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What an extraordinary end to the series. The Strictly final aired just hours after Boris Johnson made his latest screeching u-turn, announcing that millions of people would have to cancel their festive plans and spend Christmas separated from loved ones. Could our dance show, which has been an escapist haven during a grim, dark winter, […]
Well, that was a jolly Musicals Week. Although very strange to think it’s already the quarter-finals, when it feels like we’ve only just begun the series. Product of both a shorter Strictly, and time losing all meaning in 2020. I’m both relieved we’re nearly at the end of this year and sad that our sparkly […]
A rather mediocre performance week, with some improvement in scoring, and alas still some glaring biases. However, poor Clara Amfo really doomed herself with an error-strewn jive that was actually marked quite kindly, yet cemented her place in the dance-off. Though I still think she got a raw deal overall this series, we never really […]
Well. This was not one of Strictly’s better outings. Our Staycation Blackpool Week sadly took all the worst elements of that usual jaunt – judging hysteria, inconsistent scores – without actually giving us the pleasure of performances at the Tower Ballroom. Add in some unfortunate sexism and another trying week of Judge Anton, and this […]
This was quite the Bizarro Strictly, with a sadly absent Nicola and Katya, Motsi joining Bruno in Zoom purgatory, and Anton du Beke finally wearing the producers down and getting his shot at judging – the equivalent of a small child pleading for ice cream repeatedly during a six-hour drive. Yes, fine, don’t spill it […]
Nicola Adams and Katya Jones are to leave Strictly Come Dancing after Katya tested positive for COVID-19. Katya is asymptomatic and the pair are now self-isolating separately following the latest government guidelines. As part of the protocols outlined ahead of the series, this sadly means they will no longer be able to take part in […]
You know what I didn’t need during a week where I’ve barely slept, my body now programmed to wake up at 3am, lunge for my phone and frantically check the Pennsylvania count? The absolute, unadulterated nightmare fuel that was Strictly Movie Week. Truly there is no punishment great enough for whoever dreamed up that Simpsons […]
Marianka Swain reviews the first week of Strictly 2020. Photographs by Guy Levy, courtesy of the BBC This first proper competitive show gave us a chance to assess the “new normal” on Strictly – and, for the most part, it worked absolutely fine. Yes, the performances felt a little muted without a raucous studio audience, […]
Marianka Swain introduces the Class of 2020. Photographs by Guy Levy, courtesy of the BBC I must begin on an earnest note: what a minor miracle it is to have this sliver of sequinned normality back on our screens. Thank you, thank you to everyone on Team Strictly whose tireless work allowed us to forget […]
For once, Blackpool Week just about lived up to the hype, with some fun, exciting and truly outstanding performances. However, as so often in this changeable series, erratic scoring led to another shock elimination. Michelle and Giovanni, one of this year’s most consistent and creative couples, and likely finalists, lost out in the dance-off, as […]
In the last week, Strictly Come Dancing has welcomed not one but two new dancers for series 17 of the BBC show. Motsi Mabuse, the sister of professional dancer Oti Mabuse, will replace Darcey Bussell on the judging panel. Originally from South Africa, Motsi is a former South African champion and German Latin champion and […]
Darcey Bussell shocked Strictly Come Dancing fans with the announcement she is to step down from her role as a judge on the BBC One show. Previously appearing as a guest judge on the programme, Bussell has been a permanent member of the Strictly judging panel since 2012, seeing the show through seven series. In […]