The Strictly Come Dancing schedule is set to be overhauled to accommodate the World Cup ceremony.
The World Cup's schedule has forced the BBC to reconsider its lineup with several drastic changes expected to take place. The ballroom competition has always aired with a live show on Saturday, followed by the results on Sunday, but for the first time in its history, that will be changing.
The change comes after the World Cup, held in Qatar, was deemed too dangerous to be held during the summer given the nation's incredible heat. The new winter ceremony is a first for the tournament but has severely impacted holiday television across multiple broadcasters.
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This year's Strictly final falls on Saturday, December 17, according to the Mirror. The build-up to the final show will look different from what viewers are accustomed to as the live shows will fall on a Friday night throughout the month.
The World Cup round of 16 starts on December 3 and although England or Wales won't be playing in the evening slot if they get through, the home nations could be in action just hours before.
With the prospect of the programme being shifted to BBC2, bosses have decided a live Friday show on December 2 is the way forward - even though Group H concluded with Brazil facing Cameroon and Serbia taking on Switzerland.
Later in December, the live show is switched again and will be moved from Saturday, December 10 to Sunday, December 11.
The decision was made because the final World Cup quarter-final is taking place - with Sunday totally football free. The semi-finals start up on Tuesday, December 13.
But the finale will take place on a Saturday - December 17 - little over a week before Christmas.
A Strictly spokesperson confirmed to the Mirror: “Strictly Come Dancing will continue to bring glitter, glamour and glorious dancing to homes across the nation throughout the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The quarter-final of Strictly Come Dancing will now air live on Friday 2nd December and the semi-final will now air live on Sunday 11th December on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.”
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