This time last year, I was sharing my thoughts for On The Box after Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced that they were leaving Strictly Come Dancing. I said that it would be impossible to find a presenting duo who everyone would be satisfied with. So what did the BBC do to keep us viewers on our toes? They’ve given us a presenting trio.
I only watched the launch show last night, in which the celebs find out who their professional dance partner will be (editor Mark imposed a strict Strictly deadline), but there’s already so much to digest. It’s always a challenge to work out who all the “celebs” are exactly, but among the reality TV stars and celebrity hairdressers are more recognisable faces such as singer Delta Goodrem and Gwen from Gavin and Stacey.
Rotation was the theme of the opening show – naturally, plenty of hips were rotating (some more smoothly than others), but the celebs were also rotated between five professional dancers, as they discovered which pro would be their partner. Head judge Shirley Ballas described the “pairing dance” as full of “chaos and personality” and it was a welcome, memorable variation on how to introduce the new couples. Dividing the 15 contestants up into three groups of five, the celebs got to know five of the pros before the couples were revealed in the pairing dance, which was an intriguing blend of dance and speed dating.
Emma Willis seems to be the most comfortable presenter by a mile. She’s the poster girl for a “safe pair of hands” when it comes to hosting this kind of family-friendly entertainment show, whereas Josh Widdicombe, a comedian and co-host of Channel 4’s The Last Leg, seems more at ease in conversational segments. Former professional dancer Johannes Radebe looks to be the most nervous, but it is likely that he will come into his own as the series progresses. He’s the person who can empathise the most through his experience of partnering celebs for the past seven years and he is such a charismatic performer that his popularity is like to pull him through any initial awkwardness.
It’s ironic that viewers are more used to the judges changing every few years or so, because for this series they are the strong and stable presence in the ballroom. They are witnessing changes all around them – and judges Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke remain as the only two people from the main cast who have been with the show since the beginning. Five new professional dancers have joined after a brutal pro culling over the summer, but only two of the newbies have been given partners so it will take time to get to know them all.
As a Strictly enthusiast, who has been a regular viewer since Alesha Dixon won the Glitterball in 2007, I haven’t been too worried about the new presenting trio and how they would handle one of the biggest jobs in entertainment TV. Josh is the presenter who has received the most criticism, but it seems that viewers (and critics) unfamiliar with his presenting style have perceived his usual demeanour as being particularly nervous. He’s never going to be as slick as Emma or as admired as Johannes, but as long as he doesn’t lose confidence, he’ll bring the much-needed humour to proceedings. Bruce Forsyth’s comedy was very different to Claudia’s and Josh offers a different direction again, but I have faith it can work.
Strictly has a lot of supporters like me who are willing it to work. Much of the most vocal criticism comes from people who don’t watch it, so it’s the viewing figures that will give a better indication of how the audience feels. My prediction is, even without Tess’s polish and stability and Claudia’s comedy magic, the show won’t be cancelled any time soon.
Catherine Usher is a journalist, theatre critic and Strictly super-fan
