BBC offers 'Strictly' refunds

The BBC has agreed to give refunds to viewers unhappy with Saturday night's Strictly Come Dancing result.

Almost 1,800 people complained after contestants Rachel Stevens and Lisa Snowdon were awarded the same score by judges, rendering votes for Holby City actor Tom Chambers irrelevant.

Initially the BBC had refused to offer any refunds, stating that all votes cast would roll over to the following week's final.

However, the corporation has now announced that refunds will be available to those viewers who are unhappy.

Head of entertainment production Jon Beazley told spinoff show It Takes Two: "[Saturday's] votes will count and that's really important. They have been registered on Saturday and will roll forward.

"What's also important to say as well is that if somebody is really unhappy about that and they feel very strongly that they want to have a refund from their voting last Saturday, then we will refund that call cost."

Beazley described the situation as "really unfortunate" but added: "There were exceptional circumstances at play."

All votes cast in the semi-final will be added to the leader board at the start of next week's final. This is the first time voting figures for the contestants have been made public.

A BBC spokesperson said: "This was confirmed by an independent adjudicator as the fairest option."

Ofcom has said that it will continue to investigate the situation.