Strictly Come Dancing is "flatlining," according to a new opinion piece, with the show's Movie Week feeling awkward and rushed. The audience's silence was so noticeable that it felt like the show was losing momentum, with the opening number, costumes, and endless film gags from Josh Widdicombe overwhelming the episode.
Early Movie Week and bloated runtime
The decision to bring Movie Week in so early felt like panicking bosses fast-forwarding through the show's opening act, a move that could prove to be a huge mistake. The 2-hour and 35-minute live show was also called out as unnecessary, with padding between dancers becoming more exposed than ever. Elaborate VT times and lengthy, repetitive judge responses took over the dances, making time stand still between performances. The awkward chemistry between Josh and Emma only heightened the issue.
Josh Widdicombe's awkward fit
Josh Widdicombe was singled out as not fitting into the show's current format, with awkward moments as he gazed wide-eyed at the autocue. While he relaxed slightly this week after taking the lead from Emma, some of his jokes fell flat, with the crowd's silence amplifying the problem. The piece noted that Josh is genuinely funny on TV, questioning why he isn't given more license to show his talent.
Dance highlights and concerns
On the dancing side, Graeme Hall stole the show with a dramatic waltz to The Godfather with Lauren Oakley, emerging as a potential dark horse. John Nellis's Titanic-themed Couples' Choice with Katya Jones fell flat with the judges, while Shaun Wright-Phillips turned things around. Lacey Turner impressed despite evident nerves, and Cach Mercer is coming into his own.
The first elimination of the series was teased, with the writing on the wall as soon as the dance ended. The pro dancer leaving will be missed, as they are a favourite.
Call for shorter show
While the show felt smoother than last week, the piece urged Strictly to consider shortening its running time to keep audiences interested. The quality of the show does not warrant giving up nearly three hours of a Saturday evening, and this could be reflected in already waning viewing figures.
