I’m As Mad As Hell and I am Not Going To Take This Anymore!
If I asked you what movie this famous quote was from you probably wouldn’t know. It’s actually one of the few films that has scooped all five major academy awards, best lead actors, best picture, best director and best screenplay. And when you watch this (I’ll give you a clue) classic that is actually 50 years old this year it will jolt you awake.
I am a fan of Strictly but over the years I have become more and more disillusioned with the format and the behaviour and choices of large TV corporations and networks. Basically the expose of the industry in the acclaimed film Network (1976)
I am one of the 20,000 people who have added their name to the petition against the firing of Sir Tom Jones from the hit show the Voice alongside original judge William from my favourite band the Black Eyed Peas, the main reason I tuned in, Danny Jones and Tom Fletcher who add different energy to the line up and the fabulous Kelly Rowland who joined the panel this year to be replaced by Stacy Solomon who is a house organising expert, Alicia Dixon, Strictly Contestant and former judge on the talent show and well Cheryl who can’t sing. The fourth member of the new line up I can’t even remember, a man I’ve never even heard of.
The show must be tanking or costing too much money to face an overhaul axing on this scale. And it made me think about the brutality of TV bosses and how compliant audiences allow them to get away with doing anything for money and ratings. We just don’t realise how powerful we are together. If only we could just switch off.
Of course you don’t know what’s gone on behind the scenes where large amounts of money and big egos meet for a cup of tea but I think you will never replace a the skill and diversity of a long standing panel like William and Sir Tom Jones on the Voice, it would be like removing Simon Cowell from the X Factor and expecting it to work.
Which brings me on to Strictly, when I think about Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly sitting in their respective sofas, will they be watching the car crash unfold together, or perhaps just screen shotting excepts and what’s apping them to each other.
I wonder what I’d be doing if I was them, seeing Emma Willis take the reins of the iconic global BBC franchise, the biggest show in the UK. There has been no mention of whether she’s leaving the Voice too and then I wonder how can you be employed by two opposing and competing powerhouse networks heading up hit shows on both BBC and ITV.
Was Emma Willis the only person, talent available for the converted TV role everyone wanted.
It made me think about Shirley Ballas joining the judging panel as head judge with no TV experience just a wealth of experience to actually do the job, Tom Jones and what a success that turned out to be. A normal woman who knows what she’s talking about. Who in TV made a common sense decision like that.
The appointment of South African dancer Johannes to the Claudia Winkleman role I think will prove smart. Popular talented, amusing and knowledgeable about the show and the dancing, he’s a great choice for promotion, showing stick around long enough and you might just get a step up, unless you are Spaniard Gorka Marquez, personally one of my favourite and most talented professional dancers axed this year. He announced he was stepping down from the show after a 10 year tenure in April 2026 which sparked questions about whether he jumped or was pushed to leave. Happily married normal family guy really good at his job, a judge on the Spanish Strictly show, in my opinion probably one of the kindest and most talented actual teachers and he didn’t make it.
The Josh Widdecombe appointment I don’t get. I think it would have been much smarter to give the job to ex contestant and impresario, comedian and drag queen La Voix.
I will be watching the first episode and reserving judgement, it may be a triumph who knows. Will original Craig Revel Horwood be the next one to get the boot, Tom Jones style.
The strictly show has suffered a lot of controversy and scandals over the last few years particularly.
I for one am as Mad as Hell and I’m Not Going To Take This Anymore.
They’ve got one shot on Saturday Night and I imagine after that I’ll be switching off and the lights will go down on the glitter ball in our house.
The BBC have really blown it this time.