I miss old strictly

[DawnieOwl]

Don't get me wrong, we are still big strictly fans in my house, but I cant help but feel that strictly has changed somewhat and pine for those old days. The days of Craig, Len, Darcy and Bruno, the days where movie week dances actually felt cohesive and every dance worked with the chosen film, the days where Anton danced with the older woman, the days where the celebrities would be paired with a member of the opposite sex, even the gay celebrities, the days where the strictly spoiler wasn't all over the Internet, and the days where the judges were allowed to be harsh without a woke social media backlash. Me and my whole family are still big fans but I can't help feeling like the last few years have definitely changed, and it will never be the same strictly experience.

I really don’t like the same sex couples. I just started watching strictly so do forgive me if there were any female couples before this. It just seems to me another example of males taking female roles. There are less female competitors overall in the competition, when if you look at dance schools the overwhelming majority are girls. How much fewer opportunities are there for female dancers? How hard is it to find a male partner to practice with as it is? Now they have to compete with men as well for the roles.

The dances are designed for a man and a woman. What does it matter if you are gay. Why can’t you dance with the opposite sex? You are there to dance.

Oooh yes, that pro dance was unbelievably good. I just watched it again and it's fantastic. I also loved the Snow White pro dance with the wonderful Kristina as the evil Queen. Those were the good days, I feel like it's sort of collapsing in on itself now.

I'm worried they will start messing about with Pottery Throwdown . . . there were hints of it the last series.

It will break my heart.

What do people mean by it’s “woke” and “the BBC has an agenda”

I used to watch come dancing (as a child), I still watch dance live and I love Strictly. John and Johannes are one of my all time favourite partnerships.

If I didn’t know better someone from Tattle is trying to whip some froth.

Have you got a link for that on YouTube, please?

@Emotionalsupportviper links to both dances

I could watch them all day! Anyone got any other brilliant pro dances from the past?

Tried to read the thread but got waylaid by the Peter Andre mention, I actually cackled reading it, to the point my dog barked at me cos I scared her 😂

So then why does it matter? Male/female couples are also just there to dance too, what does relationships have anything to do with it?

Not the minorities ruining everything! Damnit 🙄

Well then you don't understand dancing. Male and female dancers have different bodies and different strengths. Dance parts are choreographed specifically for male or female dancers. Gay dancers have been paired with female partners for ever ( Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers..) their actual real life sexual orientation is irrelevant.

I don't enjoy the same sex couples either.

Oooh! Thank you!

No - not "minorities ruining everything" - picking contestants who are "novel" and "quirky" rather than because they have any ability is ruining everything.

Yup John Sargent was selected fifteen years ago for his ability 🙄

I’ve been thinking about same sex couples dancing, and it’s the lack of balance. The yin and yang is missing. It’s either yin and yin or yang and yang.

What for?

Bake Off? Sewing Bee? Those are the shows we are mourning losing their appeal because contestants are being chosen for the wrong reasons.

On Strictly we have people of all sorts of ability (and lack of it) - it is a "personality" show. the other ones, where contestants come from the general public, aren't. John Sargent nearly won despite being rubbish at dancing, because he was popular. Same as Julian Clary.

Feel like it's a ticking boxes show now.

I also miss Darcey - she was great!

The judges comments mean almost nothing now- they are far too positive to the point of irrelevance.

I hate the couple's choice but only because it seems to be code for hip-hop. Though Rose and Giovanni's one was lovely (and it wasn't hip hop)

I have no issue with the same sex couples but I find Leyton really irritating for some reason.

For Strictly. That's why I mentioned him, on this Strictly thread.
Your other comments have a strong whiff of the isms with the implication that only white, straight, able bodied, straight people are chosen for the 'right reasons' and anyone who deviates from that has to have been chosen for the 'wrong reasons'.

I agree. It’s a bit weird that people who are same sex attracted dance with people of the same sex and vice versa. It’s dancing. It’s not supposed to be sex or marriage etc. just a dance

I still love Strictly! Love Shirley. Love the dressing up, make up, Claudia and Anton in particular. Tess is a bit blank … but I enjoy judging everyone’s outfits, hair, the suitability of the music versus the dance etc etc.

I think we need escapism sometimes!

I know what you mean about the man plus man dances looking slightly clumsy / less slick but I think that’s a small price to pay for inclusivity.

It was always inclusive. Gay people have always featured prominently. Dancers, celebs, judges.

Gay people exist and dance with each other. Now that representation has crossed over onto the TV.

Um, Fred Astaire was very much heterosexual.

Peter Andre and Fred Astaire - both heterosexual, both outed on this thread.

No one can miss Bruno, over the top and lecherous, he harassed so many of the male celebrities - it was really unpleasant.