Strictly Come Dancing has given us a shot of normality after a making an attempt 12 months (Image: BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing has at all times marked a particular time of 12 months for me.
As a TV journalist, watching TV is form of my factor, however nothing hits fairly just like the autumn schedule that justifies me being on the couch each night.
Bake Off is the beginning of all of it, however Strictly is the one which brings it dwelling.
I’m not going to misinform you – till Saturday evening I’ve been doing fairly OK with coronavirus lockdown. After a few weeks adjusting to working from dwelling, I’ve simply been form of… getting on with issues.
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I’ve not shed any tears out of frustration of what’s happening, I’ve been getting an appropriate quantity of irritated on the authorities’s complicated and ever-changing plans on sort out the rattling factor, after which I’ve simply been protecting calm and carrying on as finest I can.
However Strictly – the great, tacky happiness that’s Strictly – totally had me breaking down, as a result of I lastly realised what I’ve been lacking – some normality.
It’s no secret that the crew have gone to excessive lengths to make it possible for the crew can keeeeeep dancing this 12 months, with computerized eliminations, socially distanced performances and pre-taped group routines earlier than placing all contestants in bubbles to allow them to dance collectively.
From the primary professional routine to the primary group dance, it was every little thing I wished it to be (Image: BBC)
It’s paid off although, and Saturday evening’s launch present reintroduced us to the brand new Strictly world, and it’s simply as I’d remembered it.
On high of that, they appear to have a gaggle of celebs who’re a) really fairly good, and b) breaking boundaries, with Nicola Adams and Katya Jones’ same-sex pairing proving to anybody that it wanted proving to that the world doesn’t finish when folks with the identical genitals carry out a cha-cha-cha collectively.
And I wanted it. I actually, actually wanted it.
No-one must inform you, reader, how a lot of a horror present 2020 has been – it speaks for itself, and I genuinely hope that you just’re doing as finest as you may, given the circumstances.
The primary same-sex feminine couple goes to be one to observe (Image: BBC)
In TV land, an prolonged manufacturing lockdown meant for few months we have been subjected to repeats and supercut spotlight reels to fill within the gaps of reveals that have been instantly dropped.
However Strictly has managed to implement the mandatory modifications and make it work for them, with a shocking socially distanced professional routine opening the present via to its ultimate moments with the gang, all collectively, for the primary time with their companions.
And it was nonetheless sparkly, enjoyable, and joyous. Maybe much more so this 12 months, at a time the place we are able to’t appear to get pleasure from something and not using a ‘yeah however…’ rearing its ugly head to knock us again down a peg or two.
I wasn’t fairly ready to be so overwhelmed by it, and needed to snicker at myself curled up on a settee having a weep whereas Caroline Quentin and Johannes Radebe paired up in the midst of the Globe theatre, dressed like they have been prepared to resolve crimes in a Poirot novel.
And who knew that Invoice Bailey referring to himself as a ‘Area Commander powered by dance’ would hit so laborious?!
There have been a number of moments that acquired me, from seeing the enjoyment of every celeb as their professional was revealed, to Craig Revel-Horwood’s normal scowl cracking as he returned to his new (socially distant) judging publish.
The primary return present alone overwhelmed me in a means I didn’t see coming (Image: BBC)
All of the sudden I used to be texting my mates like regular about what we thought of every contestant, who we thought would go first, and who was within the operating to win.
And for a break up second I forgot what world we’re dwelling in proper now, and simply loved one thing for what it was.
Strictly’s return won’t be to everybody’s tastes, however to me it was a style of normality and gave me a cause to crack my ‘All the things’s OK’ facade only for a second.
Extra: Coronavirus
It was the last word time-out telly – and now I’ve to hope that they may stick with it and that Covid doesn’t break this for me too.
However within the meantime, I’ll be glad to be there alongside for the trip for the subsequent 9 weeks.
Welcome again Strictly – I’ve actually, actually missed you and I’m glad to have you ever again.
Strictly Come Dancing continues Saturdays on BBC One.
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