So sad about Strictly.

[CurlewKate]

It's been part of our family life since it started. I really wanted to think it was as wholesome and joyous and life affirming as it looked, even though I knew it probably wasn't.

And there are celebrities that I feel differently about now because they didn't blow the whistle.😢

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13432085/amanda-platell-strictly-come-dancing-giovanni-pernice-amanda-abbington.html

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13432085/amanda-platell-strictly-come-dancing-giovanni-pernice-amanda-abbington.html

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13451377/AMANDA-PLATELL-demand-Justice-Giovanni-Pernice-pernicious-witch-hunt-makes-ashamed-sisterhood.html

I try not to notice Amanda Platell at all.

What a stupid thing to say. How on earth does sexual orientation matter? And what if viewers don't know the sexual orientation of the people they're watching dance? Does that make certain pairing not 'make sense'?

Yeh, crying about a witch hunt of Gio and now calling heads to roll. She’s a joke

Spitting and kicking someone is not being a strict taskmaster, it's assault.

Problem is it has gone from something that was fun and fairly lighthearted to something that is super competitive and when that happens you are always going to get people pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable. Where it has got to is almost inevitable if you allow the super competitive element to dominate.

I watch it a bit and struggled that these days many of the "amateurs" actually have prior dance training of some type even if they are not actually professionals.

I suppose there is a struggle to try to find people to compete, but I think they need to go back to grass roots and actually have real amateurs who have no previous experience of dance. And maybe even a few members of the public too.

It would be really sad if it goes because I think a lot of people love it. It just needs some reformatting to get back to some of the old magic.

I’ve often thought it would be more interesting with non-celebrities. Just normal people who want to dance. I also miss the proper training videos which showed how they taught and where you could see progress/penny drop moments rather than the rather silly fluff they use now. Though maybe the training is too brutal these days…

@cardibach I agree. They cast great 'ordinary' people on shows like GBBO. They could do the same on Strictly. I also found the training videos where you got an insight into the steps and the process/ progress really fascinating.

They could maybe alternate with celebs and real people each year.

TBF, it's not just 'these days' that many of the celebs have prior dance training. Jill Halfpenny was in a very early year and had lots of dance experience. And it's hard to cast a celeb show without coming up with people who have some dance background as actors, pop stars, presenters etc will often have been to stage school.

And the great thing about the final result being voted on purely by the audience is that they almost never vote for the most serious ringers to win (like Ellie beating Layton, Ashley Pussycat Doll not winning, Danny Mac not winning…)

And I like that there's a mix of abilities. You get to watch some good dancing, some people steadily improving and some delightful surprises.

But I do think a 'people's Strictly' would be an interesting watch.

My proposal would be that the vote happens on the Saturday night, during a slot that could be filled by a group dance and a pop act (titting about optional). Then the result is announced and goodbye until next week.

Obviously they need the VTs to reset for the next dance so they'd have to stay, but the content could be improved. I hate those "coming to Longleat has really helped me prepare for my Viennese Waltz" bits.

Yes we all know the results show is filmed on Saturday about 10pm. Stop pulling the wool over our eyes.

Some of the hair/make up used in the specials such as Halloween, some celebs and partners can be in the make up chair for a few hours. It seems pointless in removing all the make up, wigs etc then to reapply them all again less than 24 hours later just for a 40 min show.

GBBO has people who have demonstrated a level of talent for baking.
Pottery Throwdown does the same with ceramics.
Sewing Bee too and the woodworking programme. All assume a level of skill and ability to start with.

It would be interesting to see a programme in which ordinary people who demonstrate some dance ability, having taken classes, innate rhythm etc, could be partnered with the pros and extend their skill.

I wonder if it's the public vote element that would make a non-celeb Strictly harder; would people be arsed about voting for non-celebs? (although I have to say I've usually not heard of most of the Strictly 'celebs'!).

Tbf, everyone is always completely open about filming the Sunday show on Saturday, the several hundred people in the audience each week are not sworn to secrecy about that. They are sworn to secrecy about the result, but it always leaks, which is another clue... I don't think anyone is pulling the wool over your eyes.

The PP was (I think) advocating getting rid of the Sunday show altogether and announcing the winner live on Saturday. I can't see that happening, there are various financial and strategic reasons for it to have a presence on Sunday as well as Saturday I think. Plus it would be an enormously long show on Saturday, that kind of voting and accompanying faff / verification etc does take a bit of time.

They have done a "People's Strictly" about 8 years ago. It didn't make much of a splash. I don't remember even seeing it advertised. I'm a huge fan and didn't even see it.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02glql8

The People's Strictly was like GBBO, in that they could all dance already to some extent.
It was fine but there was a particular emphasis on the sentimental backstories behind each being chosen.

People strictly Come Dancing - YouTube

The programme itself isn't 'open' about it – everyone in the same clothes, talking about 'Saturday night' etc.
Yes, everyone in the real world knows, but that's not the same thing.

For a while they did show the whole thing on a Saturday night. There were two programmes, with the second one being after the news, I think. I guess they didn't think it worked for whatever reasons, so reverted to the Sunday results show.

Sorry, not all experienced amateurs. Three had some experience.
It was for Comic relief 9 years ago - they had 4 weeks training
They were all picked as inspirational heroes

Philip/Janette 40 AS : Founded musical theatre youth company for kids. Am dram experience
Trishna/Aljaz 35 Jive : MS sufferer and fundraiser (Zumba experience)
Anna/Robin 40 Charleston : Founded ASC school Tap dance experience
Cassidy/Natalie 40 Paso : Lost his leg ex-marine/helped others with rehab. Taught JJ Chalmers how to waltz. Degree in music and dance (Won)
Heather/Ian 36 VW : Charity founder after hospitalised.
Michael/Aliona 33 Tango : Meningitis fundraiser.

The programme itself isn't 'open' about it – everyone in the same clothes, talking about 'Saturday night' etc.
Yes, everyone in the real world knows, but that's not the same thing.

There have been many articles and interviews where people on the show are completely open about it. Not least ones about what a shame it is when the result leaks before the Sunday transmission. Nobody is pretending it's live on Sunday evening.

BBC One - The People's Strictly for Comic Relief - Michael Pattie
PP link better than the youtube one - all the info and routines for the six of them are there for anyone who missed it. Cassidy was a deserved winner but I had a soft spot for Anna. The three with some dance/stage experience al got 40. The other three were novices but all six were stans so loved the experience.

@MarkWithaC

Here for example is a story about results leaking, which makes very clear that the Sunday show is pre-recorded. From the BBC itself. They are open about it.

www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/58871235.amp

If there was another civilian version, you wouldn't be able to move for the ghosts of dead nans. They'd probably reanimate them in the stupid cgi effects.

No one needs that.

I don't disagree with that. I mean the programme, as I said – the way the show itself as aired is presented, referring to Saturday night etc. People sometimes audibly catch themselves saying 'earlier' and correct it to 'on Saturday night' or 'last night'.