"Strictly."

This show is always the most popular one on British TV each year and runs for three months.

One of the contestants was Joe Suggs, a serial YouTube uploader with many millions of followers.

He was partnered with Australian professional ballroom dancer Dianne Buswell.
As well as his other regular uploads, he started a video diary recording their progress each week. showing himself and Dianne watching the clips he made of his training during the previous week and commenting on and criticising his mistakes, concluding with the inclusion of their actual performance on the Saturday show. When he started making them he had no idea how far they would progress, but they made it to the final.

For "people watchers" it's noticable the development of their personal relationship during the many videos. The media picked up on it but they always denied any involvement... That was until after the series concluded, when "they came out."

The videos were always uploaded on Tuesdays and get over half a million hits each time. The final one is expected tonight.

I'm a sucker for a happy ending. I hope it lasts.

Here's the first video he made early in the series, on 4th of October, he mostly records them in his home, the others follow on if you let them run. I'd no idea of their existence until someone mentioned it to me on Sunday. I found them very entertaining.

 

Hope it works for them .

 

A reminder of why I got rid of my television!

 

You can blame all the hype on who I called "The Rainbow "Warrior" That's Louise Rainbow the outgoing executive producer, who started throwing the kitchen at it, from the first year she had the job.It's got to ridiculous proportions. For me it went from a, "must watch programme," to a "must record and watch bits of it later programme," during the length of her tenure.

I just watch the dances. I fast forward through all the judges' comments.
There's only one who really knows ballroom and that's Shirley Ballas and Len Goodman before her.

In the early series, when Craig Revell Horwood appeared in "It Takes Two," his comments on the techniques of contestants were written by somone else who was a ballroom dancing judge.
Craig still knows naff all about ballroom footwork.

Hopefully the incoming producer, might bring a bit of sanity. but I won't hold my breath.
They're progressively trying to attract a younger audience. That why there's so little "proper" ballroom music. It's all about beating the X-Factor in the ratings war.

 

See, me and Aunt Sally really like ‘strictly’. I think the transformation from novice (in most cases) to accomplished dancer is great, quite inspirational really. Let’s not overlook, these folks are dancing to a very high standard in a very short space of time. Would I be interested if it was just a bunch of pros dancing? Not at all.

 

But there has to be a balance.

There were two complete novices in the final, who became very good. The producers in August couldn't have predicted that they would.
The general standard has risen year on year, but they have to include people with dance training, to make it into a watchable show. I like the pros dances, it's part of the entertainment.

I read that Chris Evans has been signed for next year. More ratings chasing.
I find that depressing news.
I can't really see him putting in the effort. But the BBC will be paying him a fortune, far more than any other contestant who are likely to put in more work. But they will deny it.

 

Now Victor is going back quite a few years , when was he last seen on TV ? I bet half the GC members haven't a clue who he is . I know he was a big band leader , did he dance as well ?

 

To be honest, I’m not the slightest bit interested in the commercial aspects. I only judge by what is in front of me. Is it entertaining? Yes, for me/us, it is.

 

I can remember Victor's TV show, as a kid when I lived at home with my parents.
He always started his show saying, "This is Victor Sylvester and tonight is my guest night"

I remember, if it was on when my younger sister and I were in the room, we'd say it along with him.
But we would change the second half of the sentence to, "and tonight is my bath night."
He did seem to be a bit patronising towards the viewers.

 

Not really a fan of Strictly......prefer the more peaceful sport of boxing