Strictly Come Dancing has seemingly revealed its full line-up, and fans who complain about the celebrities this year need to stop, writes Nicola Methven.
Annual gripes over line-up
When it comes to the cast of Strictly Come Dancing, this time of year always brings about much huffing and puffing. You can almost set your clock by it. “This is definitely the worst line-up ever!” many say, throwing their hands up in despair. But really, is it?
I mean yes, we’d all like to see Harry Styles strutting a samba, Tom Cruise trying a tango or Adele attempting an American Smooth. But by now, surely, we know that it’s not going to happen. Just because Emma Bunton signed up 20 years ago, doesn't mean we're going to get any more Spice Girls.
Celebrity Traitors comparison
We were spoilt, perhaps, by the huge names signing up for Celebrity Traitors - but that is a far less boisterous proposition. And, crucially, all the filming for the castle show takes place across a couple of weeks, so it’s done and dusted in less than a fortnight.
You can see the appeal when you consider that BBC1's Strictly kicks off at the start of September and becomes a four-month slog (for those who last) which takes them right up to Christmas. It also involves hundreds of hours of training plus many trips to the physio and, possibly, the hospital.
Unknowns become favourites
Anyway, I digress. The actual point is - IT DOESN’T MATTER if you don’t really know who some of the contestants are. Because this happens every single year when the full line-up comes out and in a few weeks you’ll not only know everything about them, you’ll almost certainly be backing one of them to win.
Some of the moans about this year’s contenders are actually hilarious. I saw one person arguing that, if there has to be a dog training expert on the show, surely it should be Barbara Woodhouse? Well, perhaps she was better known that Graeme Hall in her day. But the fact that she died in 1988 (and would be 116 if she was still going) does have a bearing. I’m going to go out on a limb and say she’s not much of a contender.
Over the years there have been plenty of favourite characters that the audience got right behind - while not having a clue about them at the start. HRVY? Joe Sugg? Last year it was George Clarke. While my 15-year-old niece was jumping up and down in excitement about the YouTuber, the older generation were all scratching their heads. But it wasn’t long before he’d turned on the charm and bang - we voted him all the way to the final.
Hamza Yassin example
At the 2022 press launch, I’m ashamed to say Hamza Yassin barely got asked a question because he was just a little-known wildlife cameraman who didn’t look like he’d last very long. We realised how wrong we’d been months before he lifted that glitterball trophy in the final. And now we all know who Hamza is.
So, while not everyone will know much about Kim Kardashian’s hair stylist Chris Appleton, House of the Dragon actress Bethany Antonia, dog trainer Graeme or YouTuber John Nellis, it’s beside the point.
Once the show gets going, their fame or lack thereof will simply not be a factor any more. I think we all need to make like Elsa and just…. let it go.
