Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
A dance would be a fine thing
It’s seventy years since viewers got their first taste of ballroom on the box. MARION McMULLEN looks back at how viewers fell in love with Come Dancing
BELOVED broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan hosted many shows during his long career, even donning top hat and tails to present Come Dancing for seven seasons.
The radio presenter and TV chat show host compered the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing predecessor in the 1970s, writing in a newspaper in 2010: “When but a fresh-faced lad, newly arrived on Blighty’s shore, I was thrilled to be asked to present Come Dancing for BBC Television.”
Many decades later Terry briefly took to the dance floor himself in 2008 for Children In Need when he and his professional partner Flavia Cacace did battle against Tess Daly and Anton Du Beke. The Irish presenter also found himself sitting on the judging panel alongside Craig Revel Horwood, head judge Len Goodman and Pudsey in 2010.
Sir Terry once revealed: “I’m asked to do Strictly Come Dancing on a regular basis, but I always say no.”
A host of household names fronted Come Dancing over the years. Newsreader Angela Rippon, travel queen Judith Chalmers, radio’s David Jacobs, Rosemarie Ford and even Noel Edmonds were among the many celebrities who hosted the long-running series. Noel was even inspired to put on a skimpy costume and high heels for a dance routine of his own for his Saturday Roadshow TV programme in 1989.
Millions of viewers will be voting for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing champ and watching to see who will be lifting the coveted Glitterball trophy.
Strictly’s dance show format is now popular all over the world, but TV’s interest in all things ballroom dates back to 1948 when the BBC began showcasing the music of Victor Sylvester and his Ballroom Orchestra in a 30-minute show.
Come Dancing was launched the following year and quickly became a telly favourite... going on to be one of the longest- running programmes on the Beeb.
Mecca clubs boss Eric Morley, who with his wife Julia also brought the Miss World competition to TV screen, was the creator of the dance show and was even pictured years later taking to the dance floor with Margaret Thatcher at the Young Conservatives Blue Ribbon Ball in Brighton.
Adding to the appeal of Come Dancing were the dance tips each week from world champions Syd Perkins and Edna Duffield who showed viewers how to dance the perfect foxtrot or waltz.
The original format was very different from the present day Strictly Come Dancing. The programme was filmed at dance halls up and down the country, such as the Orchid Ballroom in Purley and the emphasis was firmly on amateur dancers and formation dance teams.
Male dancers wore figures on their back in the early shows and presenters would often comment on how many sequins each costume boasted and how long the taffeta, satin and silk dance costumes took to make.
The competitive edge came later, in 1953, with regional dancers pulling out their best moves to win the television’s ultimate dance trophy and modern rock ‘n’ roll dance styles were later seen alongside the ballroom.
It brought a touch of glamour and bling to post-war Britain and offered viewers a family-friendly show.
Come Dancing notched up an impressive 424 episodes before the participants finally hung up their dance shoes in the 1990s.
However, the success of Baz Luhrmann’s 1992 movie Strictly Ballroom sparked a renewed interest in all-things dance and led to Strictly Come Dancing launching on BBC in 2004,
Syd Perkins and Edna Duffield taught viewers dance steps with Sir Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly fronting the new-look show.
The first series ran for just nine episodes and contestants included antiques expert David Dickinson, former England rugby player Martin Offiah and actress Claire Sweeney. The first winner was news presenter Natasha Kaplinsky and professional dance partner Brendan Cole. Brucie once said: “I can tell by the way somebody walks if they can dance or not. Just by the rhythm.” Strictly is still going strong 15 years later. Bruno Tonioli has been on the judging panel from the start and says the show just keeps getting better. “It’s a bit like Doctor Who,” he once pointed out. “It seems able to regenerate itself and each season feels like the first one.” Professional dancer Anton Du Beke is also a veteran of the show and once said: “Having been part of this wonderful show ever since series one, I know all too well what it’s like to perform to the nation on the famous Strictly Come Dancing dance floor.”
And Anton, who has over the years partnered Birds Of A Feather star Lesley Joseph, opera singer Lesley Garrett, TV presenter Ruth Langsford, Esther Rantzen and politician Anne Widdicombe, finally celebrated his first perfect 10 score this year with EastEnder Emma Barton.
He was left reeling in shock after being awarded the top scores and told presenter Claudia Winkleman “Seventeen series. You don’t understand!”
Now that is something to dance about.