In these dark days of turmoil and change, we need something constant and glittering to keep us all sane… so thank goodness for Strictly Come Dancing.
The return of the show – with a nifty one-two move of launch night Friday, first show Saturday – is like someone pulling you in for a big bosie when they know you need cheering up.
It is, of course, easy to allow jaded cynicism to creep in about the BBC’s sparkling confection.
A roster of “who’s that” celebs? Actually, the school of 2022 are well-kent faces that don’t come with the need for a Google search to get their credentials.
I do wish Shirley Ballas would dial down her “phwoar” schtick over some of the male contestants.”
Virtue signalling with same-sex couples? John and Jojo knocked that prejudiced nonsense out of the park last year. Get over yourselves.
And this year’s disability is? Eh, a shining example of proving that there are no barriers to following your dreams. Go Ellie.
Sure, Craig Revel-Horwood is going to go all panto villain at some point – even if he was uber nice in the opening show, prompting fears for his well-being.
However, I do wish Shirley Ballas would dial down her “phwoar” schtick over some of the male contestants. Flip that around and I doubt a male judge would get away with all that drooling.
And can Matt Goss please lose the jaunty angle hat, even if it is covering that rather dodgy barnet?
I’m already getting ready to take a punt on Will Mellor after that stonking Livin’ La Vida Loca jive.”
As a now-seasoned Strictly fan (albeit a Johhny-Come-Lately, oh those wasted X Factor years), I like to think I’m fairly adept at spotting the true contenders early doors.
I called it on Stacey Dooley, Kelvin Fletcher, and Rose Ayling-Ellis.
That said, Bill Bailey fairly blindsided me.
But on this year’s debutante show I’m already getting ready to take a punt on Will Mellor after that stonking Livin’ La Vida Loca jive.
I would say just hand him the Glitterball now, but then I’d miss out on one of the few highlights of the bleak winter nights to come.
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