Honestly, I love Strictly Come Dancing – why else would I devote about five hours a week to watching the main show, the results show, It Takes Two , rewatching my favourite dances from couples gone by on YouTube, and talking about it at my desk several times an hour? But I know when I’m being had, and I can’t sit through another week of Craig and Shirley declaring the “talent’s never been better” when I can see with my eyes that simply isn’t true. Given the grim business in the months leading up to it, it’s a wonder this 20 th series made it on air. I’m so relieved it did, and I am loving watching Tasha Ghouri and Chris McCausland especially, remind us how special Strictly can feel.
But it has not otherwise been a standout year, there have not been anywhere near enough moments that make your hair stand on end and the format’s getting samey. Things have changed behind the scenes to secure Strictly ’s survival, now they need to change on the dancefloor, too. Here’s how I think they can fix it – and they won’t make me popular.
I wonder how many times I will have to be told about Blackpool Tower ballroom’s springy floor before it starts feeling important to me. Another 12 should do it. I get it: Blackpool is ballroom dancing’s Mecca, and I’m all for any big TV production heading north of Borehamwood.
But it’s been 20 years now and the truth is that most of us watching at home stopped listening to this history lesson in about 2008. It would be a.