Strictly Come Dancing

Infobox Television
show_name = Strictly Come Dancing


caption = Strictly Come Dancing logo
format = Talent show
camera = Multi-camera
picture_format = 576i (SDTV),
1080i (HDTV)
audio_format =
runtime = 30 to 75 minutes
creator = Fenia Vardanis
developer = BBC
presenter = Bruce Forsyth
Tess Daly
Natasha Kaplinsky (2004)
judges = Craig Revel Horwood
Arlene Phillips
Len Goodman
Bruno Tonioli
opentheme = Dan McGrath [ cite web | url=http://www.cannonstudios.co.uk/aboutus/history/history.html | title=Cannon Studios - History | accessdate=2008-01-05 ]
Josh Phillips [ cite web | url=http://www.blazemusic.co.uk/tvcredits.php | title=Blaze Music - TV credits | accessdate=2008-01-05 ]
country = UK
network = BBC One
first_aired = 15 May 2004
last_aired = present
num_series = 6
num_episodes = 59 (as of 29 September 2008)
related = ""
website = http://www.bbc.co.uk/strictlycomedancing/
imdb_id = 0411027
tv_com_id = 24244

"Strictly Come Dancing" is a British television show, featuring celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances. The title of the show suggests a continuation of the long-running series "Come Dancing", with an allusion to the film "Strictly Ballroom".

The show has run on BBC One since 2004. A fifth series finished in December 2007, and there have been four stand-alone Christmas Specials, in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. Series four was also shown as part of the BBC's line-up on its trial High Definition channel, BBC HD.

The format has been exported to other countries (see "Dancing with the Stars"). The final of the fifth series in December 2007 attracted an audience of over 12 million viewers, making it one of the highest watched shows on TV that year. The format has also inspired a modern-dance themed spin-off "Strictly Dance Fever".

The professional dancers are usually the same each year, although only four have taken part in every series - Brendan Cole, Anton Du Beke, Erin Boag and Camilla Dallerup.

Format

The show pairs a number of celebrities with professional ballroom dancers who each week compete against each other in a competition to impress a panel of judges and the viewing public in order to survive potential elimination. Through a telephone poll, viewers vote who should stay and who should go, the results of the poll being combined with the ranking of the panel of judges. For example, with 4 contestants left, the judges' favourite would receive 4 points, 2nd favourite 3, and so on, and similarly with the viewers' rankings. [ cite web | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/strictlycomedancing/howtovote/terms.shtml | title=Strictly Come Dancing - How to vote | publisher=BBC | accessdate=2008-01-05 ] The profits from the telephone lines were donated to Sport Relief in series 1, and to Children in Need from series 2 to 5.

The show is broadcast live on BBC One on Saturday evenings, and it is presented by Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly. (For some of the second series, Natasha Kaplinsky stood in temporarily for Tess Daly while she took maternity leave). The judging panel consists of Bruno Tonioli, Arlene Phillips, Len Goodman and Craig Revel Horwood. Each judge gives the performance a mark out of ten, giving an overall total out of forty. The voice-over announcer is Alan Dedicoat. During series four, an hour long highlight show was shown on Sundays at 7pm on BBC Two, and during series five, the results show moved to Sunday evenings, instead of being broadcast live later on Saturday evening.

As of series four, coaches are Jaclyn Spencer and Chris Marques (aka Cuban Groove) for Salsa and Mambo, and Jenny Thomas and Ryan Francois for Swing and Jive. The Argentine Tango coaches in Series three were Flavia Cacace and Vincent Simone, both of whom have subsequently competed in the show.

The BBC television singing talent competition "Just the Two of Us" copied the format of "Strictly Come Dancing". Splash (a UK production company) and the EBU created the Eurovision Dance Contest transmitted on the BBC and in other countries in 2007. This is not part of the "Strictly Come Dancing" format because it is instead modelled on the Eurovision Song Contest, but with dancing instead of singing.

Dance Off

Since Series 5, a new system has been introduced called the "Dance Off". The Dance Off is performed by the two couples with the lowest scores following the judges' scores and public vote. After performing their dance again, the judges are asked one-by-one who they would like to save, and the couple with the most votes remains in the competition. If there is a tie, head judge Len Goodman has the deciding vote.

Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two

During the run of "Strictly Come Dancing", "Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two" airs each week night on BBC Two, hosted by Claudia Winkleman. It features reviews of the performances during the previous Saturday show, and interviews with and training footage of the couples preparing for the next show. The judges and other celebrities also provide their opinions on how the couples are doing. "It Takes Two" replaces "Strictly Come Dancing on Three", hosted by Justin Lee Collins, which ran on BBC Three during the first series. BBC Two Scotland airs the programme on four nights only, running locally-produced Gaelic-language programming on Thursdays instead.

Main series

Dances performed

Dances performed

Dances performed

Each couple performed one of two prescribed dances in each of the first five weeks. After that, the dances performed were as follows:
* Week 6: One new dance from weeks 1-5; group salsa
* Week 7: One new dance from weeks 1-5; group Argentine tango
* Week 8: American smooth; one new dance from weeks 1-5
* Week 9: Two new dances from weeks 1-5
* Final: Favourite ballroom/Latin dances; freestyle show dance; group Viennese waltz

eries 6

A sixth series of the show was confirmed after the dancers' pay dispute was called off in late June 2008. cite news | url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/strictlycomedancing/a104277/strictly-dancers-end-pay-row.html | title='Strictly' dancers end pay row | author=Alex Fletcher | publisher=Digital Spy | date=2008-06-26 |accessdate=2008-07-01 ] The series will last for 14 weeks, which is the longest series so far. The new series will involve three new professional dancers, Brian Fortuna, Hayley Holt and Kristina Rihanoff. [cite web | url=http://ballroomdancechannel.ning.com/profile/BrianFortuna | title=Brian Fortuna's Page | publisher= Ballroom Dance Channel | accessdate=2008-08-11 ]

In July 2008 it was reported that current EastEnders cast members were banned from taking part in the competition due to the length of the series. [cite news | url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/soaps/article1462064.ece | title=Strictly No Dancing | author=Sara Nathan | publisher=The Sun | date= 2008-07-24 | accessdate=2008-08-01]

The sixth series began on 13 September with a behind-the-scenes look at the new series, followed by the first live show on 20 September. [ cite web | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/wk38/sat.shtml#sat_dancing | title=Programme Information Network TV Week 38 Saturday 13 September 2008 | publisher=BBC Press Office | accessdate=2008-08-31 ]

As well as winning the 2005 series, Darren Gough and Lilia Kopylova won this Christmas Special, after receiving the full 40 marks from the judges.

2006 Christmas Special

The Christmas special in 2006 featured stars from the third and fourth series going head to head to perform their highest-scoring dances. The theme of the programme was black and white, so whether it was wintry white gowns, the little black dress or top hat and tails, the dancers and the dance floor were decked in black and white, setting the stage for some show-stopping performances.

It was a pre-recorded show shown on Christmas Day on BBC One. The couples who took part were:

"Strictly Ice Dancing" was identical to the Granada format "Dancing On Ice", although details of "Dancing on Ice" were revealed before "Strictly Ice Dancing" was commissioned.

trictly African Dancing

A further one-off special was broadcast on BBC One on 9 July 2005 as part of the BBC's "Africa Lives" season. It featured six celebrities of African descent performing traditional African dances with a professional troupe. The contestants were Tunde Baiyewu, Tupele Dorgu, Robbie Earle, Antonia Okonma, Louis Emerick, and Tessa Sanderson. The programme was presented by Natasha Kaplinsky and Martin Offiah, and the winner was Robbie Earle. Professional dancers Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova, who have appeared on Strictly Come Dancing since the second series, also appeared on this special to perform a traditional African Samba.

In order of elimination:
*Tunde Baiyewu
*Louis Emerick
*Tupele Dorgu
*Tessa Sanderson
*Antonia Okonma
*Robbie Earle

The Live Tour! 2008

"Strictly Come Dancing" went on tour at the beginning of 2008 for the first time. cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7041109.stm | title=BBC Dancing show to hit the road | publisher=BBC News Online | date=2007-10-12 | accessdate=2008-01-05 ] The tour was hosted by Kate Thornton, and judged by Craig Revel Horwood, Arlene Phillips, & Len Goodman. [ cite web | url=http://www.strictlycomedancinglive.co.uk/default.asp?contentID=587 | title=Judges & Host | publisher=Strictly Come Dancing Live! | accessdate=2008-01-13 ] Bruno Tonioli was not a judge in this competition due to him being in Los Angeles. cite web | url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/dance/article3213072.ece | title=Strictly Come Dancing: The Live Tour! | author=Tim Teeman | publisher=The Times Online | date=2008-01-19 | accessdate=2008-01-20 ] The tour began on 18 January 2008 in Glasgow and finished on 19 February 2008 in Birmingham. [ cite web | url=http://www.strictlycomedancinglive.co.uk/default.asp?contentID=613 | title=Tour 2008 | publisher=Strictly Come Dancing Live! | accessdate=2008-01-13 ]

Celebrity dancers taking place were: [ cite web | url=http://www.strictlycomedancinglive.co.uk/default.asp?contentID=586 | title=Celebrity Dancers | publisher=Strictly Come Dancing Live! | accessdate=2008-01-13 ]
*Christopher Parker (dancing with Nicole Cutler)
*Denise Lewis (dancing with Matthew Cutler)
*Darren Gough (dancing with Lilia Kopylova) cite web | url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/01/14/btstrictly114.xml | title=Strictly Come Dancing: 'It is a fairy tale come true' | publisher=Telegraph | accessdate=2008-01-14 ]
*James Martin (dancing with Camilla Dallerup)
*Letitia Dean (dancing with Darren Bennett)
*Louisa Lytton (dancing with Vincent Simone)
*Matt Di Angelo (dancing with Flavia Cacace) cite web | url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/dance/article3185697.ece | title=Strictly Come Dancing hits the road | publisher=Times | accessdate=2008-01-15 ]
*Martin Offiah (dancing with Camilla Dallerup)
*Zoe Ball (dancing with Ian Waite)

The results of the tour are as follows: cite web | url=http://www.strictlycomedancinglive.co.uk/default.asp?contentID=616 | title=Previous Winners | publisher=Strictly Come Dancing Live! | accessdate=2008-02-19 ]

Perfect tens

In addition to the seven perfect scores listed above, judges have awarded perfect tens on a number of other occasions. Alesha Dixon and her partner Matthew Cutler hold the record for the most tens received, with a total of 19:
*Series 1
**Week Five: Natasha Kaplinsky/Brendan Cole from Arlene Phillips for the Samba: 37

*Series 2
**Week Seven: Jill Halfpenny/Darren Bennett from Arlene Phillips for the Paso Doble: 37
**Final: Denise Lewis/Ian Waite from Arlene Phillips and Bruno Tonioli for the Quickstep: 38
**Christmas Special: Denise Lewis/Ian Waite from Bruno Tonioli for the Quickstep: 37

*Series 3
**Week Six: Zoe Ball/Ian Waite from Bruno Tonioli for the Quickstep: 36
**Week Seven: Zoe Ball/Ian Waite from Arlene Phillips and Bruno Tonioli for the Tango: 38
**Week Eight: Colin Jackson/Erin Boag from Arlene Phillips for the American Smooth: 37
**Week Nine: Colin Jackson/Erin Boag from Len Goodman for the Waltz: 37
**Final: Darren Gough/Lilia Kopylova from Len Goodman for the Foxtrot: 36
**Final: Colin Jackson/Erin Boag from Arlene Phillips, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli for the Quickstep: 39
**Final: Zoe Ball/Ian Waite from Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli for the Samba: 38
**Final: Zoe Ball/Ian Waite from Arlene Phillips and Bruno Tonioli for the Tango: 38
**Christmas Special: James Martin/Camilla Dallerup from Arlene Phillips and Len Goodman for the Foxtrot: 37
**Christmas Special: Zoe Ball/Ian Waite from Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli for the Foxtrot: 38

*Series 4
**Week Three: Louisa Lytton/Vincent Simone from Bruno Tonioli for the Jive: 36
**Week Seven: Matt Dawson/Lilia Kopylova from Len Goodman for the Waltz: 37
**Week Nine: Emma Bunton/Darren Bennett from Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli for the Waltz: 37
**Week Nine: Emma Bunton/Darren Bennett from Bruno Tonioli for the Paso Doble: 37
**Week Eleven: Mark Ramprakash/Karen Hardy from Arlene Phillips, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli for the Argentine Tango: 39
**Final: Matt Dawson/Lilia Kopylova from Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli for the Waltz: 38
**Christmas Special: Zoe Ball/Ian Waite from Len Goodman and Arlene Phillips for the Rumba: 38
**Christmas Special: Matt Dawson/Lilia Kopylova from Len Goodman for the Waltz: 37

*Series 5
** Week Four: Kelly Brook/Brendan Cole from Bruno Tonioli for the American Smooth: 34
** Week Six: John Barnes/Nicole Cutler from Len Goodman for the Salsa: 36
** Week Seven: Alesha Dixon/Matthew Cutler from Arlene Phillips and Bruno Tonioli for the Waltz: 38
** Week Eight: Matt Di Angelo/Flavia Cacace from Arlene Phillips and Bruno Tonioli for the Salsa: 38
** Week Eight: Alesha Dixon/Matthew Cutler from Arlene Phillips, Bruno Tonioli, and Len Goodman for the Cha Cha Cha: 39
** Week Nine: Gethin Jones/Camilla Dallerup from Arlene Phillips, Bruno Tonioli, and Len Goodman for the Waltz: 39
** Week Nine: Alesha Dixon/Matthew Cutler from Arlene Phillips and Bruno Tonioli for the Tango: 38
** Week Nine: Alesha Dixon/Matthew Cutler from Len Goodman for the Samba: 36
** Week Ten: Gethin Jones/Camilla Dallerup from Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli for the American Smooth: 38
** Week Ten: Alesha Dixon/Matthew Cutler from Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli for the Viennese Waltz: 38
** Week Ten: Gethin Jones/Camilla Dallerup from Bruno Tonioli for the Jive: 37
** Week Eleven: Alesha Dixon/Matthew Cutler from Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli for the Quickstep: 38
** Week Eleven: Gethin Jones/Camilla Dallerup from Len Goodman for the Paso Doble: 34
** Week Eleven: Alesha Dixon/Matthew Cutler from Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli for the Argentine Tango: 38
** Week Twelve: Alesha Dixon/Matthew Cutler from Craig Revel Horwood, Arlene Phillips, and Bruno Tonioli for the Waltz: 39
** Week Twelve: Matt Di Angelo/Flavia Cacace from Arlene Phillips, Len Goodman, and Bruno Tonioli for the Salsa: 39
** Week Twelve: Alesha Dixon/Matthew Cutler from Bruno Tonioli and Len Goodman for the Cha Cha Cha: 38
**Christmas Special: Mark Ramprakash/Karen Hardy from Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli for the Jive: 38
**Christmas Special: Matt Di Angelo/Flavia Cacace from Arlene Phillips, Len Goodman, and Bruno Tonioli for the Rumba: 39

Ratings

Awards

The show has won a highly prestigious Rose D'Or award for 'Best Variety Show', beating off competition from reality shows from twelve other different countries. It has also won two awards for 'Best Reality Show' at the TRIC Awards and two at the TV Quick/TV Choice awards for 'Best Talent Show'. It has also received three BAFTA nominations.

ee also

*"" - its companion show on BBC Two.
*"Strictly Dance Fever"
*"Dancing on Ice" - a similar show on ITV, swapping dancing with skating.
*"Just the Two of Us" - the same format, with singing instead of dancing.
*"Dancing with the Stars" - versions of the show produced in other countries.

References

External links

*bbc.co.uk|id=strictlycomedancing|title="Strictly Come Dancing"
* [http://www.unrealitytv.co.uk/category/strictly-come-dancing/ "Strictly Come Dancing"] at Unreality TV
* [http://www.ukgameshows.com/index.php/Strictly_Come_Dancing "Strictly Come Dancing"] at UKGameshows.com
* [http://www.biogs.com/strictlycomedancing/index.html "Strictly Come Dancing"] at Biogs.com