Strictly Come Dancing, BBC1
★★★★★
There was a strange mix of joy and dread in the air as I watched Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday night.
It wasn’t just restricted to those terrifying and hilarious 30 seconds that Jacqui Smith spent clutching a swing 10ft in the air, with only a couple of showbiz feathers to break any fall.
It was all the way through. Joy that the best entertainment show on TV was back doing what it does best. Dread that it could end at any minute.
I’ll have everything crossed for the next two months. Strictly really is that important to the nation.
That’s why Boris Johnson and his comedy backing act The Two Coronnies were unceremoniously – and rightly – shunted mid-Powerpoint to the BBC News Channel.
No Prime Ministerial briefing should ever be allowed to get in the way of Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse lighting up the deserted dance floor.
For once, though, Johnson wasn’t the most unfortunate politician in town.
That honour went to Jacqui, who danced to Just Help Yourself but who was clearly beyond any help.
Strictly may have cancelled Halloween this year but Jacqui and Anton Du Beke ensured we got at least one horror show on the night.
As for Boris Johnson, the only time I ever want to see him on Saturday night TV again is in the Australian bush – with a grinning Ant and Dec behind him and a plate of kangaroo anus in front of him.
Next year, preferably.
But I’m happy to wait.
‘‘ No briefing by PM should get in way of Bill & Oti lighting up dance floor