Strictly Come Dancing: The Judges versus the Public
Rather than continue to analyse each week’s show, which after all is a somewhat over saturated field, I thought it would be more interesting to write about the different facets of Strictly Come Dancing. The one I particularly wish to focus upon this time is the voting system and how it often highlights a differing of opinion between the professional judges on the show and the British public. For the past two weeks now there have been several celebrity dancers in the dreaded dance off who are far from the weakest performers. This has led to competent individuals leaving the show unexpectedly early. In many ways the voting system and the fact that no one can be considered safe is one the key factors that keeps Strictly popular and in the media spotlight. However, it also provides some pause for thought. The judges broadly mark and assess the celebrity dancers based upon their talent and performance. If they do not like a routine but still appreciate its technical merits, then they reflect that in their scores. However, the public seem to approach things quite differently.
Rather than continue to analyse each week’s show, which after all is a somewhat over saturated field, I thought it would be more interesting to write about the different facets of Strictly Come Dancing. The one I particularly wish to focus upon this time is the voting system and how it often highlights a differing of opinion between the professional judges on the show and the British public. For the past two weeks now there have been several celebrity dancers in the dreaded dance off who are far from the weakest performers. This has led to competent individuals leaving the show unexpectedly early. In many ways the voting system and the fact that no one can be considered safe is one the key factors that keeps Strictly popular and in the media spotlight. However, it also provides some pause for thought. The judges broadly mark and assess the celebrity dancers based upon their talent and performance. If they do not like a routine but still appreciate its technical merits, then they reflect that in their scores. However, the public seem to approach things quite differently.
When discussing Strictly with fellow fans, our personal favourite couples often come up. Hence it can be assumed (erroneously) that if someone enjoys say Karim or Alex’s dancing, then they regularly vote for them and offer them ongoing, unqualified support. However, a little research shows that this is not the case. The most obvious fact that supports this theory is that a celebrity can be riding high on the leaderboard due to the judges’ marks. But when the public vote is added to their score, they find themselves in the dance off, indicating that what pleases the likes of Craig, Motsi, Shirley and Bruno does not necessarily fly with the home audience. Karim had a judges’ score of 38 on Saturday night with his Couple’s Choice Contemporary routine. Yet he still found himself in the dance off. A similar fate befell Michelle Visage a week earlier with her similarly non-traditional routine. Unlike Karim, she did not survive the dance off. So it would seem that there is potential for a perfectly capable celebrity to perform a dance that means a lot to them but doesn’t chime with viewers and for that to result in a distinct lack of votes.
Another incorrect assumption is that of “fan bases”. Saffron Barker may well have a legion of fans on social media but that patently did not translate into votes on Saturday night. Hence, she found herself yet again in the dance off with Karim and the rest is history as the expression goes. Perhaps the problem in this instance resides with a fanbase that is predominantly online, as opposed to actively watching an older form of media such as television. There has also been discussions in previous years that Strictly viewers are more likely to vote for those celebrities that they can immediately relate to. This then raises contentious matters such as race, class and other spurious social markers. And lets us not forget the Great British tradition of supporting the perceived “underdog”. Strictly viewers will happily keep a talentless, time wasters embarrassing themselves on national TV each week until they tire of them. Such is the enigma of public voting. There are times when you can deduce how people are thinking and who they may keep on the show. And then there are other occasions when it can be a total lottery. I suspect that this year’s final may be subject to the latter and not the former.
Taxation and Wealth Distribution in the UK
There was a rather angry man on BBC Question Time on Thursday night who was somewhat upset over the tax proposals set out in the Labour Party manifesto. Labour intend to increase the higher rate of tax from 40% to 45% if they are elected. The person in question by their own admission earns £80,000 plus a year and he didn’t believe he was in the top 8% of UK earners. He therefore objected to the fact that under a Labour Government he would face a tax increase. Unfortunately this individual was mistaken. According to figures from HMRC, he is clearly one of 4.3 million people in the higher tax category. Perhaps what he found incongruous was the fact that he falls into a demographic that includes people on his salary all the way to multimillionaires. However, at a salary of over £80,000 a year, he is earning way above the UK average. I think this is what flummoxes people so much. There is an assumption that wealth is evenly distributed throughout the working age UK population and that any graph showing salaries is a gentle curve. Sadly, this is not the case as a little research will show.
There was a rather angry man on BBC Question Time on Thursday night who was somewhat upset over the tax proposals set out in the Labour Party manifesto. Labour intend to increase the higher rate of tax from 40% to 45% if they are elected. The person in question by their own admission earns £80,000 plus a year and he didn’t believe he was in the top 8% of UK earners. He therefore objected to the fact that under a Labour Government he would face a tax increase. Unfortunately this individual was mistaken. According to figures from HMRC, he is clearly one of 4.3 million people in the higher tax category. Perhaps what he found incongruous was the fact that he falls into a demographic that includes people on his salary all the way to multimillionaires. However, at a salary of over £80,000 a year, he is earning way above the UK average. I think this is what flummoxes people so much. There is an assumption that wealth is evenly distributed throughout the working age UK population and that any graph showing salaries is a gentle curve. Sadly, this is not the case as a little research will show.
First of all, here are the current UK Tax Rates for financial year 2019-20.
Personal allowance Up to £12,500 0%
Basic rate £12,501 to £50,000 20%
Higher rate £50,001 to £150,000 40%
Additional rate Over £150,001 45%
In 2018-19, an estimated 26.4 million individuals (82.4%) are Basic Rate taxpayers, 4.3 million individuals (13.8%) are Higher Rate taxpayers and 393,000 (1.3%) are Additional Rate taxpayers. That is a total of 31 million people paying taxes in the UK. However the working age population of the United Kingdom is 52 million. That means around 21 million people (43%) earn less than £12,500 a year and are below the Basic Rate tax threshold and therefore do not pay income tax. With these numbers in mind it then become very clear why the median annual income in the UK is £28,677 for full-time employees. There are many jobs that the public perceive as being well paid that in fact are not. Nurses, Policemen and Teachers are classic examples of public servants that fall into this category. The starting salary for all of these professions is between £22,000 and £24,000 per annum.
Once you start looking into subjects such as earnings, taxation and the distribution of wealth in the UK, it becomes very clear that there is a high level of economic inequality. One’s political perspective upon such matters is both personal and subjective but the facts are undeniable. Wealth in the UK remains primarily in the hands of the top 20% who have an income more than 12 times the amount earned by the poorest 20%. Those who are the least financially compensated for their work often find themselves having to supplement their income with such government benefits as Tax Credits. Sadly due to the increasing cost of living, especially with regard to rented accommodation, many families find themselves in poverty. Yet paradoxically the UK is sixth-largest national economy in the world measured by nominal gross domestic product (GDP), ninth largest by purchasing power parity (PPP), and twenty second largest by GDP per capita, comprising 3.3% of world GDP. It’s all very sobering and food for thought. Perhaps the irate man on BBC Question Time should reflect upon all this.
Strictly Come Dancing 2019 Part 7
Strictly Come Dancing is now over halfway through the season and there’s no room for mistakes or relying on past successes. The judges will now penalise technical errors and the public votes have now become less predictable. With Blackpool on the horizon, there was a lot at stake last night. Karim Zeroual and Amy Dowden danced the Viennese Waltz to Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran. However, he did make several errors during the routine and was noticeably rattled by the end. Subsequently, he scored lower than last week. On a positive note, Saffron made a major comeback. Her Waltz with AJ was outstanding, lacking the excesses of her previous dance. This was a focused and traditional routine and it was very well received. Kelvin an Oti’s Samba was a success with the audiences but the judges still found some minor mistakes, so they dropped a few marks. Michelle Visage excelled with a slick American Smooth. Her professional partner Giovanni Pernice always fines the right balance between the theatrics and traditional dance content. At present, these four couples are the frontrunners in the show.
Strictly Come Dancing is now over halfway through the season and there’s no room for mistakes or relying on past successes. The judges will now penalise technical errors and the public votes have now become less predictable. With Blackpool on the horizon, there was a lot at stake last night. Karim Zeroual and Amy Dowden danced the Viennese Waltz to Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran. However, he did make several errors during the routine and was noticeably rattled by the end. Subsequently, he scored lower than last week. On a positive note, Saffron made a major comeback. Her Waltz with AJ was outstanding, lacking the excesses of her previous dance. This was a focused and traditional routine and it was very well received. Kelvin an Oti’s Samba was a success with the audiences but the judges still found some minor mistakes, so they dropped a few marks. Michelle Visage excelled with a slick American Smooth. Her professional partner Giovanni Pernice always fines the right balance between the theatrics and traditional dance content. At present, these four couples are the frontrunners in the show.
It was an interesting evening for Emma Barton and Anton Du Beke. They danced Couples' Choice to Right Now by The Pussycat Dolls. This Bob Fosse influenced, Jazz flavoured routine really suited Emma and she seemed to thrive on it. It's also nice to see Anton get this far into the season and tackle various dances that he’s previously missed out on. Alex Scott was once again dancing with Neil Jones. Despite the disruption over the last few weeks due to Neil injuries, she is still maintaining a standard and making progress. Their Jive was a crowd pleaser, although she does now need to focus more on technique, as the judges highlighted. But I think that Alex still has scope to get better. I’m not sure if there’s room for improvement with comedian Chris Ramsey. He does seem to put in the hours rehearsing with professional partner Karen Hauer but his Tango was just too rough around the edges. Certainly Craig thought he needs to move up a gear if he wishes to remain on the show. I suspect that Blackpool may be his Waterloo.
Which brings me on to Mike Bushell. Despite his dedication and commitment to the show, Mike has struggled to move forward. The judges seem to respect his work ethic and his routines with Katya are always well received by the audience. But I think his fanbase has been waning for weeks and as a result he’s been in multiple dance offs. On Saturday night his luck finally ran out and he found himself facing elimination for the fourth time, after a rather mechanical Paso Doble. However, the real shock was that he was competing against Michelle. Despite a total score of 36, the public obviously didn’t want to vote for her or assumed that she was “safe” and that someone else would. The judges were naturally flummoxed by the public vote as they felt she did not deserve to be in the dance off. And as she was competing against Mike, the outcome was pretty much a forgone conclusion. So Mike has gone and doesn’t make it to Blackpool. But I think this situation succinctly highlights that no one is now safe. Although your performance and marks are important, so is mobilising your support and getting people to vote for you. This is a tough challenge and one that can lead to surprises such as tonight. But that’s Strictly for you.
Strictly Come Dancing 2019 Part 6
Saturday was week 7 of Strictly Come Dancing and it definitely showed. This is the stage in the series where the judges take the gloves off and start getting picky, even with those who are clearly at the top of the leaderboard. Hence, Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse's Viennese Waltz along with Michelle Visage and Giovanni Pernice who danced the Paso Doble, didn’t score as highly as you’d expect. The judges pointed out technical aspects that were wanting in both routines. But that’s what they’re supposed to do so I have no issues with these criticisms. We are also at the point where certain dances can throw a lifeline to some celebrity dancers. Hence Chris Ramsey and Karen Hauer’s Street/Commercial dance really played to their core fanbase and more importantly, Chris’s dancing strengths. I doubt he’ll better this routine and it should keep him in the show a little longer.
Saturday was week 7 of Strictly Come Dancing and it definitely showed. This is the stage in the series where the judges take the gloves off and start getting picky, even with those who are clearly at the top of the leaderboard. Hence, Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse's Viennese Waltz along with Michelle Visage and Giovanni Pernice who danced the Paso Doble, didn’t score as highly as you’d expect. The judges pointed out technical aspects that were wanting in both routines. But that’s what they’re supposed to do so I have no issues with these criticisms. We are also at the point where certain dances can throw a lifeline to some celebrity dancers. Hence Chris Ramsey and Karen Hauer’s Street/Commercial dance really played to their core fanbase and more importantly, Chris’s dancing strengths. I doubt he’ll better this routine and it should keep him in the show a little longer.
I would once again like to raise an issue that often comes up on Strictly and is associated with specific professional dancers. Sometimes, there is an “everything but the kitchen sink” approach to the choreography in attempt to “wow” the audience and impress the judges. However, what it can occasionally lead to is a routine that is overly complicated and leaves the celebrity floundering. Moves are not fully completed; lifts are hurriedly executed and detail is lost to quantity. And this is exactly what happened to Saffron and AJ during their Salsa. Mr Pritchard has made this mistake before and it is frustrating to see him ignore previous lessons. Saffron is a more than capable dancer with youth and enthusiasm on her side. There is no need for these self-indulgent exercises at this stage in the competition and the focus now needs to be on technique and performance.
As suspected last week, Will Bayley’s injury to his knee is worse than thought and as a result, he is unable to continue on the show. Although this is a shame, I think him leaving in this way is for the best. Did any couple want to be in a dance off with Will and be the ones who ousted him from the show? Did any of the judges really want to have to send Will home, which would have happened at some point. Will made excellent progress on the show but he had reached his peak but I certainly could not see him lifting the trophy. This way he gets to leave on a high and with a prodigious, positive achievement behind him. And in other “injury” related news, Neil Jones was unable to dance with Alex Scott again this weekend, so once again Kevin Clifton filled the gap. Alex did herself proud with a heartfelt American Smooth and judge Craig Revel Horwood made a curious remark about their “accidental partnership is working wonders”. Does he feel she does better without Neil?
This week’s dance off saw Mike Bushell and Katya Jones repeating their Charleston, against Viscountess Emma Weymouth and Aljaž Škorjanec dancing the Samba. Mike’s continued relegation to the dance off shows that his fanbase is waning. Mike is another celebrity dancer who I believe has plateaued and is now “treading water”. I greatly appreciate his positive attitude but I think the public are tiring off him. However, on a technical basis his dancing improved second time around (as it has before) where Emma’ Samba still had the same flaws and a lack of “bounce”. She’s an elegant lady but she couldn’t sell the dance and direct the judges away from her mistakes. Hence, she now departs the show, which I believe is an appropriate time. With only two weeks to Blackpool I suspect that Mike, Chris and the other Emma are now feeling the heat as there is now a demonstrable talent gap between contestants. But that’s the nature of the Strictly beast. People go as far as they can and sometimes the public keep someone on just to troll the judges.
Strictly Come Dancing 2019 Part 5
Although Saturday night provided yet another excellent show, Strictly Come Dancing was notable for the absence of audience favourite Will Bayley. The Paralympian injured himself during training after he jumped from a table whilst practising his jive routine. According to Will “I jumped off a table. And as I landed, I landed with straightened legs,” he explained. “I thought I broke my leg because I never felt anything like it before. To hear the words I absolutely can’t dance was just really gutting for me. But I need to recover now and come back even stronger next week”. Thankfully, the comprehensive rules that govern Strictly allows for a week’s absence due to injury. However, if Will cannot resume dancing for next Saturday’s show, then he may have to retire from the entire series. If this does unfortunately happen, then it will also require the show’s producers to revise the schedule with regard to future eliminations, so that Strictly continues to follow the pre-set timetable.
Although Saturday night provided yet another excellent show, Strictly Come Dancing was notable for the absence of audience favourite Will Bayley. The Paralympian injured himself during training after he jumped from a table whilst practising his jive routine. According to Will “I jumped off a table. And as I landed, I landed with straightened legs,” he explained. “I thought I broke my leg because I never felt anything like it before. To hear the words I absolutely can’t dance was just really gutting for me. But I need to recover now and come back even stronger next week”. Thankfully, the comprehensive rules that govern Strictly allows for a week’s absence due to injury. However, if Will cannot resume dancing for next Saturday’s show, then he may have to retire from the entire series. If this does unfortunately happen, then it will also require the show’s producers to revise the schedule with regard to future eliminations, so that Strictly continues to follow the pre-set timetable.
Professional dancer Neil Jones was also missing from Saturday night’s proceeding after suffering injuries in rehearsals. Fortunately, Kevin Clifton stepped in to dance with Alex Scott at the last moment, having to effectively learn the routine from Alex herself. A change of partner is challenging enough but having to reverse the training process and have the celebrity teach the professional must have been very daunting for Alex. Yet their Street/Commercial dance routine was very well received by studio audiences and the judges were also suitably impressed. In fact the most demonstrable errors were from Kevin Clifton who was noticeably ahead of the music at several points. All things considered this routine did much to further demonstrate Alex’s improvement and Strictly journey. Again it’s this sort of “drama” that viewers love.
One of the dancing highlights from the week six show was Michelle Visage’s standout performance. She found herself at the top of the leaderboard, scoring 39 after impressing the judges with a Foxtrot to the Addams Family theme, alongside her partner Gionvanni Pernice. It was a simple, elegant and nuanced dance that allowed both audience and judges to appreciate Michelle's dedication and commitment to the show. However, there have been concerns raised over the merits of themed shows. Some viewers are of the opinion that the themes and the imaginative concepts that they inspire can potentially be at odds with the dances. Former Strictly professional dancer James Jordan tweeted “"I feel this week on Strictly the whole Halloween themed thing has overtaken the dancing". A sentiment I personally agree with. Although there were some very creatively choreographed routines, I struggled at times to remember exactly what type of dance was being performed. I think Karim and Amy’s Paso Doble was lost among the bravado and costumes.
Tonight’s results were the second big upset of this season of Strictly. Chris Ramsey and Karen Hauer along with Catherine Tyldesley and Johannes Radebe were bottom of the leaderboard yet the public vote saw Mike Bushell and Katya Jones in the dance off with Catherine. From a judge’s perspective, Mike had made yet another significant improvement. Ballroom dances have left little scope for comedy forcing Katya to create routines that focus on clear, traditional steps. Yet Mike found himself having to dance again to stay on the show. Catherine’s Cha Cha had fared poorly with the judges earlier who felt it was somewhat sloppy. The dance off vote was split, so head Judge Shirley has the final say and Catherine was voted off the show. This was a surprise as Catherine’s performances often compensate for technical deficiencies. I was actually surprised that Chris Ramsey managed to dodge a bullet this week. His Samba was weak and again hindered by the excesses of the costumes for Halloween. However, opinions may differ. This is what Strictly is all about. Roll on next week.
Strictly Come Dancing 2019 Part 4
Week 5 of Strictly Come Dancing once again saw some significant improvement among the celebrity dancers. Most notable were Alex Scott and Neil Jones who delivered a very enthusiastic Charleston. For the first time it appeared that both the technical and performance aspects of dancing “clicked” for Alex. After being saved by the judges in last week’s dance-off, Emma Weymouth and Aljaž Škorjanec's put on a beautiful display with their Viennese Waltz. The judge’s marks reflected their progress respectively by all awarding 9 marks out of 10. Then there was Will Bayley and Janet Janette Manrara whose emotional contemporary dance left judges Motsi Mabuse and Alfonso Ribeiro in tears. Will said before this year’s series that he was taking part in Strictly to “inspire people with a disability”. He certainly seems to be doing so and his commitment to the show and his constant training have earned him a strong fan base among viewers.
Week 5 of Strictly Come Dancing once again saw some significant improvement among the celebrity dancers. Most notable were Alex Scott and Neil Jones who delivered a very enthusiastic Charleston. For the first time it appeared that both the technical and performance aspects of dancing “clicked” for Alex. After being saved by the judges in last week’s dance-off, Emma Weymouth and Aljaž Škorjanec's put on a beautiful display with their Viennese Waltz. The judge’s marks reflected their progress respectively by all awarding 9 marks out of 10. Then there was Will Bayley and Janet Janette Manrara whose emotional contemporary dance left judges Motsi Mabuse and Alfonso Ribeiro in tears. Will said before this year’s series that he was taking part in Strictly to “inspire people with a disability”. He certainly seems to be doing so and his commitment to the show and his constant training have earned him a strong fan base among viewers.
With popular judge Bruno Tonioli away on a brief sabbatical, former Dancing with the Stars winner Alfonso Ribeiro, once again temporarily took his place. Alfonso is a big personality and always brings a great deal of optimism to the show. As I’ve written previously, the US version of the show has some subtle differences and the judging is one of them. The US judges although critical will always make positive comments, first and foremost. Although Strictly is an entertainment show, the judges in the UK still draw heavily upon their technical expertise and will be accordingly “picky”. The US approach seems to lean towards an overall summary and “big picture” analysis. They also tend to be more generous with their scores. Alfonso was no exception to this rule and his “generosity” often counterbalanced Craig Revel Horwood’s under marking. I’m also not so sure if the faux psychology that Alfonso espoused to David James was of any use but encouraging him to scream and let out his emotional energy was rather amusing.
Sadly, this was the third dance off for former England goalkeeper David. After a hesitant start on the show with his football-themed Foxtrot, lacklustre Paso Doble and American Smooth, David has highlighted the difficulties of dancing when you’re 6 foot 5 inches. His steps have often been hesitant and more importantly he has struggled to give a convincing performance. Yet last week he genuinely appeared to be enjoying himself with this Quickstep, with the judges’ hailing it a “miraculous” improvement. But Saturday’s Jive proved his undoing and his performance was laboured and awkward. And so he found himself in the dance off with Mike Bushell and the judges elected not to save him. David took his exit from the show well and was suitably complimentary to his partner Nadiya Bychkova. But this is the nature of Strictly, although not a pure dance competition it is a show where contestants are eliminated each week. Although it’s a shame to see a David go, he has upheld the Strictly tradition of being the underdog and has acquitted himself well.
Strictly Come Dancing 2019 Part 3
Well Saturday night’s show was an utter revelation. Many of the celebrity dancers who have been previously at the lower end of the leaderboard and therefore at risk of being in the dance off, decided to significantly up their game. Not only did this make for great entertainment, it also succinctly reiterated one of the fundamental aspects of what makes Strictly Come Dancing so popular; the “journey”. Yes, it is an incredibly cliched phrase but its something that seems to resonate with viewers. If the UK does have any national characteristics, then one of them is an appreciation of dogged determination. We tend to warm towards plucky underdogs who improve through hard work and dedication. And that is what we were treated to on last night’s show.
Well Saturday night’s show was an utter revelation. Many of the celebrity dancers who have been previously at the lower end of the leaderboard and therefore at risk of being in the dance off, decided to significantly up their game. Not only did this make for great entertainment, it also succinctly reiterated one of the fundamental aspects of what makes Strictly Come Dancing so popular; the “journey”. Yes, it is an incredibly cliched phrase but its something that seems to resonate with viewers. If the UK does have any national characteristics, then one of them is an appreciation of dogged determination. We tend to warm towards plucky underdogs who improve through hard work and dedication. And that is what we were treated to on last night’s show.
Chris Ramsey and Karen Hauer’s Elton John themed Jive to Saturday Night's Alright (for Fighting) showed a marked improvement both technically and performance wise. Chris is a very likeable guy and he seems to be committed to getting better each week. My concerns over Mike Bushell being given yet another “comedy” dance proved ill founded. He and Katya Jones danced a very formal Quickstep to Come on Eileen and it highlighted the level of training he’s undertaken this week. The dance wasn’t just a crowd pleaser with the audience but also found favour with the judges, with Oti Mabuse awarding the couple 9 marks out of 10. But the biggest surprise of the evening was surely David James. His Quickstep with professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova was not only well executed but he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself. It’s like he finally found his dancing mojo and just decided to enjoy what he was doing. This major turnaround was duly noted by the judges and reflected in his total score of 28. For me this is what Strictly is all about.
However, on tonight’s results show, we were given a timely reminder that Strictly is not just about dancing and that each celebrity’s survival is dependent upon the capricious nature of the British public. I fully expected to see Will Bayley and Alex Scott in the dance off as they were at the bottom of the leader board. But the public seemed to think otherwise and so instead we saw Dev Griffin and Emma Weymouth having to dance to remain on the show. The judges have been hard on Dev in recent week’s but this is down to the fact that he has great potential and they want him to improve. Emma has been making steady progress and like many others, seemed to “connect” with her dance this week. Hence judges felt that she was making more of a concerted effort. So Emma was saved and Dev was very surprisingly voted off the show. It was a shock to find both of these celebrities in the dance off but once you’re there, the judges have to make a decision based upon what they immediately see and not consider past performances.
I have a suspicion that the current season of Strictly Come Dancing is going to be full of surprises and upsets. Although I enjoy the format, I must admit that the last few years have been somewhat predictable. Usually, within one or two episodes you can effectively draft a list of contestants and determine who’ll be in the top three and the running order in which the rest will leave the show. I think that plan has been effectively thrown under the bus as of tonight and suspect that the remainder of the shows will be all the better for it. Is Kelvin a shoo-in to be this year’s winner or will Karim, Emma Barton or even Saffron climb the leaderboard and steal the prize? All will be revealed over the next ten weeks. Let’s hope that it’s anything other than a comfy ride. Let’s have more upsets and underdogs rising to the challenge, please!
Strictly Come Dancing Versus Dancing with the Stars
As I’ve mentioned before, the one piece of reality TV that I avidly watch is Strictly Come Dancing. I’ve been a regular viewer since 2005. Once you’ve got your head around the format and have fully understood what the show is and is not, it makes for entertaining viewing. Strictly is not a pure dance competition by any shakes. If it were, then the public wouldn’t have any say in who remained on the show and it would all be left to the professional judges. But such a show would have very limited appeal. Hence, we have audience participation and all the theatrics of reality television. Talent and ability can be trumped by popularity and frequently is. Over the last fifteen years, the shows formula has been finely tuned and we now find ourselves with a very controlled format. The broad spectrum of celebrities fulfil the role of various archetypes and the judges all have distinct roles to play. But at its heart the show is still about people learning to dance (or not) and that is a difficult skill to master. For me therein lies the entertainment.
As I’ve mentioned before, the one piece of reality TV that I avidly watch is Strictly Come Dancing. I’ve been a regular viewer since 2005. Once you’ve got your head around the format and have fully understood what the show is and is not, it makes for entertaining viewing. Strictly is not a pure dance competition by any shakes. If it were, then the public wouldn’t have any say in who remained on the show and it would all be left to the professional judges. But such a show would have very limited appeal. Hence, we have audience participation and all the theatrics of reality television. Talent and ability can be trumped by popularity and frequently is. Over the last fifteen years, the shows formula has been finely tuned and we now find ourselves with a very controlled format. The broad spectrum of celebrities fulfil the role of various archetypes and the judges all have distinct roles to play. But at its heart the show is still about people learning to dance (or not) and that is a difficult skill to master. For me therein lies the entertainment.
Now Strictly Come Dancing is a franchise and after finding success in the UK, the format has been exported all over the globe. You’ll find versions of the show being broadcast in over 40 countries. In the US (and in other territories) the somewhat esoteric British title of the show has been replaced with the more self-explanatory Dancing with the Stars. As this is the most accessible both linguistically and logistically, of all the international versions, I decided to watch an episode or two to see how it stacks up with the BBC’s show. So I sat down this morning with Mrs P and caught up with last night’s instalment of Dancing with the Stars, which I just happened to find lying around the internet. I took a few notes while viewing because there were some important subtle differences between this incarnation and the UK equivalent.
In the UK, Strictly has become a major part of British popular culture. This is not just a successful show but a major institution. You know that Autumn has arrived when Strictly mania returns to our screens and the season last right the way up to Christmas. It is the BBCs flagship entertainment show on Saturday night, where it is broadcast live. The results are then recorded the same evening and broadcast on Sunday. A cursory Google search clearly shows that Dancing with the Stars is a very popular show in the US but it doesn’t seem to have quite the same cultish following. Furthermore the US seasons are shorter lasting about 12 weeks. It should also be noted that TV network ABC has two seasons a year. The format is broadly the same with regard to celebrities. Both countries draw upon personalities from the sporting, music and entertainment industries. The US professional dancers naturally have a similar high pedigree as those in the UK, although they don’t seem to be such a focus of the show.
Dancing with the Stars is broadcast on a Monday night in the US. Because it airs on a commercial network, there are liberal quantities of commercial breaks. In fact the entire show appears very time conscious to my British eyes. The videos showing the celebrities training are far more condensed and focused. It would appear that the dances are about 10 or so seconds shorter as well, lasting about 75 to 80 seconds in total. Which then brings me to the judge’s comments. Although Dancing with the Stars features UK judges Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli on their panel of four, they take a slightly different approach to their comments, compared to the UK. Comments tend to be broadly more positive. Yes there are technical criticisms but even celebrities who have just performed atrociously are still given at least one upbeat comment. The scores are more generous as well. Former NBA star Lamar Odom, struggled with his Viennese waltz last night. He managed the to follow the steps but lacked any “performance”. However, the scores ranged as follows. 5, 7, 4, 4. It would seem that fellow permanent judge Carrie Ann Inaba and guest judge Leah Remini boosted the overall score.
The other most significant difference between Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing with the Stars is the voting system. In the US show, the judge’s votes are combined with those of the public to determine the ranking on the leader board. The judges then decide which one of the two lowest scoring contestants gets to remain on the show. Again it’s all done very promptly and efficiently. Whereas in the UK, the voting is a similar combination of the judges’ marks and votes from the public via a phone in and the internet. However, the bottom two contestants then have a “dance off” and then the judges decide accordingly. It’s a more dramatic process and sometimes the “dance off” provides a celebrity with a second chance to dramatically improve. Due to the show being a popularity competition as well, sometimes a very competent dancer with a poor fan base can find themselves dancing to stay on the show.
Having made this comparison between the two different versions of the show, I don’t actually think one is specifically superior to the other. Both formats are designed to serve the needs of each respective audience. In the US, Dancing with the Stars is a popular show but it isn’t the cult hit that it is in the UK. Therefore, the spritely running time and the focus on the dancing, with less attention on the trappings and “the journey”, allows for an efficient Monday evening program. Where Strictly Come Dancing in the UK is a three-ring circus and all the better for it. Not only do you have the sprawling Saturday night show with extra dances by the professional dancers and the tense Sunday evening results, but a daily spinoff show and continuous social media content, providing fans with their fix during the week. It all reflects that this is the BBC’s autumn flagship entertainment show. Ultimately, these different variations show the flexibility of the format and that whatever version you choose to watch, it all works very well.
Strictly Come Dancing 2019: Part 2
There really is an excess of genuine talent in this year’s show. It’s week three and the standard has been raised yet again. Michelle Visage and Giovanni Pernice delivered a smouldering Quickstep to Cabaret, proving once again that it is unwise to write anyone off based purely on age. Furthermore actress Catherine Tyldesley dancing with Johannes Radebe stunned the audience and judges alike with a Rumba to the ballad Shallow from the film A Star is Born. The Rumba is a notoriously difficult dance to perform and to pull off such a feat so early on in the season was quite incredible. And we were also treated to our first Street Dance, with Dev Griffin and Diane Buswell performing an outstanding Aladdin themed routine. Considering that Diane had an accident during the week, it made such an assured performance even more remarkable. And let us not forget Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse’s robust Charleston.
There really is an excess of genuine talent in this year’s show. It’s week three and the standard has been raised yet again. Michelle Visage and Giovanni Pernice delivered a smouldering Quickstep to Cabaret, proving once again that it is unwise to write anyone off based purely on age. Furthermore actress Catherine Tyldesley dancing with Johannes Radebe stunned the audience and judges alike with a Rumba to the ballad Shallow from the film A Star is Born. The Rumba is a notoriously difficult dance to perform and to pull off such a feat so early on in the season was quite incredible. And we were also treated to our first Street Dance, with Dev Griffin and Diane Buswell performing an outstanding Aladdin themed routine. Considering that Diane had an accident during the week, it made such an assured performance even more remarkable. And let us not forget Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse’s robust Charleston.
Mike Bushell once again gave a frenetic and entertaining turn on Saturday’s show. What he lacks in technique is made up for with his commitment to the routine and the spirit of Strictly. It is obvious to all and sundry that he’s really enjoying himself and giving his all. I often find such celebrities of similar ability, somewhat trying but I’m warming to Mike because he just takes everything on board and gives one hundred percent (and you can’t give anything more can you?). I think he can achieve a higher standard if things are kept simple and he focuses on technique. Katya often comes up with rather theatrical routines designed to play to her partners strengths. However, I suspect it would be in Mike’s best interest to have a simple and more traditional routine that gives him some straightforward moves that he can not only learn but master. He can do better.
Which brings me on to David James. His American Smooth to Seal's Kiss from a Rose with professional partner Nadiya Bychkova was a significant improvement over his previous two dances. His progress was also reflected in the judge’s comments, all of which indicated that he is finally finding his feet and moving forward. Now let us be realistic about reality of his Strictly journey. I do not think we will see an miraculous improvement and a surprise seizing of the trophy. But I feel he deserves a few more weeks to up his game. There’s nothing viewers like more than persistence and a contestant finding their dancing mojo. I just hope that another week of being in the dance off doesn’t dampen his spirits. As for Anneka Rice well she thoroughly deserved to be there. Her Charleston with Kevin Clifton lacked any distinct classic moves and often her partner seemed to be simply providing a diversion for her woeful lack of musicality. It was an act of kindness to vote her off and set her free.
Finally, the BBC appears to be struggling with keeping the results of the show secret. At present, after the main competition is broadcast live on Saturday evening, the votes and the dance off are recorded and broadcast 24 hours later. It’s all seems a little unnecessary to me as the show use to have the main competition and results in one evening. The bottom line is that there’s a 24-hour period during which the BBC has to rely upon the goodwill of audience members and production staff to keep the quiet. However, in recent years, several dedicated websites have started posting the results roundabout midnight. It would appear now that some folk are openly sharing the outcome of Saturday’s show on Twitter, while travelling home, thus undermining the pretence of the Sunday show. You can argue until you’re blue in the face as to the moral rectitude of such behaviour but that doesn’t solve the matter. Perhaps it’s time to simply shelve the Sunday show and just extend Saturday’s coverage to include the results.
Strictly Come Dancing 2019: Part 1
There is obviously some sort of psychological comfort in being spoon fed the same content, again and again and again. Because that is what Strictly Come Dancing, the BBC’s flagship Autumn entertainment show, definitely does. And I don’t mean that in a derogatory way, because once again, I am one of the 8 million viewers avidly watching this seasonal ritual. But is must be said, that the show is incredibly formulaic and that the production team are expert at playing upon all the foibles of the format. Hence every September we get a wide spectrum of “celebrities” eager to learn how to dance. All of whom fall neatly into the various categories that have been established over the last 15 years. There are those who display an innate ability right from the start. Then there are the determined improvers. We also have wild cards whose content wildly changes in quality. Another favourite are the rhythmically challenged whose embarrassing failures are deemed “entertaining”. And let us not forget those who are just hopelessly out of their depth and you know are going to fall at the very first hurdle.
There is obviously some sort of psychological comfort in being spoon fed the same content, again and again and again. Because that is what Strictly Come Dancing, the BBC’s flagship Autumn entertainment show, definitely does. And I don’t mean that in a derogatory way, because once again, I am one of the 8 million viewers avidly watching this seasonal ritual. But is must be said, that the show is incredibly formulaic and that the production team are expert at playing upon all the foibles of the format. Hence every September we get a wide spectrum of “celebrities” eager to learn how to dance. All of whom fall neatly into the various categories that have been established over the last 15 years. There are those who display an innate ability right from the start. Then there are the determined improvers. We also have wild cards whose content wildly changes in quality. Another favourite are the rhythmically challenged whose embarrassing failures are deemed “entertaining”. And let us not forget those who are just hopelessly out of their depth and you know are going to fall at the very first hurdle.
Which leads me very neatly onto this evening result show. After two episodes a clear hierarchy has been established and at present, everyone respective position on the leaderboard is justifiable. The top five have all shown a degree of talent and have worked diligently to do so well after just a few weeks. Those at the bottom may well have put in the hours but do not seem to have a comparable amount of talent. And therefore it was absolutely no surprise to find the bottom two celebrity contenders, David James and James Cracknell in the dance off. Furthermore, James was a dead cert to go out and has now done so. Now I admire anyone who has the courage to stand in front of a live TV audience and attempt to do something as deeply personal as dancing. It is a complex skill that is both physically and mentally demanding. It also requires a degree of bravado. So fare play to James for trying his best, especially in light of his recent recovery from a brain injury. But you have to question the wisdom of embarking upon such an enterprise, when you patently cannot clap in time or have any semblance of musicality. James was both physically and emotionally awkward and it was clear from the get-go that dancing in public simply wasn’t for him.
Another interesting facet of this year’s Strictly pantomime is the perceived “rewarding and punishing” of the various celebrity dancers. Kevin Clifton has always been a firm favourite with the core audience for a while but his personal life seems to have prejudice this perception. Since his popular win with celebrity Stacey Dooley last year, the UK tabloids have been filled with salacious gossip about their relationship and the collateral damage it has caused to others. Hence Kevin has been partnered with Anneka Rice, who although is a popular figure with the public, is not likely to progress too far into the competition. Conversely, Anton Du Beke, a pro dancer who has far too often been saddled with the most hopeless partners, has been blessed this year with actress Emma Barton. Emma has already demonstrated a degree of ability and now needs to find her dancing mojo. She’s definitely one to file under “wild card” and I expect her to have a textbook “Strictly journey”.
Finally, the BBC has decided to go all in with Strictly in its annual ratings battle with commercial broadcaster ITV. Apart from the weekly show on Saturday evening there’s Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, an analytical companion show that runs from Monday to Friday. Hosted by Zoe Ball and now Rylan Clark-Neal, this behind the scenes and gossip program has been expanded from 30 minutes to 45 and has also been moved from BBC Two to BBC One. The Beeb have also ramped up the online components of the show. All dances can be revisited on YouTube and there is a Strictly presence on all social media platforms. This is also the second year where some of the celebrity dancers have been drawn from social media personalities and influencers. This is a direct attempt to widen the demographic appeal of the show and reach a younger audience. Last year it was Joe Sugg, this time round it’s Saffron Barker. Both have sizeable online followings. It should be noted that Saffron Barker has shown some talent and is currently one of the bookies favourites. However, things don’t always go to plan with Strictly. There’s always scope for upsets. As the expression goes, watch this space.
This Year’s Plan
I don’t care for new year resolutions. I just like to make credible plans that are achievable. So, after some consideration, I now have a short and manageable list of tasks that I’ll endeavour to complete this year. If I keep things simple and stick to an orderly routine, I see no reason why I can’t get all of these done. First off and perhaps the most important is to maintain a daily writing schedule. Too often the excuses we make to avoid writing are bogus. Sure, there will be occasions such as illness and family or work-related problems, but nine times out of ten, we don’t write because we cannot be bothered to do so. Why should writing get a free pass in this fashion? So, I intend to persevere during periods of lethargy and write come hell or high water. It doesn’t have to be earth shattering content. Three or four paragraphs will suffice. I can’t afford to let the writing slide as I suspect it may prove to be the thin end of the wedge for me and other activities would subsequently follow.
I don’t care for new year resolutions. I just like to make credible plans that are achievable. So, after some consideration, I now have a short and manageable list of tasks that I’ll endeavour to complete this year. If I keep things simple and stick to an orderly routine, I see no reason why I can’t get all of these done. First off and perhaps the most important is to maintain a daily writing schedule. Too often the excuses we make to avoid writing are bogus. Sure, there will be occasions such as illness and family or work-related problems, but nine times out of ten, we don’t write because we cannot be bothered to do so. Why should writing get a free pass in this fashion? So, I intend to persevere during periods of lethargy and write come hell or high water. It doesn’t have to be earth shattering content. Three or four paragraphs will suffice. I can’t afford to let the writing slide as I suspect it may prove to be the thin end of the wedge for me and other activities would subsequently follow.
Podcasting is back on the table and I’m pleased to say that the first show of 2019 has been published today. The editing wasn’t too problematic and I’m more than satisfied about the quality of the discussion that I and my guest had. I think getting this one out of the proverbial gates early has been a real shot in the arm to my motivation. I’m also going to see if I can gatecrash other people’s podcasts this year. Perhaps some of my colleagues would be interested in a reciprocal arrangement of this nature? As for listening to other people’s podcasts, I’ve whittled down my list of current subscriptions and am focusing on those that regularly produce content and maintain high quality output. I’m also going to try and give more feedback to others in the month’s ahead. I think it’s important to let content creators know that you appreciate their work and value their efforts.
I also have some clear plans with regard to my other interests. As mainstream cinema is not exactly enthralling at present and there’s not a ton of movies that I’m anticipating seeing this year at my local multiplex, I intend to start working my way through my “watch list”. Although I have a broad range of knowledge about film, there are still plenty of gaps that need filling. So, I intend to track down some old classic and niche market obscurities over the next fifty-two weeks. Gaming wise, I intend for the present to just stick to both LOTRO and STO as they are proven favourites and they don’t cost me anything. I will finish Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey and then take stock of the situation. There will be no rash impulse purchases this year and if I’m not sure about a title, I’ll research it thoroughly before committing to buying. Books and comics are also going to get more of my time, where as TV may well take a back seat. There are lots of good shows but it’s not as if they’re going anywhere. Only the most essential will get slavishly followed or binge watched.
If I manage my time effectively, I see no reason why I can’t care for my parents, spend time with Mrs Peril, the grandchildren and still be able to accommodate my hobbies. I can podcast once a month and produce a ninety-minute show. If I plan my writing, I can even pre-write movie reviews and schedule them for those occasions when I know I’ll be away or have a busier than usual day. I’m also looking to establish a regular walking regime for exercise and weight loss. It could also provide material for a regular blog post. There’s a fine line between being sensibly busy and over extending yourself. Hopefully, I am leaning towards the former and not the latter. I do find that when I’m busy, I tend not to eat out of habit and maintain a more positive mindset. But perhaps the most important concept to embrace is if my circumstance change, then it’s okay to change my plan. Hopefully that won’t happen, but it does no harm to consider it. Right, that’s enough talking about what I want to do. Let’s now get on with it.
