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.

You look a lot homophobic

You would have a hell of a shock if you went to any dance competition and saw all the pairs of women dancing together then because there aren't enough men.

Good to know you don't have a problem with gay people though 🤔

Ah, that dance makes me cry. It was so lovely and such an ‘up yours’ to all the people (Daily Mail) whining about same sex couple.

Just waiting for the 'I have gay friends though!' card now...

Blimey!

That takes me back.

I loved the formation dancing.

I’d rather get chub rub in an ocean of netting than resort to nanning, chuntering on about ishoos and weep fests.

Sometimes you just want to see the dancin’.

I’ve never seen that before. It’s wonderful!

I thought that too. First allegedly he has a chipolata for a penis and now he's been outed on mumsnet.

Poor guy.

You're all barking up the wrong tree with the male/female partnership thing. Ballroom dancing routinely features pairs of women because there are so many more women than men.

I do miss, though, the pro dances that were proper ballroom to proper ballroom music; everyone starting with a waltz or cha cha and building up to more technically demanding dances; everyone doing either the same Latin or the same ballroom dance every week; pre-dance training vids where you saw them actually training/arguing with each other, not going to a theme park or whatever; the bits in those clips where a pro or judge would explain to camera the key elements of the dance and what they were looking for; Vincent and Flavia coming on to show us all what an Argentine tango looks like – and sensible scores! I remember the year Mark Ramprakash and Karen Hardy won and they didn't get 9s until the semi-final and they (and the audience) were over the moon about it.

I also really miss Karen Hardy, as well as Ian Waite (my gay best friend, if only he knew it), the original Katya, Kristina and her beautiful feet, sweet Matthew Cutler, and Natalie Lowe. But I love Karen Hauer, Giovanni, Vito (such a cutie), Nikita (strangely hot), Jowita and Nancy.

I was going to say similar re: the proper dances to proper ballroom music - Len and Arlene in particular taking the couples to task if they had too many lifts, explaining where they went wrong on the fleckerls and giving down-to-earth advice on how to improve a performance. Craig used to be "cruel" but he was never unfair and always gave constructive criticism. Even Bruno was relatively controlled!

There used to be a bit where the wardrobe women explained why they had chosen a particular colour/ style for a contestant (AND they were decent costumes - not the contents of the church jumble sale leftovers box that they seem to get now). It really was a dance competition.

Happy days . . . .

Oh, I know, the scandal of illegal lifts! It does annoy me that the audience is obviously coached to cheer and whoop every lift. I don’t see what’s so thrilling about them; I’d rather watch a simple, well-danced routine.
The wardrobe stuff was/is on It Takes Two, no, not the main show? I used to like that, but I CBA with ITT any more.

I thought I remembered the wardrobe stuff in the main show, but I could well be wrong - my memory isn't what it was these days.

Absolutely agree with you that a simple, proper dance routine, especially in the early weeks, used to be a joy to watch. I'm pretty sure that the contestants learned to dance properly, not just perform a routine (which is a different thing entirely).

Couples choice has no place in the finals imo. Last year all the finalists repeated their couples choice except for Molly who had a shit one as she was stuck with the Grange Hill theme tune (that episode celebrating BBC shows was just weird).

The finals should be repeats of best ballroom, best latin and then the showdance.

Haven’t watch for years,I went off it when they sacked Arlene for being too old. Also remember getting the ick when a famous cricketer and his dancer were practically copulating on the dance floor, I just felt so sorry for his wife in the audience.

I'm nostalgic about Brendan arguing with the judges, and the way you always knew when Ola thought her partner was in trouble because her costumes became ever-more revealing.

Ok, well I miss Brucie and Len and Darcy but on the whole the show is better now. Anton is a great judge and do is Motsie. I’d have been happy if Arlene hadn’t been replaced and if Alesia hadn’t been a judge. Although I have nothing against the latter she wasn’t qualified to be a judge of dancing in the way that all the other judges have been

Ola's catsuits.

God love Ola Jordan.
And James calling his partner (Georgia someone?) 'fat belly' in training.

I had the biggest crush on Ola.

Who on earth was that.

Peter Andre 💀

I don't miss Bruno or Len at all, or Bruce. The pro dances are amazing in the last few years, they could be a bit odd or clunky in the past. I like all the dancers now but do miss Lilia, Flavia, Artem and a few others.

Same sex couples is in the true tradition of ballroom and latin in my experience- usually pairs of women though as there are often never enough men in a class.

SCD has always been the gayest show imaginable, I think some people just didn't notice that for a while.

I also don't miss Brendan or the Jordans. Or Arlene. I think Shirley is a bit like Arlene though having her favourites.

Oh blimey!

I remember the Ola-Stripperama, too! 😂

I have never missed "Bruce" - I thought he was sleazy and unfunny. They didn't get rid of him quick enough in my opinion.

I don’t get the Darcey love. She looked lovely and was very elegant but she wasn’t a brilliant judge and simply agreed with ‘ the boys’
I do miss Len but do not miss Bruno
I do miss some of the former dancers, Vincent , Flavia , Oti and even Brendan