Strictly Come Dancing has waltzed back into our lives, and if the measure of success is cracking jokes, Chris McCausland is already dancing away with the trophy. His quip about Dr. Punam Krishan, who was just introduced as a contestant, set the tone for a night filled with levity. “None of us can believe that we’ve managed to get in the same room as a GP,” McCausland deadpanned. Claudia Winkleman couldn’t contain her laughter, while Tess Daly’s reaction was a bit more restrained, her grin tightening as if she hadn’t heard the joke at all. This reaction perfectly encapsulated the vibe of the launch show for the 20th anniversary series—everything was supposed to seem shiny and perfect, even if behind the scenes things were less than smooth.
The show’s return comes amidst some heavy clouds. The BBC is currently investigating a serious bullying scandal, and the sudden departure of fan-favorites Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima has left many wondering about the future of the show. Adding to the drama, only six female celebrities have signed up this year, and chaperones are now a constant presence in every rehearsal room. Yet, you'd hardly know any of this was happening from the show itself, which maintained its glossy façade and cheerful demeanor throughout the episode.
Strictly has always had a flair for theatricality. Take, for instance, the over-the-top reactions from the professional dancers when they meet their celebrity partners. The enthusiasm can seem almost unreal, as if finding out they’re paired with someone from EastEnders or a familiar face from the Go Compare adverts is the highlight of their year. The only pro who wasn’t caught up in the frenzy was Gorka Marquez. He was paired with the lesser-known Dr. Punam Krishan and seemed less than convinced about their chances of winning the glitterball trophy.
The launch show had its share of spectacle, perhaps as a way to counteract criticisms that the competition had become too intense. The opening number, set on a bus with a ‘Brucie’ numberplate, looked like it belonged on a CBeebies show rather than the glittering Strictly stage. The launch show, with its lengthy run-time, is often more about getting through the formalities before the real competition kicks off. However, there were some standout moments worth noting. Amy Dowden made a triumphant return as a professional dancer after her battle with cancer and took center stage in one of the group dances. Meanwhile, last year’s champions, Vito and Ellie, performed again, showing that at least one pair from the previous series still gets along and communicates beyond legal representatives.
And then there’s Johannes Radebe, who brightens up the Strictly universe. He’s paired with Montell Douglas, known from Gladiators as "Fire." Douglas gushed about her partner, saying, “I don’t think there’s a person on this earth who doesn’t want to be partnered with Jojo.” It’s hard to argue with that sentiment—Johannes’s infectious energy is undeniably magnetic.
The contestants this year are a mixed bag of personalities. Paul Merson looked a bit uneasy, while Shayne Ward exuded overconfidence, spouting the usual platitudes about being “on a journey” and “feeling blessed.” Ward, a veteran of X Factor, is well-acquainted with the language of talent shows. Toyah Willcox, ever the adventurer, joked about wanting to be the first 66-year-old to abseil into the Strictly studio. And then there’s JB Gill, who’s uniquely qualified to list “pop star and turkey farmer” on his resume.
Every new series of Strictly brings out the same grumbling from viewers who claim to not know half of the contestants. This is partly a generational thing—if you can belt out "It’s A Mystery" by Toyah Willcox, you might not recognize someone like Pete Wicks. But, as always, the magic of the show is in how you end up rooting for people you barely knew a month ago.
So, who’s standing out early on? Sarah Hadland made a strong impression with her performance in the closing group dance. But if this series is about pure entertainment, Chris McCausland could very well be a dark horse. He humorously commented about his partner Dianne Buswell, “She’s absolutely over the moon having me because she really wants November off.” If the fun and humor continue, McCausland and Buswell might be sticking around for quite a while.
Login