Bloggers note: I have been lucky enough to go to two Strictlys over the years and can definately say that the cheers and whoops are not stage managed. We are all just very excited Strictly fans let loose in the Studio :-)

Backlash over the Strictly screamers: Viewers complain over 'stage managed' cheering and screaming

By Paul Revoir

Last updated at 7:37 AM on 7th December 2011

While the studio audience sound as though they are enjoying themselves, it seems the viewers at home are not.

Strictly Come Dancing has been attacked by fans over the ‘cheering’ and ‘screaming’ from spectators during its broadcasts, which critics claim seem ‘stage-managed’.

The BBC has received complaints that the ‘dizzy teenager’ behaviour of the audience is making the programme more like its ITV rival, the X Factor.

Strictly necessary? The audience cheers on Audley Harrison and Natalie Lowe

Viewers have said that they cannot hear Strictly’s guest singers as the music is drowned out by the noise of clapping and cheering.

They also claimed that repeated standing ovations from the audience look false and are becoming boring.

Becoming like its rival: Some think Strictly is becoming like X Factor (judge Kelly Rowland pictured)

After fans vented their frustrations on the BBC’s online discussion pages, the Corporation admitted it had received more than 30 complaints about the issue.

However, it defended the practice, saying the majority of viewers enjoyed the lively studio atmosphere.

One critic, writing on the BBC’s website, said: ‘Why do the audience insist
on clapping and cheering the dancers when a guest performer is singing?

‘The week Susan Boyle was on she couldn’t be heard above the noise
coming from the audience.’

Another said: ‘Why must we suffer all the audience stage-managed reactions during the dancing?

The continual cheering and screaming isn’t necessary and is not spontaneous as it should be.

‘Just because a dancer has executed a turn or a fleckle does not make them a superstar.

‘If I wanted to hear people behaving like a load of dizzy teenagers I’d be
watching X Factor not Strictly. Everyone I have spoken to agrees that it’s
now gone too far.’

Another wrote: ‘Have the BBC imported a crowd from X Factor?’

But a BBC spokesman said: ‘There have only been a total of 31 complaints since the series began three months ago, which is a very small amount given the show has been achieving peak audiences of more than 11million each week.’