Strictly Come Dancing ratings: 9.9 million tune in to watch Seann Walsh survive on results show

This weekend was a ratings winner for Strictly 
Ratings winner: Seann Walsh and Katya Jones danced the Charleston
BBC/Guy Levy
Robert Dex @RobDexES15 October 2018

More than half a million extra viewers tuned into Strictly Come Dancing to see Seann Walsh survive despite the controversy surrounding his kiss with dance partner Katya Jones.

Sunday night's results show peaked with 9.9 million viewers and averaged 9.2 million — more than last week’s peak of 9.3 million.

The comedian was the bookies’ favourite to get the boot after he and his married dance partner were pictured kissing.

But the pair, who both apologised for making a “mistake”, survived after dancing the Charleston, and Katie Piper was shown the door.

Back in the game: Seann Walsh and Katya Jones
BBC/Guy Levy

Former judge Arlene Phillips said the show was “not a hotbed of lust”.

The choreographer told Good Morning Britain that the intensity of performing on Strictly throws celebrities and professionals together physically and emotionally.

She added that dance partners “fall in love” while working together under pressure, but that Strictly was not exceptional.

She said: "Think how many hundreds of performers have been there. I think secretly the tension of reaching a Saturday night throws people together physically, in every way, emotionally, sensually, dramatically, so yes, there’s a great physicality and I think people do fall in love with their partners.”

When asked if she thought they should have been kicked out of the competition, she said: "No, absolutely not.

"There is no contract of a moral code of behaviour between the judges and the celebrities; they’re all consenting adults and we the public and me and everyone else, we are not moral guardians of the people that perform on that show.”

Strictly Come Dancing 2018

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