STRICTLY Come Dancing fans have accused bosses of 'turning the show into the X Factor'.
Longtime BBC One viewers have spotted a behind-the-scenes link between the two shows, after a number of format changes.
Many users on social media have been complaining about various aspects of Strictly Come Dancing.
From the lack of entrance of Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly to huge bust-ups between the judges, fans have been left aggravated.
But on fan forum site Reddit, one dancing enthusiast noticed a secret link between the popular BBC dancing competition and The X Factor which used to air on ITV.
The executive producer of Strictly is BAFTA winning Sarah James who was also known for her work on The Xtra Factor as a senior producer from 2009 until 2012.
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The ITV show was known for its many format changes and gimmicks, both on-screen and off the airwaves.
One fan created a thread on the social media site, noting: "I doubt I'm alone in feeling this, but it's been a lot more prominent this year.
"From the over-the-top staging, to making people into comedy contestants, the backstage scandals, stupid theme weeks, to the judges' dumb arguments to try and get more screen time for themselves, right down to the sob story VT's.
"Then it was brought to my attention that the current exec producer was a producer on the x factor and xtra factor and I got my answer."
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They added: "What is wrong with the fun, joyful Strictly that came before?"
Other fans agreed, flooding the thread with their own sentiments.
One viewer suggested: "The judges have always "playfully argued" - the problem with it at the moment is that it feels acted/scripted to me, which is very X Factor."
As a second wrote: "I’ve feared this during the series. Even the little details, such as cutting down the titles has felt like the dying years of X Factor.
"They need to stop it soon and go back to what we know and love."
While a third said: "I thought Saturday’s show was veering into X factor territory with the judges arguing, playful or not.
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"These reality shows need to realise we’re watching for the contestants, not them. Whilst they bring character to the show, the competition should be the focal point."
"For me, it's all the guff intros that just make me feel like I'm watching an American reality TV show," suggested a fourth user.
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They added: "It's all incredibly cheesy, and I literally just want to watch people learning to dance."
Strictly Come Dancing is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.