‘Strictly’ makes history as it returns in sparkling form
History was made in all sorts of ways as the starting bell sounded on the new season of Strictly Come Dancing (BBC One). Bake Off winner John Whaite inscribed his name in the record books when he and pro dancer Johannes Radebe became the first all-male couple in the competition’s 18 years. Eastenders
actress Rose Ayling-ellis was the first deaf contestant to set her sights on the Glitterball trophy.
And fan favourite Anton Du Beke sealed his transition from dancer to judge as he took up a permanent berth on the adjudicating panel. A live studio audience and band also added to the sense of occasion – a welcome contrast to the 2020 launch, which unfolded in the shadow of the pandemic and strict Covid protocols.
After a slick pre-recorded routine featuring the pro hoofers, presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly got on with the marathon business of matching up this year’s celebrity hopefuls with their instructors. It was a little bit Strictly on autopilot. Comedian Robert Webb was partnered with Dianne Buswell, with whom he’d secretly hoped to be paired.
Then actress Katie Mcglynn was teamed with Gorka Marquez, with
whom she’d secretly hoped to be paired. And so it went – each contestant absolutely beside themselves as they met their partner/coach. Fake enthusiasm notwithstanding, the class of 2021 has plenty of potential. The new bunch also includes Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty, TV presenter Dan Walker and influencer Tilly Ramsay (daughter of Gordon).
Perhaps the most enthusiastic reception was that shown to Aylingellis. She revealed that she would be accompanied by her sign-language interpreter throughout the season. As a deaf person, she experienced music in a unique, highly personal fashion. “Every deaf person is feeling music differently,” she said, seated beside pro partner Giovanni Pernice. For her, it was all about the “beat and counter-beat”.
The new season hasn’t been free of controversy. It was feared the series might be disrupted following reports that two of the professionals have declined Covid jabs. However, this didn’t come up in the launch episode so we will have to wait for the first live routines next week.
For now, what mattered was that the show had sprung out of the traps full of its trademark grace, swagger and sense of fun. Strictly’s back… and everything feels all right.
Last week’s Vigil (BBC One) was a stirring romance. This week: pure comedy. Where to start? The sight of Suranne Jones and Shaun Evans in diving drysuits, searching for a killer device in a big tin of oranges? The loving shots of DI Longacre’s Renault Megane? DCI Silva turning out to be an authority on sarin? The boat’s doctor telling the coxswain that he might have been fatally contaminated, then giving him a kiss?
Paterson Joseph, God love him, has done his level best to take this thing seriously. As the boat’s commander, he delivered all his lines with a straight face. “We should assume this is a nation state attack,” he said gravely. “Our enemy has succeeded in knocking out Britain’s nuclear deterrent. Our job is to fight back and restore it – I want your ideas.”
The following brainstorm session took one minute. Lt Hadlow used some “rudimentary chemistry” to come up with a plan involving bleach and those spray bottles you use to mist the plants. “Do it. Thank you, everyone,” said Commander Newsome. Really? That’s it? I spend longer than that deciding what pants to wear in the morning.
Silva and the coxswain duly donned their drysuits and went into the contaminated galley. This drama has always been low on lighting – a former commander of HMS Dreadnought said that subs are actually very well-lit – but now we were plunged into darkness. Silva got the sarin-spreading device, put it in a plastic bag, then just slung it on the floor when she came out. This was no time for health and safety.
While all this was going on, Longacre (Rose Leslie) was busily investigating on dry land. It involved the politician and a man from the peace camp – I trust you were following all this. But Longacre still found time for a nice bubble bath. Even the hardworking ex-partners of detectives in imminent danger of nuclear annihilation deserve a little “me time”.
And then the big reveal of the baddie. It was… a lowly character that you haven’t paid much attention to. Maybe that explains why they’ve been marketing this as the new Line of Duty.
Strictly Come Dancing ★★★★ Vigil ★★