Wallowing in the cosy entertainment of Strictly Come Dancing has been a staple Saturday evening ritual for millions during the autumn months of the past 20 years. For the BBC, it’s a prized cash cow, having been exported (under the Dancing with the Stars brand) to around 60 other countries.
It’s a show built on schmaltz and competition as celebrities (mostly with no dance experience) are paired with professional dancers in a weekly gladiatorial contest where one couple is routinely eliminated by a mix of public vote and the imperial thumbs-down from the judges.
It’s a self-inflicted recipe for tough love in the rehearsal room
Preparing for the twentieth anniversary (although this autumn will see the 22nd series), the BBC’s flagship show has become mired in a controversy of its own making. Two Italian male professionals – Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima – have been dropped following allegations about their training methods.
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