Strictly Come Dancing 2019: Part 2
There really is an excess of genuine talent in this year’s show. It’s week three and the standard has been raised yet again. Michelle Visage and Giovanni Pernice delivered a smouldering Quickstep to Cabaret, proving once again that it is unwise to write anyone off based purely on age. Furthermore actress Catherine Tyldesley dancing with Johannes Radebe stunned the audience and judges alike with a Rumba to the ballad Shallow from the film A Star is Born. The Rumba is a notoriously difficult dance to perform and to pull off such a feat so early on in the season was quite incredible. And we were also treated to our first Street Dance, with Dev Griffin and Diane Buswell performing an outstanding Aladdin themed routine. Considering that Diane had an accident during the week, it made such an assured performance even more remarkable. And let us not forget Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse’s robust Charleston.
Mike Bushell once again gave a frenetic and entertaining turn on Saturday’s show. What he lacks in technique is made up for with his commitment to the routine and the spirit of Strictly. It is obvious to all and sundry that he’s really enjoying himself and giving his all. I often find such celebrities of similar ability, somewhat trying but I’m warming to Mike because he just takes everything on board and gives one hundred percent (and you can’t give anything more can you?). I think he can achieve a higher standard if things are kept simple and he focuses on technique. Katya often comes up with rather theatrical routines designed to play to her partners strengths. However, I suspect it would be in Mike’s best interest to have a simple and more traditional routine that gives him some straightforward moves that he can not only learn but master. He can do better.
Which brings me on to David James. His American Smooth to Seal's Kiss from a Rose with professional partner Nadiya Bychkova was a significant improvement over his previous two dances. His progress was also reflected in the judge’s comments, all of which indicated that he is finally finding his feet and moving forward. Now let us be realistic about reality of his Strictly journey. I do not think we will see an miraculous improvement and a surprise seizing of the trophy. But I feel he deserves a few more weeks to up his game. There’s nothing viewers like more than persistence and a contestant finding their dancing mojo. I just hope that another week of being in the dance off doesn’t dampen his spirits. As for Anneka Rice well she thoroughly deserved to be there. Her Charleston with Kevin Clifton lacked any distinct classic moves and often her partner seemed to be simply providing a diversion for her woeful lack of musicality. It was an act of kindness to vote her off and set her free.
Finally, the BBC appears to be struggling with keeping the results of the show secret. At present, after the main competition is broadcast live on Saturday evening, the votes and the dance off are recorded and broadcast 24 hours later. It’s all seems a little unnecessary to me as the show use to have the main competition and results in one evening. The bottom line is that there’s a 24-hour period during which the BBC has to rely upon the goodwill of audience members and production staff to keep the quiet. However, in recent years, several dedicated websites have started posting the results roundabout midnight. It would appear now that some folk are openly sharing the outcome of Saturday’s show on Twitter, while travelling home, thus undermining the pretence of the Sunday show. You can argue until you’re blue in the face as to the moral rectitude of such behaviour but that doesn’t solve the matter. Perhaps it’s time to simply shelve the Sunday show and just extend Saturday’s coverage to include the results.
