This year's Strictly Come Dancing finale underwhelmed compared to its predecessors on the BBC as it appears fewer eyes were watching Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola's victory than in previous instalments.
The Coronation Street actor and her pro partner saw off Layton Williams and Bobby Brazier in the 2023 finale having been frontrunners for glory for weeks on end.
The finale was still packed full of talking points which the BBC would've hoped to draw in viewers.
Amy Dowden made a tear-jerking return to the ballroom, Brazier paid tribute to his late mum Jade Goody once more with his Couple's Choice, and Leach finally got her perfect score of 40,
A staggering 9.9million people tuned in to watch Saturday's finale at its peak, narrowly missing out on the 10 million mark.
This was an improvement on 2022's 9.7 million peak but the average viewing figures for Saturday evening prove the BBC spectacle failed to keep viewers tuned in compared to yesteryear, according to overnight figures.
Ellie and Vito lifted the Glitterball Trophy
BBC
The average viewership dropped dramatically from 9.2 million in 2022 to 8.7 million this past weekend.
BBC bosses can take consolation in the fact that the finale bagged over 53 percent of the audience share, however.
But a number of fans have pointed out this is the lowest average audience the Beeb has overseen for the best part of a decade.
One fan account on X, formerly Twitter, explained: "RATINGS: #Strictly 2023 went out to an average audience of 8.8 million viewers last night, the lowest final for the show in over a decade.
"Here’s how it compares to the last few: 2022 - 9.2m, 2021 - 11.1m, 2020 - 11.6m, 2019 - 11.2m, 2018 - 11.7m, 2017 - 11.7m, 2016 - 11.8m."
Those who did tune in got to see Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman crown Leach as this year's victor.
She and Coppola were both blown away when it was revealed she'd won the series despite finishing bottom of the leaderboard on the night.
"I actually, genuinely cannot believe this," Leach said while Coppola broke down in tears.
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Ellie and Vito performed three routines during the final
BBC
"Don't talk to me," Coppola said through tears as Leach teased: "This is the first time I have seen him cry, for once you're crying more than me so this is for you, this is for you."
Coppola regained his composure as he said: "I mean this is the cherry on the cake… the point of the iceberg.
"You have been so amazing, you are Strictly, you represent Strictly.
"You are the diamond shining... you are amazing, I am so proud."
