Having a Ball behind scenes

STRICTLY: IT

TAKES TWO

BBC2, 6.30pm

THE juggernaut that is Strictly Come Dancing returned on Saturday, so expect people to talk of little else until Christmas.

Celebrities including Kate Silverton, Katie Piper, Faye Tozer, Lee Ryan and Susannah Constantine took to the ballroom, hoping to impress judges Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell and Shirley Ballas.

Fulfilling the viewer’s need to know every cough and spit about the competition, this fanzine show also returns tonight. On every week day, with an hour-long episode on Fridays, it gives the behind-the-scenes lowdown.

Zoe Ball hosts the programme, which promises to be packed with the latest headlines, backstage gossip, expert opinion and exclusive interviews.

This week, bubbly Zoe welcomes dancer Erin Boag, who scrutinises the weekend’s choreography. Ian Waite waves his sparkly wand in Waite’s Warm-up, giving his thoughts on the couples’ training progress.

Costume designer Vicky Gill gives a preview of the weekend’s outfits. And former Strictly star Gethin Jones (third in 2007) catches up with the couples during rehearsals.

So if you want to see celebrities wheezing after training, shovelling bananas down or being spray-tanned and fitted with headache-inducing loud costumes, this is the place to be. And if not, it’s going to be a long old stretch until Strictly is over.

Best to embrace the glitter ball and, er, keep watching!