Strictly’s waltz down memory lane
It’s a great BBC centenary love-in as classic theme tunes steal show
THE Strictly dancefloor turned into a star-studded parade of some of the BBC’s biggest stars as they celebrated the Corporation’s 100th birthday last night.
In what was the most nostalgic episode of the ballroom show in its 20 years, celebrity contestants performed to theme tunes to some of the Beeb’s most watched programmes through the years.
Angela Rippon, the presenter of Come Dancing – the competition that Strictly was based on when it launched in 2004 – was given a starring role when she introduced Kym Marsh and Graziano Di Prima’s quickstep to Ballroom Blitz by Sweet using the same presenting phrases she did in her hosting role in the Nineties.
Former Blue Peter star Helen Skelton danced to the children’s show’s theme dressed in a pair of satin dungaree shorts, which she accessorised with her badge for luck. Along with her partner Gorka Marquez, they also
‘Come Dancing presenter Angela Rippon was given a starring role’
presented puppets of the judges which they had made earlier – in keeping with the now defunct programme’s famous motto.
And it seemed to go down well – the pair’s Charleston scored 35, the joint highest score of the night from the judges.
In a suitably fitting routine, ex-footballer Tony Adams – dressed in a golf-themed jumper – performed to the Grandstand tune with his partner Katya Jones, but winning just 17 out of 40 from the panel.
Ellie Simmonds danced the Pasodoble to The Apprentice’s The Montagues And Capulets tune, while Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu did their Couple’s Choice to the Grange Hill’s much-adored opening song.
Fleur East nodded to the BBC’s Eurovision song contest by dancing the jive to Abba’s Waterloo.
The night’s love-in began instantly, with Newsreader Huw Edwards surprising viewers by opening the show from behind his Ten O’Clock News desk.
He introduced the first dance to legendary Beeb comedy duo Morecambe and Wise’s Bring Me Sunshine theme song, before the professional dancers waltzed on to the sets of some of the Corporation’s most popular shows.
These included Breakfast with Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt getting a starring role, as did Fiona
Bruce with Antiques Roadshow.
The dancers then moved on to the Match of the Day set, allowing the Corporation’s highest-paid presenter Gary Lineker to get in on the action.
The programme also paid tribute to Strictly’s late presenter Sir Bruce Forsyth and Come Dancing’s Sir Terry Wogan.
Archive footage was shown to viewers of the pair jigging together in a what was an emotional moment for presenter Tess Daly – Sir Bruce’s co-host until 2014.
Even Pudsey Bear got a starring role while former newsreader Moira Stuart was recruited for one night only to read the terms and conditions of the voting for fans.