Strictly Come Dancing

Revision as of 11:42, 25 August 2009

Host

Bruce Forsyth with Tess Daly, Natasha Kaplinsky (stand-in for first half of series 2, also series 1 winner)

BBC3 coverage: Justin Lee Collins (series 1)

Strictly Come Dancing It Takes Two (BBC 2): Claudia Winkleman (series 2 onwards)

Co-hosts

Judges: Craig Revel Horwood, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli (all series), Arlene Phillips (2004-8), Alesha Dixon (2009-), Darcey Bussell (guest, 2009)

Alan Dedicoat (voiceover)

Phillip Jackson ('red button' commentary, series 4)

Broadcast

BBC1, 15 May 2004-

(also simulcast on BBC HD, 2006-)

Synopsis

A bunch of non-dancing celebs attempt to learn a series of dances, perform them on a live Saturday night show, get insulted by a panel of judges, and face a public phone vote to decide who gets booted off each week. And all to raise money for Comic Relief / Children In Need / Telethon '89. Fairly bog-standard reality series mechanics then, but they certainly put on quite a show.

Bruce and Tess make their entrance

Renowned song-and-dance man Bruce Forsyth is our host, though he doesn't get to do much dancing, which seems a bit of a waste. Each celeb has been paired up with a professional dancer, and we get to see clips of them in rehearsal before they take to the floor to perform. After a minute and a half of dancing, their performance is appraised by four judges - the nasty one, the camp one, the old one and the Hot Gossip one - then they go off into the backroom (the transition originally covered by Brucie telling a joke that would invariably fall flat, but nowadays he just does a simple link) to be grilled by Glamorous Lady Co-Presenter and watch as the judges reveal their marks out of ten. Repeat until all the couples have danced.

Kelly Brook and professional dancer Brendan Cole in action

The judges' marks count for 50% of the final score, and the public phone vote for (calculators out, chaps) the other 50%. In theory this should reduce the influence of the sympathy vote and help to keep the better dancers in the competition for longer, though it doesn't entirely work that way.

Matt Dawson and professional dancer Lilia Kopylova receive their scores from the judges

From series five onwards, the bottom two after the phone vote go through to a "dance-off" with the judges deciding who should go. Whether effectively eliminating the chance of a shock result is good for the show is a bone of contention - as is the fact that in 2007-8, the results show was recorded and shown on Sunday night, which might not have been quite so controversial were we not living in an internet age in which the result would inevitably be leaked before broadcast. Even if you avoided the spoilers on Sunday, it still wasn't quite the same "event television" it was when the whole nation found out the result live. In 2009 the BBC saw sense (on this point at least) and incorporated the results back into the Saturday night show.

2008 saw a couple of changes to the telephone voting: lines now open only for a couple of hours after the live show, rather than staying open all week; and the link to Children In Need has been broken since new BBC guidelines introduced after the phone fakery scandals (as covered in Weaver's Weeks passim) no longer allow phone lines to be used to raise money for charity outside of special events.

Spoony watches footage of himself and Ola Jordan on "It Takes Two"

Even though it borrows a lot from other shows, Strictly Come Dancing does manage to come out feeling like something a little bit different for a Saturday night. It's a very visual spectacle, which instantly makes it stand out from all the purely musical entertainments that both BBC and ITV have thrown at us in recent years. There's a huge sense of fun and exuberance too, which even Bruce's strained jokes cannot quell. Credit must also be given to Laurie Holloway (series 1-3) and Dave Arch (thereafter) and their respective bands, who perform all the music live and, even more than the hosts, set the tone for the show. All in all, a surprising triumph for the BBC.

Participants

Series One

Natasha Kaplinsky (presenter) and Brendan Cole (winners)
Christopher Parker (actor) and Hanna Karttunen
Lesley Garrett (singer) and Anton Du Beke
Martin Offiah (rugby player) and Erin Boag
Claire Sweeney (actress and presenter) and John Byrnes
Verona Joseph (actress) and Paul Killick
David Dickinson (antiques expert) and Camilla Dallerup
Jason Wood (comedian) and Kylie Jones

Series Two

Jill Halfpenny (actress) and Darren Bennett (winners)
Denise Lewis (athlete) and Ian Waite
Julian Clary (comedian) and Erin Boag
Aled Jones (singer and presenter) and Lilia Kopylova
Roger Black (athlete) and Camilla Dallerup
Sarah Manners (actress) and Brendan Cole
Diarmuid Gavin (garden designer) and Nicole Cutler
Esther Rantzen (presenter) and Anton Du Beke
Carol Vorderman (presenter) and Paul Killick
Quentin Willson (motoring journalist/presenter) and Hazel Newberry

Series Three

Darren Gough (cricketer) and Lilia Kopylova (winners)
Colin Jackson (former athlete) and Erin Boag
Zoe Ball (presenter) and Ian Waite
James Martin (TV chef) and Camilla Dallerup
Patsy Palmer (actress) and Anton Du Beke
Bill Turnbull (TV journalist) and Karen Hardy
Dennis Taylor (snooker player/commentator) and Izabella Hannah
Will Thorp (actor) and Hanna Haarala
Gloria Hunniford (presenter) and Darren Bennett
Fiona Phillips (presenter) and Brendan Cole
Jaye Jacobs (actress) and Andrew Cuerden
Siobhan Hayes (actress) and Matthew Cutler

Series Four

Mark Ramprakash (cricketer) and Karen Hardy (winners)
Emma Bunton (singer) and Darren Bennett
Georgina Bouzova (actress) and James Jordan
Matt Dawson (rugby player) and Lilia Kopylova
Ray Fearon (actor) and Camilla Dallerup
Claire King (actress) and Brendan Cole
Louisa Lytton (actress) and Vincent Simone
Nicholas Owen (newsreader) and Nicole Cutler
Mica Paris (singer) and Ian Waite
Jan Ravens (impressionist) and Anton Du Beke
Peter Schmeichel (footballer) and Erin Boag
Carol Smillie (television presenter) and Matthew Cutler
Spoony (disk jockey) and Ola Jordan
Jimmy Tarbuck (entertainer) and Flavia Cacace

Series Five

Alesha Dixon (ex-Mis-Teeq singer) and Matthew Cutler (winners)
John Barnes (ex-footballer) and Nicole Cutler
Stephanie Beacham (actress) and Vincent Simone
Kelly Brook (model, actress and TV presenter) and Brendan Cole
Brian Capron (ex-Coronation Street actor) and Karen Hardy
Letitia Dean (actress) and Darren Bennett
Matt Di'Angelo (EastEnders actor) and Flavia Cacace
Kate Garraway (TV presenter) and Anton Du Beke
Gethin Jones (Blue Peter presenter) and Camilla Dallerup
Penny Lancaster-Stewart (model and photographer) and Ian Waite
Dominic Littlewood (TV presenter) and Lilia Kopylova
Gabby Logan (TV presenter) and James Jordan
Kenny Logan (ex-rugby international) and Ola Jordan
Willie Thorne (ex-snooker player) and Erin Boag

Series Six

Tom Chambers (actor) and Camilla Dallerup (winners)
Christine Bleakley (presenter) and Matthew Cutler
Andrew Castle (presenter) and Ola Jordan
Phil Daniels (actor) and Flavia Cacace
Mark Foster (olympic swimmer) and Hayley Holt
Jodie Kidd (model) and Ian Waite
Cherie Lunghi (actress) and James Jordan
Austin Healey (ex-rugby player) and Erin Boag
Gary Rhodes (chef) and Karen Hardy
John Sergeant (journalist) and Kristina Rihanoff
Heather Small (singer) and Brian Fortuna
Lisa Snowdon (model and presenter) and Brendan Cole
Rachel Stevens (singer) and Vincent Simone
Gillian Taylforth (actress) and Anton Du Beke
Jessie Wallace (actress) and Darren Bennett
Don Warrington (actor) and Lilia Kopylova

Series Seven

Ali Bastian (actress) and Brian Fortuna
Lynda Bellingham (actress) and Darren Bennett
Natalie Cassidy (actress) and Vincent Simone
Martina Hingis (tennis player) and Matthew Cutler
Jade Johnson (long jumper) and Ian Waite
Zoe Lucker (actress) and James Jordan
Laila Rouass (actress) and Anton Du Beke
Jo Wood (model and businesswoman) and Brendan Cole
Joe Calzaghe (boxer) and Kristina Rihanoff
Richard Dunwoody (jockey) and Lilia Kopylova
Ricky Groves (actor) and Erin Boag
Chris Hollins (presenter) and Ola Jordan
Craig Kelly (actor) and Flavia Cacace
Phil Tufnell (cricketer) and Katya Virshilas
Ricky Whittle (actor) and Natalie Lowe
Rav Wilding (presenter) and Aliona Vilani

Specials

Champion of Champions 2004: Natasha Kaplinsky, Lesley Garrett, Martin Offiah, Jill Halfpenny, Denise Lewis and Aled Jones were reunited with their previous partners for this live special broadcast on 22 December 2004. The usual judges presided. Winners were Jill Halfpenny and Darren Bennett.

Strictly Ice Dancing: A one-off ice-dance version broadcast on 26 December 2004. Laurie Holloway's band was not present, and since the show was recorded, the studio audience rather than the public got to vote for 50% of the score. The judges were Craig Revel Horwood, Doreen Hoppe, Chris Howarth and Nicky Slater. The couples were:

Rowland Rivron (TV presenter) and Charlotte Clements
Carol Smilie (TV presenter) and Oula Jaaskelainen
Marcus Patric (actor) and Leigh Mack
Scarlett Johnson (actress) and Daniel Whiston
Jessica Taylor (singer) and Robert Burgerman
David Seaman (former footballer) and Zoia Birmingham

The winner was David Seaman, who had been brought in as a late replacement for the injured Paul Gascoigne.

Strictly African Dancing

Yes, they do dress like that at home.

Another one-off, this one for the Africa Lives on the BBC season. Hosted by Martin Offiah and Natasha Kaplinsky, six celebrities "of African or Caribbean origin" each learnt an African dance and then went through the usual performance-and-voting procedure. The celebs were:

Robbie Earle (ex-footballer) - winner
Tessa Sanderson (athlete)
Tupele Dorgu (Coronation Street actress)
Antonia Okonma (Bad Girls actress)
Tunde Baiyewu (singer with The Lighthouse Family)
Louis Emerick (actor)

The judges were Stacey Haynes, Peter Badejo, Todd Twala and Craig Revel-Horwood. Hugh Quarshie replaced Alan Dedicoat on voiceover duties.

Champion of Champions 2005: A recorded show, aired on Christmas Eve 2005, which featured the last four from 2005 series, together with two celebrities from the US version, Dancing With the Stars. The partnerships were:

Rachel Hunter (supermodel) and Darren Cole
Evander Holyfield (boxer) and Karen Hardy
Zoe Ball and Ian Waite
Darren Gough and Lilia Kopylova - winners
Colin Jackson and Erin Boag
James Martin and Camilla Dallerup

Christmas Special 2006: Another recorded show, aired on Christmas Day 2006 (and quite right too), featuring the final four celebs from the 2006 series plus the second and third-placed finalists from the 2005 series. Winners were named "Strictly Christmas Champions".

Mark Ramprakash and Karen Hardy
Matt Dawson and Lilia Kopylova
Emma Bunton and Darren Bennett
Louisa Lytton and Vincent Simone
Colin Jackson and Erin Boag - winners
Zoe Ball and Ian Waite

Christmas Special 2007: Featuring the top four from the 2007 series plus the 2005 and 2006 champions.

Letitia Dean and Darren Bennett
Matt Di Angelo and Flavia Cacace
Alesha Dixon and Matthew Cutler
Darren Gough and Lilia Kopylova - winners
Gethin Jones and Camilla Dallerup
Mark Ramprakash and Karen Hardy

Sport Relief Does Strictly Come Dancing 2008: A one-off in which new celebs were paired up not with professional dancers, but with sports stars who were previous Strictly contestants. Only three judges appeared as Bruno Tonioli was not available.

Gemma Bissix and Darren Gough
David Ginola and Denise Lewis
Jade Johnson and Roger Black
Elaine Paige and Matt Dawson
Kara Tointon and Mark Ramprakash - winners

Children in Need 2008: Another charity edition, this time with Fearne Cotton hosting. Although this one was done live, there was no telephone voting, and the winner was decided by the studio audience.

Tess Daly and Anton Du Beke - winners
Terry Wogan and Flavia Cacace

Christmas special 2008: To feature the last three from the 2008 series, plus three stars from previous series. Kelly Brook had a change of partner as Brendan Cole qualified with Lisa Snowdon:

Tom Chambers and Camilla Dallerup
Lisa Snowdon and Brendan Cole
Rachel Stevens and Vincent Simone
Jill Halfpenny and Darren Bennett
Kelly Brook and Brian Fortuna
Alesha Dixon and Matthew Cutler

Inventor

Format by BBC FED Team, based on Come Dancing devised by Eric Morley. From series five, his widow Julia Morley is also credited.

Trivia

The worst ever judges' score was 8 (out of 40), achieved by Quentin Willson and Hazel Newberry for the cha cha cha on their one and only competitive appearance. A perfect 40 was first achieved by Jill Halfpenny and Darren Bennett for the jive in the series 2 final. Lisa Snowdon and Brendan Cole have the unique distinction of scoring a perfect 40 twice on the same night, in the 2008 final - though after the viewers' votes were added, they still only came third!

Judge Bruno Tonioli was once a backing dancer and choreographer for Bananarama, as well as Wham!, Elton John (he's in the I'm Still Standing video) and Paul McCartney, among many others. He also appeared on A Song for Europe in 1980 as part of the group Duke and the Aces. They came seventh.

The "Strictly" bit in the title is a reference to the 1992 film Strictly Ballroom.

The Strictly Come Dancing format has been widely exported under the title Dancing With The Stars, and the US and Australian versions have both topped their countries' TV ratings charts. Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli appeared as judges on the US version, for which Alan Dedicoat also did the voiceover (though since all the announcements are pre-recorded, he never even got to leave London). Local versions of the show appeared in the annual top ten TV ratings in 17 countries in 2006, more than any other format.

The series is planned so that three couples will compete in the final. However in 2006 and 2007 the final featured only two couples, due to contestants dropping out: Jimmy Tarbuck for medical reasons and Kelly Brook due to a death in the family. The same would have happened in 2008 after John Sergeant withdrew from the competition, but they got around it by having no elimination in the week before the final and all votes cast that week "roll over" to the final. This was caused by the judges scores being tied for the top two couples on the penultimate week, meaning that there was no way for the viewers to get the couple in last place out of the dance-off. Why they didn't split the tie by giving the 3 points to the couple with the higher individual dance mark, we don't know. That would've been too logical, wouldn't it?

Catchphrases

One of Bruce's regular catchphrases was amended to "nice to twirl you..." in series 1 and 2. He's now reverted to the usual "nice to see you...".

"Let's meet the stars of our show."

"You're my favourites." - From series 4, often said by Bruce after a couple - any couple - had recieved a mauling from the judges.

Bruce: "On behalf of Tess and everyone - and I do mean everyone..."
Bruce & Tess: "Keeeeeep dancin'!"

Merchandise

Strictly Come Dancing (CD)

It's Strictly Dancing with Natasha & Brendan (VHS) | (all-region DVD)

Strictly Come Dancing - hardback book (2005) and revised 2006 edition

Sadly the Anton Du Beke mug and flask are no longer available.

Pictures

The assembled cast of series one.

Judges with a high opinion... of themselves.
(left to right): Bruno Tonioli, Arlene Phillips, Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood.
On the actual show, Craig sits on the left, Bruno on the right.

Web links

Official BBC site

Strictly Dancing Online - excellent fan site

Ian & Victoria's Come Dancing Page - another good fan site

Wikipedia entry

Bother's Bar Review

Homepages for dancers featured on the show:
Anton Du Beke & Erin Boag
Camilla Dallerup
Darren Bennett & Lilia Kopylova
Hazel Newberry (site requires Flash)
Nicole Cutler

Feedback

@@ Line 144: / Line 144: @@
 *'''Natalie Cassidy''' (actress) and Vincent Simone
 *'''Martina Hingis''' (tennis player) and Matthew Cutler
-*'''Jade Johnson''' (triple jumper) and Ian Waite
+*'''Jade Johnson''' (long jumper) and Ian Waite
 *'''Zoe Lucker''' (actress) and James Jordan
 *'''Laila Rouass''' (actress) and Anton Du Beke