When two strictly stars are arrested amidst rape allegations, one in August and then a second in October it does detract from the enjoyment of the show, especially as the names of the people arrested cannot be released for “legal reasons” Until someone is charged of a criminal offence the damage to their reputation would be immeasurable should this be released to the public prematurely.
The story has been picked up by every news and media outlet and the fervour and frenzy around this story is proving difficult to keep a lid on for the BBC with suggestions in the Daily Mail today that developing an “I can do anything culture” for TV celebrities and covering things up when the behaviour gets out of control eventually is going to blow up. And could bring down the whole of the BBC. On the one hand I think, What a travesty that would be and then on the other if the concept of the globally recognised “best in the world” media and entertainment outlet is completely fake and what we are all buying into is a load of rubbish where terrible behaviour is ignored and covered up because “that’s show biz” or “the show must go on” maybe it’s time the cards are on the table and the license payers can decide if they are supporting the corporation or not.
After you’ve pitched the BBC, your original concept is rejected and then you see it turn up on air, 6 months later with a different title you know the BBC aren’t as squeaky clean as they maybe make out, but the world of celebrity is a cut throat business, we all remember Kim Kardashian, former assistant and stylist to Paris Hilton, going their separate ways around February 2009 London Fashion week, when Paris likened Kim’s bottom to cottage cheese in a trash bag and Kim K’s Google searches started to overtake established celebrity Paris Hilton’s popularity numbers. They have since reconciled in 2020 doing a Skims photo shoot together.
When Claudia Winkleman and co host Tess Daly announced they were collectively stepping down from the top Saturday night show at the end of this years season 2025 alarm bells rang for me. Why???
I just didn’t buy the “looking forward to a lie in on a Saturday morning” line, sure Claudia Winkleman’s has got the hit show traitors but Tess didn’t even have another job lined up and honestly who would give up a pay deal rumoured to be around £400K a year for a three month a year gig when all the extras are added into the £150K presenting deal.
It’s just all a bit too much, teeth, **** and not so much truth and I am a big fan of the show particularly the routines and choreography.
Over the years the lines have been blurred between celebrity dancing and non dancing contestants. I guess if everyone is rubbish producers don’t have a show, but Leyton Williams partnered with Nikita Kushan two years ago was just a bit two good and then Lewis Cope this year is looking better than his celebrity partner Katya Jones, one of the most talented dancers in the professional line up, the show loses it’s competition fairness, made worse when the professionals are over compensating in the VT about how hard the celebrities have to work, and how much they are struggling to get routines correct.
They must think we were all born yesterday.
There have been a few season highlights for me for sure, the Diversity number last week was out of this world, Ashley Banjo and friends in a tribute to Moulin Rouge was magnificent. Balvinder and Jules in their couples choice, pure joy and even though Lewis Cope is a ringer no one could question the spectacular spectacular Halloween routine choreographed to Radioheads “Creep” performed with his pro dance partner Katya Jones.
If it’s going to be the last Strictly I’ve got my money on England footballer Kaz Carnie lifting the glitter ball with her pro partner Carlos Gu. If she manages it, she’ll be the first professional footballer in the shows 21 year history to win the title.
She opened her bid for the title with a whopping 31 on her score sheet, a magic Jive to Blondie’s One Way Or Another then she seemed to fade until Halloween week and her interpretation of the Peaky Blinders theme tune and her tribute to Birmingham with an Argentine tango convinced us all she was a real contender. And then O Fortuna by Carmina Burana is the chosen music for Carnie and Gu’s Pasa Doble in Blackpool Tower Ballroom, Shirley Ballas chimes in: “I've never seen a paso doble like that.” And “This was an absolute tour de force,” concluded Anton du Beke.
I was glued to my seat, I had chill bumps, I knew I wanted to write about it. I just couldn’t pick up my camera during. I wasn’t prepared to miss a moment of the 90 second performance. And then it missed the mark by one scoring 39.
The only sad part for me is once again Lewis and Katya topped the leader board with their very polished opening Charleston that pulled out Craig Revel Horwood’s 10 panel and secured them a perfect 40.
Once again the BBC had it all the wrong way around. La Voix out with injury, following Dani Dyer and soap star Stefan Dennis earlier in the season, it seems what could turn out to be what once was the hottest ticket in town is the hot potato no one wants to end up holding. It’s already been reported that 6 behind the scenes executives on the Strictly team have jumped amidst the scandals surrounding the show but haven’t as yet been named.
| Rant Or Rave | Rave |
| Pros | For dancers and people who love dance great variety show entertainment |
| Cons | Billed as a family show |
Suzy Hutchinson
If you think I am rude you haven’t met my husband. No mincing. no smoking free speech sunbathing and speaking up when I see injustice
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I joined Poopsnoop as a very early snooper. I don’t know my number exactly but I am one of the original members. Founder Shirley I have known for a very long time so when she asked me to help her change the world and start
snooping I said sure, what do you need me to do. The reply was whenever anything happens that really winds you up, write a snoop, share what happened, anything or if you have an amazing experience at the movies or the theatre, share that too, help promote what you think is amazing. Ok I said I’ll do it. In the end Poopsnoop is going to reward the best snoopers, producing the best content driving sales, a brilliant way for a community to change the world, be heard, make people and businesses accountable whilst owning, protecting and monetising all your own experiences, photographs and data. Sounds good to me.
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