axe its live audience for the November shows after allowing a select few people in the studio at a social distance for earlier episodes.

So far, the contestants’ friends and family, as well as select chosen NHS workers, have been able to sit in the audience while wearing visors or face masks.   

Issuing a statement to their official website on Tuesday night, the BBC said they were ‘sad’ over the development which will see this week’s movie themed episode without an audience.

It read: ‘In light of the new lockdown measures which take effect in England from Thursday 5 November, we’re sad to announce that we won’t be able to have a live studio audience for Strictly Come Dancing during November. 

‘Ticket holders have been notified. No tickets will be sent out for December shows until we are sure it will be safe and compliant to welcome audiences back, so please keep checking back for updates. We will continue to follow government guidelines.’

They added: ‘We understand how disappointing this will be, but we very much hope we will see some of you later in the series – and in the meantime you can continue to watch all the action from the comfort and safety of your sofa, live on Saturday nights, with extra backstage gossip every weekday evening on Strictly – It Takes Two.’

It is believed that The Graham Norton Show and Have I Got News For You will also be ditching their live audiences to adhere to new coronavirus rules.  

Strictly was able to return last month after introducing an an array of strict measures including regular testing and pre-recorded group routines.   

Only three judges – Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse – have appeared in the studio with separate rostrums, after Bruno Tonioli was unable to appear due to travel concerns. 

Veteran judge Bruno has been ‘involved remotely’ and hopes to return full-time towards the end of the series as he is filming the US version of the show in Los Angeles.