Strictly is back

It was as if we had never been away.  Strictly Come Dancing returned last night, and the producers’ death wish was all too evident.  Thousands of us sat with zapper in hand, muting all Forsyth’s contributions as the same old weary format of “jokes” was trotted out.  The judges seemed to be indulging in self-parody, with Bruno being particularly ridiculous.  And the comic turn was put on at the end.  (What’s the betting that Edwina Currie will be last on tonight?)  And what of the contestants?  There was little to get excited about.  Anita Dobson did well, but the Latin may pose a bigger challenge.  The pop singer, Holly, was good but not startling.  Russell Grant actually danced, and it looks like he’s not going to be another Widdecombe.  Lulu forgot her entire routine.  In the first dance I tried hitting the red button to hear Karen Hardy’s commentary, but there was a woman with her who thought the remit was to be funny and was just a distraction so I switched that off.

And that was about it.  A few years ago we were told that getting rid of Arlene Phillips and replacing her with the dreadful Alesha Dixon was about “refreshing the brand”.  The aspects of the show that are crying out to be refreshed are hideously still the same.  I wonder what the viewing figures will be like this year.