Strictly Come Dancing 2016: Viewers slam 'awful' sound issues in first episode

The pre-recorded dance competition was marred with mic 'distortion' and 'fluctuating' audio levels

Sequins at the ready! This year's Strictly Come Dancing celebrities compete to lift the coveted Glitterball trophy (BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing's opening episode always comes with its litany of worries: missteps, costume mishaps, or the very concept of Ed Balls dancing.

However, for a pre-recorded show, one would think technical issues wouldn't be so much of a concern for the BBC's dancing competition; yet many viewers were confused when Saturday's broadcast seemed plagued with sound problems.

Viewers took to social media to comment on the crackling noises which marred audio of the judges giving their critique; complaining about mic "distortion", "fluctuating" audio levels, and a "fuzzy" quality.

The night did provide thrills elsewhere, though, with contestant Ed Balls taking to the dancefloor for the first time; taking part in the opening group dance to Ray Charles and the Blues Brothers' "Shake Your Tailfeather". Model Daisy Lowe, Olympian Greg Rutherford, Birds of a Feather star Lesley Joseph and singers Anastacia, Louise Redknapp and Will Young are also among this year’s lineup, while Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly return to their hosting duties.

You can read our coverage live as it happened here.

Strictly Come Dancing will return in three weeks on BBC One for the first of its live shows.