Devoted fans of Strictly Come Dancing were left frustrated and angry on Friday evening after the beloved spin-off show It Takes Two was delayed not once, but twice, due to live coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw.
Schedule Clash Causes Viewer Backlash
The BBC Two programme, presented by Fleur East and Janette Manrara, was originally scheduled to begin at its usual time of 6:30pm. However, BBC bosses had cleared the schedule for the live broadcast of the World Cup draw from the Kennedy Centre in Washington DC, which began at 5pm and featured stars like supermodel Heidi Klum.
When the football event ran over its allotted time, It Takes Two was forced to wait. The schedule was initially updated to promise a 7pm start, but as that time came and went with no show, fans took to social media to vent their annoyance.
Social Media Erupts as Delays Continue
One exasperated viewer wrote online: 'It’s still late bloody football.' Another commented: 'Looks like it'll be delayed even further now. Feel like just watching it later on iPlayer at this rate.'
The BBC then updated the schedule again to show a new start time of 7:15pm, but even that deadline was missed. The opening titles for It Takes Two finally rolled at 7:20pm, nearly an hour after its planned broadcast. 'It Takes Two is finally about to start on BBC Two,' posted one disgruntled viewer when the show eventually began.
When it did air, Janette Manrara was joined in the studio by the Friday panel, consisting of Will Best, Zoe Birkett, and Lisa Snowdon.
England's Challenging World Cup Group Revealed
The cause of the disruption, the 2026 World Cup draw, revealed a challenging path for the England men's team. Gareth Southgate's side, referred to in the draw context as Thomas Tuchel's men, were drawn into Group L.
Their opponents will be:
- Croatia (2018 World Cup finalists)
- Panama
- Ghana
England's first match is scheduled for June 17, 2026, against Croatia, likely in either Arlington, USA, or Toronto, Canada. This clash will revive painful memories of Croatia's 2-1 extra-time victory over England in the 2018 World Cup semi-final.
The Three Lions will then face Ghana on June 23 and conclude the group stage against Panama on June 27. While England are favourites to progress, analysts note that Ghana possess significant talent, and Panama always provide a physical test.
The top two teams from each of the 12 groups will advance to the knockout stage, along with the eight best third-placed teams, making it a significant shock if England fail to qualify.
