Honestly - I've currently got a small back log of things either written or to write about. Let's start with a programme that was on the telly some three weeks ago, but which really got into it's stride this weekend:
Oh goodness, I love “Strictly”. There was a moment in this opening episode when the Pros were all doing their thing, and I just sat on my sofa and wailed “it’s what I want to be doing”. Of course, I’d have to lose at least 4, maybe 5 Stone, gain some dance technique and find an extra day or two in the week. Oh, and if someone could find a way to take care of my mortgage and other bills, that would be helpful. But I digress, Strictly is back, from now to practically Christmas, and if the opener and the celebs this year are anything to go by, it should be a cracker.
Bruce and Tess are back, Bruce newly en-gonged with a long overdue Knighthood, and Tess in the usual god-awful outfit. Seriously, what the heck are the Beeb’s wardrobe department on? Tonight’s attempt was a canary yellow, all in one, floor length trouser suit thing. It managed to be too flow-y at the bottom, and too tight at the top, making the unfortunate Tess’ boobs look like they were being constricted by curious foundation garments and pushed and squeezed in all sorts of weird ways.
In many ways, this episode was something of a con. It was pre-recorded, on I think Wednesday this week, and we won’t get to see the couples dancing for a further three weeks. This was a teaser in many ways, of the treasures to come. And what can we deduce from this early glimpse at the celebs form?
Alex Jones (BBC’s The One Show) appears to have little to no sense of Rhythm. Russell Grant is really, really going for it. Fair play to him. He’s apparently lost ten stone in the last two years, and is doing this to get fit, according to his 24 second interview with Tess up in the crow’s nest. Jason Donovan is working his ass off, and Edwina Currie should not be under-estimated. Lulu has good stage presence (you’d be more surprised if she didn’t), Anita Dobson looks like she’s already having a wail of a time and Robbie Savage looks like he might actually be quite good. Holly Valance appears to have put weight on (but she works in Hollywood?!) All of them are, as ever, claiming to have never done anything like this before. This is plainly nonsense. One of them has had ballet lessons as a kid – a training which, if it was any good, will come in very useful here. Holly Valance has shaken her booty in a number of pop videos, and Jason Donovan – well, what can one say.
I’ve seen Jason Donovan on the West End Stage in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. He played the Dick van Dyke role – which requires you to dance (recall hazy memories of childhood bank holidays, and the deliberately-one-beat-behind-the-others genius that is “The Old Bamboo” - here's the Dick van Dyke version). Until recently (and he might still be, who knows?) he’s been in the tour of The Sound of Music, playing Captain Trapp, a role that requires ballroom dance ability in a pivotal romantic scene. He’s also recently spent a year playing “Tish” in the West End version of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. And from what I have seen of that on various late night charity tele-thons, there’s a good dance element to it. In short, the man is a leading Actor currently plying his trade in West End Musicals, and these days, that requires at the very least, movement in time to the rhythm of the music. He may well not win, as this is one of those shows which is all about a “journey” for the eventual victor, but I’ll personally be very disappointed if he doesn’t go quite some way in the competition (yes, OK, the 14 year old me has a massive crush on him – come on, I went to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – it wasn’t for the intriguing plot, was it?).
The pros tonight were on top form in a number of routines, including a sort of paso based thing with good use of chairs, and an excellent opening routine to “Born this Way” involving excellent use of canes and top hats. I love a good use of a prop, and that was what was going on here. Let’s hope that the pros don’t take this as an excuse to use weird props inappropriately during the competition dances (let’s try to forget that god awful sing thing that Aliona and Matt used last season). The first dance with the celebs at the end was a bit of a mess, but these things always are at this stage – come the final week re-cap they’ll all at least be in time and approaching being in rhythm – for now it was an acceptable glimpse and the three minutes upon which many of my above observations are based.
Roll on the end of the month and the series proper, I can’t wait, especially as, by my reckoning, it will be coming back fully just as Doctor Who is reaching the thrilling conclusion of Season 6.2.
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