BBC1’s The Greatest Dancer ‘could be AXED after just two series due to plummeting ratings’

BBC1’s The Greatest Dancer ‘could be AXED after just two series due to plummeting ratings’

  • The BBC show reportedly struggled during Saturday night’s ratings battle against ITV’s The Voice
  • 2.8million viewers are said to have tuned into the final- compared to last year’s 4.1million
  • The Greatest Dancer was said to have been beaten by BBC drama Casualty 
  • The BBC show began in 2019 and stars Cheryl, Oti Mabuse, Todrick Hall and Matthew Morrison as Dance Captain’s 
  • Talks are said to take place between the BBC and Syco on Monday 

The Greatest Dancer could reportedly be axed from BBC1 after just two series.  

Oti Mabuse, 29, won for a second year in a row on Saturday night with her ballroom act Michael and Jowita. 

But the dance competition, which also stars Cheryl, 36, Todrick Hall, 34, and Matthew Morrison, 41, as Dance Captains and Alesha Dixon and Jordan Banjo as presenters, could be pulled due to plummeting ratings, The Sun reports. 

The end? The Greatest Dancer could reportedly be axed from BBC1 after just two series

According to the publication, the show struggled during Saturday night’s ratings battle against ITV’s The Voice, with just 2.8million viewers tuning in. 

The Greatest Dancer was said to have been beaten by BBC drama Casualty and was down by more than a million from 2019- where 4.1million viewers tuned in. 

It is thought BBC executives will make the final decision if the show should return for another year on Monday. 

Champions: Oti Mabuse, 29, won for a second year in a row on Saturday night with her ballroom act Michael and Jowita

Champions: Oti Mabuse, 29, won for a second year in a row on Saturday night with her ballroom act Michael and Jowita

A source told the publication: ‘Crew were warned weeks ago that it looked like there might not be a show next year so were told to look at alternative work for this time next year. 

‘The show has struggled in terms of ratings and all the talk is that it’s in trouble.’

However a different source for Syco said: ‘We will know either way by Monday, it’s still in the balance.’ 

 MailOnline has contacted the BBC for comment. 

Ratings battle: The show is said to have struggled during Saturday night's ratings battle against ITV's The Voice, with just 2.8million viewers tuning in

Ratings battle: The show is said to have struggled during Saturday night’s ratings battle against ITV’s The Voice, with just 2.8million viewers tuning in

Sensational: On Saturday's finale, Michael and Jowita were crowned The Greatest Dancer champions

Sensational: On Saturday’s finale, Michael and Jowita were crowned The Greatest Dancer champions

On Saturday’s finale, Michael and Jowita were crowned The Greatest Dancer champions.

Oti couldn’t contain her delight as she learned the Polish duo had received the most votes, meaning they’d won £50,000 and the chance to perform on Strictly Come Dancing.

Jowita was close to speechless after learning that she was the winner, gushing: ‘I don’t know what to say.

Incredible: Cheryl took to the stage with her final act Lily and Joseph, and was a vision of beauty in a beautiful nude leotard with a diamante detailing

Incredible: Cheryl took to the stage with her final act Lily and Joseph, and was a vision of beauty in a beautiful nude leotard with a diamante detailing

Distraught: The singer was also left in floods in tears as she watched her act perform their audition dance for the second time

Distraught: The singer was also left in floods in tears as she watched her act perform their audition dance for the second time

‘I would love to say thank you all of you guys for voting and Oti thank you so much for this opportunity and thank you to Michael for lifting me everyday for 12 hours.’ 

Oti then told hosts Jordan Banjo and Alesha Dixon: ‘I am so proud of you two, that £50,000 is going to pay back for a lot they’ve given up for this show and I’m so proud it couldn’t have gone to two better people.’ 

Michael and Jowita beat out fellow finalists Dance Point, Lily and Joseph and Harrison to be crowned the winners, after all four acts wowed with their incredible routines.

Star-studded judging panel: The dance competition stars Matthew Morrison, 41, Oti, Cheryl, 36, and Todrick Hall, 34, as Dance Captains (pictured last week)

Star-studded judging panel: The dance competition stars Matthew Morrison, 41, Oti, Cheryl, 36, and Todrick Hall, 34, as Dance Captains (pictured last week)