STRICTLY Come Dancing’s ratings are on the rise with the new series attracting a peak in excess of 7.2million viewers.
The bumper audience is thought to have been lured by the prospect of fireworks between actress Amanda Abbington and her pro partner Giovanni Pernice.
Saturday night’s figures are sure to surge further as fans who missed out catch up with the action on BBC iPlayer.
And an electric paso doble from Casualty actor Nigel Harman and show siren Katya Jones— which shot them to the top of the leaderboard — was sure to have people calling it up for a second look.
The glittering dance show’s boost comes after a dip last year as Brits emerged from the end of Covid lockdowns.
The Sun revealed on Saturday how Sherlock actress Amanda, 49, had threatened to quit over Giovanni’s “militant” approach.
Amanda has found the pro’s “aggressive training attitude pretty difficult to handle”.
A backstage source added: “She’s been left very shaken, and has liaised with her team about quitting.”
But the pair put on a brave face for an impressive performance on Saturday.
Their Viennese Waltz to Pointless by Lewis Capaldi scored 29 — putting them in joint second place on the leaderboard.
A source said: “Whatever has gone on in the training room was shed as soon as they pulled on their dance costumes — they delivered one of the best performances of the night.
“Any viewers expecting tension or sniping words would’ve been disappointed because they painted a picture of perfect harmony.”
The new peak compares to 7.2million last year and 8.4million in 2021.
Nigel and Katya achieved their top score of 32 points – four eights — dancing to Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit.
Veteran TV newsreader and presenter Angela Rippon, 78, also gave the ratings a leg up with a jaw dropping display of flexibility by performing a full standing split at the end of her Cha Cha Cha with Kai Widdrington.
Strictly has declined to comment on the clash between Amanda and Giovanni, 33.
But a friend of the pro dancer said: “Amanda has had a lot going on and Giovanni found it frustrating that she was struggling to fully commit to rehearsals.
“He is a perfectionist and when a celeb partner is 100 per cent committed, he knows he can get the best out of them.”
Strictly continues on Saturday at 6.20pm on BBC1.
