The start of the Strictly season

Summer is over, there are a few golden days with clear blue skies but there’s already a distinct nip in the air up north. Nights are drawing in, so it’s time to snuggle down on the sofa with Strictly on a Saturday night, and It Takes Two during the week.

Only this year, it’s a bit different. They started with two weekly shows, on a Friday and Saturday evening, allowing all the contestants to dance ballroom and Latin before there is a vote. This seems fair to me, as many people, particularly in the early stages, are better at one style (or, rubbish at both!). They’ve also ditched the Sunday night results show, which I’m pleased about, as I never liked it, though it does now mean that the time scale for voting is pretty short – no chance to influence what happens to your favourite if you happen to be out during the show. At least they don’t have to remember to pretend that people danced ‘last night’ any more, and no one can spoil the result for you, as long as you can watch it live (which I haven’t managed to do as yet!).

The biggest controversy, of course, is the replacement of Arlene with Alesha. Now, I like Alesha, and she was a worthy winner, but she hardly has the dance credentials to pass judgement on others. Sadly this has been all too obvious so far, and I’m not sure her presence on the panel will do her, or the show, much good.

We also have some new female dancers. Camilla was ‘retiring’ anyway after winning, but Karen has also gone (and would, I think, have made a good judge, from her comments on ITT) as well as the unlamented Hayley who danced last season. The ‘new girls’ remind me of the over tanned, and over made up, partners on DWTS, the American version of the show.

We’ve seen everyone dance now, and so far I don’t really have a favourite. For the first couple of weeks, everyone looks so terrified that it’s difficult to see how they will develop. There is some talent there, but I haven’t singled anyone out. Chris Hollins surprised me, in actually being quite good, and funny, Phil Tufnell also surprised with an elegant waltz, and they actually seem to have given Anton a partner who can dance this year, in Laila Rouass. They’ve given Brendan Jo Wood, who can’t, and won’t be there for long.

Despite all the claims that ‘this is the most challenging Strictly yet’, so far it doesn’t look like a vintage season. But it’s early days.

Watch this space.