Sorry but Shirley is too grand
NOT long now before we see the fabulous Melanie Sykes in the new Boddington’s beer commercial. Mel of course was unforgettable in the original 20 years ago, a surreal 30-second ad in which she presented a desert runner with a pint from inside an ice-cream van and memorably asked: “D’you want a flake with that, luv?”
The new Boddington’s ad was filmed a few weeks ago in the rolling countryside of the South Downs and judging by the snatched paparazzi photos of Mel on set she looked virtually unchanged from her mid-90s incarnation as she held on firmly to her pint. So I guess it’s true what they say – a little of what you fancy does you good. SO, how do you think it’s all going on Strictly? Is it just me, or is there a slight lack of, well, glamour this year. A few of the contestants are fantastic: Alexandra, Aston, Debbie, and I’ll keep rooting for Jonny, however he does - he has such charisma and charm.
But no-one else really stands out, do they? And, more importantly, I sense something amiss on the judges’ panel. I’ve always thought the chemistry between the four of them is more important to the show than even the contestants. But somehow, at present, it’s not working. And I’m sorry, but that’s down to the new head judge, Shirley Ballas.
Ballas is glamorous, beautifully-dressed, coiffed, and made up to divaperfection. Which is part of the problem. She seems a bit too grand for Strictly, despite those scouse vowels. She’s also very verbose – her technical criticisms of the celeb dancers are almost impossible for us amateurs to understand – and amateurs are what Strictly’s all about. Ballas can also sound a touch vinegary and, crucially, she just doesn’t fit with Craig, Darcy and Bruno, all of whom we’ve taken to our hearts. They’re always warm and funny, like two small, glowing fires and one diminutive volcano. And I miss Len, that smoky old briar-pipe. I think Anton du Beck would be the perfect head judge. We all love him, and I hope someone at the Beeb realises it.