Strictly Come Dancing has failed to secure a single BAFTA Television Awards nomination for the first time in eight years, marking a significant fall from grace for the BBC's flagship dance competition.
The programme, which claimed the Entertainment Programme prize as recently as 2024 and also won the category in 2019, was entirely absent from this year's shortlist announced on Tuesday.
The show has also been overlooked for the Memorable Moment award, a public-voted category it has won twice in the past four years.
An industry insider described the situation as "a spectacular turn of events" for a programme that "was flying high at the Baftas just two years ago" whilst celebrating its 20th anniversary.
Strictly Come Dancing has failed to secure a single BAFTA Television Awards nomination for the first time in eight years
|BBC
The Entertainment Programme shortlist instead features four other contenders: The Graham Norton Show, Michael McIntyre's Big Show, and Would I Lie To You? – all BBC productions – alongside Amazon Prime's Last One Laughing.
Strictly's co-presenter Claudia Winkleman has received recognition in the Entertainment Performance category, though this nomination relates to her hosting duties on The Celebrity Traitors rather than the dance show.
The Celebrity Traitors secured five nominations overall, while Netflix drama Adolescence dominated proceedings with eleven nods, including recognition in the Limited Drama and Leading Actor categories.
The BAFTA ceremony is scheduled for May 10 at the Royal Festival Hall in London, though it remains uncertain whether any Strictly representatives will be present at the event.
The BAFTA snub arrives during a particularly difficult period for the long-running programme, which first aired in 2004.
The insider noted that the show "has become mired in scandal" in recent years, including a bullying probe.
They adding that "two of its greatest assets – Tess and Claudia – are leaving and it feels like there's less to celebrate about the show," The Mirror reports.
Presenters Tess Daly, 56, and Claudia Winkleman, 54, confirmed their joint departure in October, stating: "We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time."
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Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced their departure from Strictly Come Dancing last year
| PAThe pair expressed gratitude to the production team, adding: "We will cry when we say the last 'keep dancing' but we will continue to say it to each other.
"Just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza."
The 2026 series faces further significant changes, with multiple professional dancers reportedly departing the programme.
Karen Hauer, 43, Nadiya Bychkova, 36, Michelle, 30, Luba Mushtuk, 36, and Gorka Marquez, 35, are all said to be leaving the show.
BBC Strictly picked up a Bafta for memorable moment at last year's awards
|BAFTA YOUTUBE
Ms Bychkova and Ms Hauer confirmed their exits, with the latter stating "this is the right time for me to close this chapter."
The spin-off programme It Takes Two has also reportedly undergone changes, with Fleur East and Janette Manrara believed to have been released from their presenting roles.
Speculation continues regarding who will replace Daly and Winkleman as hosts, with Rylan Clark among the names linked to the coveted positions on what has been described as the BBC's crown jewel.