The band has been a staple of the show since it started and is a source of inspiration for aspiring musicians. Image credit: © The MU.
BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing has halved the usual number of live musicians to appear on the show, refusing to reinstate the full band following social-distancing measures put in place during the Covid pandemic restrictions.
The live band has been limited to the rhythm section only, of which there are seven regular appearing musicians. The rest of the band, which varies in number – but on average is made up of around eight instrumentalists – remain pre-recorded in studio, at one three-hour session and are played in on backing track.
Following extensive negotiations, the production has offered to retain the full band for four episodes from a previous total of 14, but refuses to reinstate the full live band across the full series.
Show your support for a full live band
The MU is calling on Strictly fans to show support by sharing why they love the show with a fully live band on social media, using the hashtag #KeepStrictlyLive.
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Since it first aired in 2004, Strictly has grown into one of the biggest shows on UK television, with 10 million people tuning in each week. It has also become the world's most successful reality TV format.
Not only is the BBC causing a huge loss of earnings to musicians who played live on the show for 16 years prior to the pandemic, but it is also denying audiences the opportunity to see and enjoy live music.
Inspiring future generations of musicians
The band has been a staple of the show since it started and is a source of inspiration for aspiring musicians.
An anonymous member of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing band said: “I grew up seeing live bands and orchestras as part of BBC TV and this played a huge role in me being aware that a career as a professional musician could actually exist.
“Actually seeing musicians instead of just hearing them lit a spark in me that would have otherwise been totally denied given my background.”`
Better for audiences and dancers
MU General Secretary Naomi Pohl said: “The Strictly band is extremely popular with the show’s fans, and we know it’s always better for dancers to perform with live musicians than a recording. A fully live band can respond to what happens on the show, better supporting the production and the dancers.
“There are very few shows on television with a house band now and we don’t accept that Strictly Come Dancing, of all programmes, needs to cut corners in this way. The compromise of restoring the full band to some episodes didn’t go far enough. We will campaign to have them back in the full series and we know our membership of 35,000 will be behind us on this.”
A deeply disappointing move by the production
MU National Organiser for Recording & Broadcasting Geoff Ellerby said: “Due to the Covid-19 crisis, some band members' performances were pre-recorded as a necessary safety precaution, with a significantly reduced live band performing along to these backing tracks.
“We worked hard with broadcasters and studios in mitigating the risks to get musicians working under new restrictions, and although we agreed that following these temporary measures we would work towards normality as soon as possible, Strictly is refusing to reinstate the full live band.
“Given it remains the BBC's flagship entertainment show, and the very nature of the show has always been based on music and dance, this is a deeply disappointing move, and one we can’t accept.
“Due to clever camera work by the production team, it may not have been obvious to viewers until now that the on-screen band has been reduced. We hope fans of the show will join our call to restore the full band of musicians to the production.”