麻豆社

How You Can Vote

Voting is by telephone only or via the website

Telephone Vote: Voters in the UK can choose either to call from their landline using the long (11-digit) number for the couple/s of their choice or from their mobile phones using the short code (7-digit) number for the couple/s of their choice. Please note that callers from the Channel Islands and Isle of Man should call from their landlines using the long (11-digit) number to avoid higher mobile charges. Please do not attempt to vote by calling a 7-digit short code from a landline.

The numbers to vote for each couple will be given out during the show. Vote lines are opened and closed at the times specified on the programme. Please do not call before the lines open or after the lines have closed as your vote will not be counted. Please be aware voting times may change.

Calls to the long (11-digit) number cost 15.2p from BT landlines, other networks may vary. Calls to the long (11-digit) number will cost considerably more if made from a mobile device. Therefore, only call the long (11-digit) number, when dialling from a landline. To vote from your mobile in the UK, call the short (7-digit) number announced for your chosen couple. Calls to the short (7-digit) number from a mobile cost 15p. You cannot text and you cannot dial the short (7-digit) number from a landline.

Online Vote: Viewers in the UK (including Channel Islands and Isle of Man) will also be able to vote online by accessing the following link . Voting online will require to register/log in with 麻豆社 iD and will be free. The online vote will be open during the same period as the telephone lines.

The results of the telephone vote and the online vote will be aggregated prior to any announcements.
The Peoples Strictly for Comic Relief is a pre-recorded show but the vote is a live vote with the result being announced on 麻豆社 One Friday 13th March during Comic Relief Night of TV.

If you are watching The People’s Strictly on iPlayer, following through a website or any other time shift or catch up service you should not vote since the lines and online vote may have closed.

How Can I Register for the Online Vote
In order to vote on The People’s Strictly you will need to register here first for a 麻豆社 iD

Terms and Conditions

Telephone voters must obtain permission from the bill payer before voting and those under the age of 12 should obtain parent/guardian consent before voting. Make sure you carefully dial only the number of the couple/s you wish to vote for.

Votes are only open to individuals as consumers from the UK, and not to any agencies, businesses and/or companies.

The 麻豆社 reserves the right to disqualify votes if it has reasonable grounds to suspect that fraudulent voting has occurred or if it considers there has been any deliberate attempt to manipulate the result. The 麻豆社 can only guarantee that votes individually entered directly through the telephone numbers promoted on the show and those registered through the site will count.

There are a number of contingencies which could occur during or before each show, as with any other television programme. Contingencies cover unforeseen circumstances or those outside the control of the 麻豆社. The 麻豆社 will decide on contingency plans as it deems necessary and appropriate to the circumstances.
For purpose of verifying any claim for refunds (where offered for telephone votes) or investigating possible voting irregularities, the 麻豆社 may need to request the network operator to disclose the telephone number that you are voting from. Please note that this will still be required where you have originally opted not to disclose your telephone number (caller's line identification barring).

If you do not agree to this, you should not vote.
Where such investigations are required, the 麻豆社 will only ever use your personal data for the purposes of running the vote (including processing refunds or investigating possible voting irregularities) and in accordance with our Privacy Policy which you can read on www.bbc.co.uk/privacy.

The 麻豆社, its sub-contractors, subsidiaries and/or agencies cannot accept any responsibility whatsoever for:

(i) any technical failure or malfunction or any other problem with any telephone network or line, system, server, provider or otherwise which may result in any vote being lost or not properly registered or recorded; and (ii) anybody leaving the show for any reason.
Please note that you cannot vote by email, red button or text.

The public voting is verified by an independent verification service. The voting in this programme accords with the 麻豆社's Code of Conduct for Competitions and Voting, details of which can be found at .
Please note that if you are directly connected in any way with the production of the programme or the provision of telephony services to the programme you are not eligible to vote.

Voting FAQs

Why are Voting Figures for The People’s Strictly not published?

We invite you to vote for the dancers that you liked best. Releasing voting figures could affect the way that people vote, and also have an impact on the participants. We therefore do not disclose the exact voting figures.

Although the 麻豆社 is subject to the Freedom of Information Act, information which is closely connected to our programme-making is not covered by the Act. The Information Commissioner, who regulates the Act, has confirmed that information about public voting is not covered. We are therefore not required to disclose the voting figures under the Act.

Why have I been charged more than 15.2p for my vote?

If your call was made from a BT landline then you will pay 15.2p for voting in The People’s Strictly. We state on screen and verbally that "other networks may vary" - this includes other landlines as well as calls to the long (09) number made from mobile phones. See the cost guide on this page for callers using their mobile phones to vote.

Why have I been charged outside the vote window?

We state clearly on screen and verbally when the voting period opens and closes and that callers should wait until that time before casting their vote. There is a small chance that if you called outside this time that another network other than BT would charge for this call. If you have been charged, then notify your service provider immediately.

I was trying to call for (x couple) and got (x couple) instead.

All voters are asked to dial carefully. The 麻豆社 has implemented a thorough testing schedule before each show to ensure correct audio is playing on the correct participant’s line. If you have a phone bill you can send us, we can check whether the number you called corresponds with the correct couple audio.

I have been trying to vote, but keep getting the engaged tone.

Because the phone lines are very active throughout the UK when the vote window opens, some callers may experience the engaged tone - especially those in rural/remote areas. We recommend that you call back within a couple of minutes when the traffic through your local exchange would have subsided. Engaged tones are controlled at local telephone exchange and something that the 麻豆社 cannot control. You can also opt to vote online via.

I called but received a dead tone.

If after dialling the first four numbers of the premium rate number you heard a dead tone - then this means that you are premium rate barred and you should check with your network operator about lifting the ban if you wish to vote in The People’s Strictly. You can also opt to vote online via .

I tried voting, but couldn't get through. Why?

Given the high volume of viewers and callers that some TV voting shows generate, it is possible for a very large number of people to pick up the phone simultaneously when the onscreen announcement is made. Sometimes this can cause some callers to get an engaged tone for short periods of time immediately after an onscreen announcement; however, any congestion tends to clear quite quickly. You can also opt to vote online via

Can one couple's number be constantly engaged and another couple's free?

Like all the big shows, The People’s Strictly uses a voting system where at least the first eight digits of the phone numbers are the same for all couples, with only the last few digits of the phone number changing depending on who you want to vote for.

As the telephone network only uses the first eight digits in a telephone number to route calls to the voting system, it is impossible for calls for different couples to be treated differently.

Once calls reach the voting system they are answered in turn, on a first-come, first-served basis. Each answering point is instructed to accept votes for all couples; there are no dedicated answering points for individual couples.
This means that your chance of getting through to vote will never depend on the couple you wish to vote for.

What are Mobile Short Dial Codes (MSDCs)?

Mobile Short Dial Codes (MSDCs) are the numbers to call (not text) from UK mobile phones where callers are charged a guaranteed fixed price for the call (15p for The People’s Strictly voting) regardless of their UK mobile network provider. The MSDC numbers are shorter than a normal telephone number, typically between 5 and 7 digits long.

When calling premium rate ‘09’ numbers from mobiles, calls usually cost considerably more than if calling from a BT landline and the cost can vary significantly from mobile network to network. The use of MSDCs for voting therefore has the advantage that callers from UK mobile phone networks should pay approximately the same charge to vote as callers from a BT landline – 15p for each vote for The People’s Strictly couples.

When voting from a UK mobile using a MSDC number you will hear a vote confirmation message in the same way you would when voting by calling a 09 premium rate number from a landline.

How do I vote by Mobile Short Dial Code?

Using your UK mobile phone, simply dial the short number shown on screen for your favourite couple/s, when the vote is open. There is one number allocated to each couple. If you call while the vote is open you will hear a message confirming your vote. If you try to call when the vote is closed you will hear a closed non-chargeable message. You can’t text/SMS to the Mobile Short Dial Code.

Why are you offering voting via Mobile Short Dial Codes instead of Text Voting?

Text voting cannot be offered for The People’s Strictly due to the relatively short periods in which the vote is open and during which the result needs to be provided and verified. There is the risk of potential delays within the mobile networks at busy times which could result in text votes not being received within the period the vote is open. With a phone call, if the exchange is busy you will hear an engaged tone, however with text/SMS you would not know if there is any late delivery of your vote (causing it to not be registered). There are no such potential network delays with Mobile Short Dial Codes other than busy tones at local exchange level with heavy traffic.

In addition, call attempts to Mobile Short Dial Codes outside of the vote open period, or to numbers no longer in use, are non-chargeable to callers, unlike text where charges may still apply.

The advantage of using telephone calls for voting rather than text voting is that the caller knows at the time of the call that their vote has been counted and also that they have been charged for their vote. They will also know from receiving an engaged tone if they did not get through and that they can then just press redial to try again. The same is not true of text voting as the texter has to wait for a confirmation message back from their mobile network operator which may take some time to arrive or which may not arrive at all.

How much will it cost to vote by Mobile Short Dial Code?

Voting on The People’s Strictly via a Mobile Short Dial Code from UK mobile networks will cost 15p per vote.

Will I be charged if I try to vote using a MSDC when the vote is closed?

No. Calls outside the vote open period and those made to any of The People’s Strictly numbers not currently in use will not be chargeable.

It is very unlikely for callers to be charged when calling a closed vote line as we use free of charge messaging during these times. If you have been charged, then notify your service provider immediately.

Why can't I vote by Mobile Short Dial Codes from the Channel Islands and Isle of Man?

The Channel Islands and Isle of Man are covered by separate mobile network operators who do not currently support voting by Mobile Short Dial Codes. Viewers in these regions may still be able to vote by dialling the 09 numbers for The People’s Strictly couples from a BT landline at the 15.2p rate or from another provider’s landline or on their mobile phone where they may incur higher charges (in the same way as they may have voted in previous voting shows).

Can I call a Mobile Short Dial Code from my landline?

No. Mobile Short Dial Code voting is only available from mobile phones, if you try to call a Mobile Short Dial Code from your landline you will not be connected to the voting service and your vote will not be counted. In a very small number of cases, the landline network operator may route the call to a local destination as it may match a “local” telephone number which may result in a ‘wrong number’ call being made. Such calls would be chargeable if they are answered.

Can I vote by text message to the Mobile Short Dial Codes?

No. The People’s Strictly voting will be made using telephone call voting only as this offers the caller the benefits of knowing at the time that they place their vote that their vote has been counted and that they have been charged. This would not be true of text votes.

Can I still call the 09 numbers from my mobile?

Yes, but it is likely to cost you considerably more than 15p for the call to the Mobile Short Dial Codes. The 09 voting numbers should preferably only be called from your landline if you have one. If you decide to call the 09 voting numbers from your UK mobile phone then you will hear a non-chargeable message at the start of the call asking you to call the Mobile Short Dial Codes instead. If you remain on the line after the message then you will be able to vote for your chosen couple but your UK mobile network operator will charge you at their chosen rate for calls to the 09 number which could be considerably more than the 15.2p per call cost advertised for calling the 090 number from a BT landline.

Why can we now vote by Mobile Short Dial Codes when we couldn’t before?

Mobile Short Dial Codes for use across all the major UK mobile network providers, and at a fixed price for a call, have only been available in the UK since April 2012.

Will I receive ‘spam’ / unwanted marketing texts if I vote by Mobile Short Dial Code?

No, you should not receive any text messages from The People’s Strictly or any other organisation as a result of voting using the MSDCs. The 麻豆社 does not supply or sell on mobile telephone numbers to any third party, except if required to do so for legal reasons. Text spamming is caused by companies sending unsolicited text messages to mobile telephone numbers. The 麻豆社 in no way supports this practice and takes great care to guard numbers from any unauthorised use. If you receive unwanted text messages from other companies that you are being charged for, you can contact PhonepayPlus, the premium services regulator on freephone 0800 500 212 between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) or via www.phonepayplus.org.uk to report this.

Who can I contact if I need assistance / have further questions?

麻豆社 Helpline: 0370 010 0222 (standard geographic charges from landlines and mobiles will apply)

Why can’t I call the MSDC number from my mobile?

There are a small number of UK mobile phone users who are unable to call MSDCs, you should check with your mobile network operator to see if you can lift the calling bar or simply vote by calling the 09 voting numbers using a landline.

Can I vote via social networking?

No.

Will my votes to (x couple) be only counted from one entry method i.e. MSDC

No, all votes will be counted.

Why don’t the UK Mobile Network Operators just charge 15.2p for calls from mobiles to ‘09’ numbers instead of introducing Mobile Short Dial Codes?

The UK mobile network operators decide the pricing for calling numbers via their networks, including 09 numbers. Viewers are advised to contact their UK mobile network operator if they require more information on their charging rates. Fixed pricing has been agreed for the MSDCs for The People’s Strictly at the rate of 15p per vote.

Why can’t I vote by Mobile Short Dial Codes from outside the UK?

The MSDCs are provided by the UK mobile network operators and are only accessible via these operators. It is also unlikely that calls can be made to MSDCs from UK mobiles when these are outside of the UK, as this would be subject to mobile network operator international roaming arrangements with foreign network operators.

Does the 麻豆社 receive any revenue from the calls?

No. 麻豆社 does not receive any revenue. Revenue from the calls goes to the charity.

Throughout these FAQs “UK Mobile Phones” means mobile phones provided in the UK under UK contracts by Vodafone, O2, Everything Everywhere (previously T Mobile and Orange), Virgin and ‘3’