Take your partners
MARION McMULLEN looks at the launch of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing 20 years ago
NEWS presenter Natasha Kaplinsky danced her way into Strictly Come Dancing history when she won the first series of the BBC show 20 years ago.
She and her professional partner Brendan Cole were among eight couples who took part when the dance show launched on the BBC in May 2004.
The competition included EastEnders actor Christopher Parker, classical singer Lesley Garrett, Bargain Hunt’s David Dickinson, comedian Jason Wood, Holby City’s Verona Joseph, actress Claire Sweeney and rugby player Martin Offiah.
Natasha was way ahead of her fellow competitors in the programme, collecting the highest marks for eight of the 10 dances featured in the first series.
She notched up 39 points in the final, ahead of the runner-up, Christopher Parker.
Natasha later said: “I wish I’d enjoyed it more but I found it so stressful. There was a lot of pressure for me to do it, because it was a new show and they wanted a newsreader. I was new at the BBC and as a woman, being taken seriously in that industry is not that easy. I was worried that dressing up in sequins and a short skirt might not do my career much good.
“I fell in love with dancing on the show but it was the most nerve-racking thing I’ve ever done in my life.”
Top choreographer Dame Arlene Phillips, Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood and Len Goodman made up the original judging panel.
Len, who passed away last year at the age of 78, was the Strictly Come Dancing head judge and he also joined the American version of the show, Dancing With The Stars, as head judge in 2005.
Len had won various dancing competitions during his long career including the British Championships in Blackpool, when he was in his late 20s. He was renowned for hollering “Seven” when the judges gave their points and helped to make ballroom dancing accessible to millions of viewers with his signature Cockney style.