The BBC are getting desperate to save Strictly (Image: BBC)
The BBC seem to be doing all that it can to keep Strictly Come Dancing fresh in people’s minds – and it’s embarrassing. The broadcasters are no doubt fearing that the popular dance show might be a flop as the programme returns later this year, with three new hosts at the helm.
After Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly left together at the end of the last series, it was announced that TV presenter Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe will be taking over the reins. There are also expected to be new hosts on the spin-off show, It Takes Two, and a variety of new dancers, as many of the pros have been axed or called it quits. With all the changes, could it be like a completely new show? It seems the bosses are clutching at straws to keep the show relevant and I’ve noticed one major move that they’ve made.
Sue and Diane in Ann Droid (Image: BBC)
Last month, the BBC launched a brand new “must-see” sitcom, Ann Droid. With a hit cast, the comedy follows Sue (played by Brookside’s Sue Johnston), a widow, and her new android assistant bot named Linda – a secondhand AnnDroid Z58/100 Basic Eldercare Robot (played by comedy genius Diane Morgan).
I’m not ashamed to say that I did actually binge it all in one sitting and absolutely loved it – but there was one thing about it that really irked me.
It felt like in most of the episodes, Strictly Come Dancing was mentioned or referenced at least once.
From the characters talking about their favourite Strictly judges, with Shirley Ballas and Craig Revel Horwood getting a little shoutout to the characters taking part in a salsa dance and making a reference to the BBC dancefloor, it just seemed like it was a dire effort to get people to tune in.
Even when doing the media rounds after Ann Droid was released, Diane managed to squeeze in a real-life anecdote linking back to Strictly.
In one of the episodes, one scene saw Linda, played by Diane, perform the Heimlich manoeuvre when Sue’s daughter-in-law, Renee, played by Andrea Valls, was choking. Safety experts were brought in and observed by the wider crew and production team to make sure it was done properly.
During a recent interview on This Morning to promote Ann Droid, Diane explained: “They had to teach me the Heimlich manoeuvre. And then that evening, our gaffer went out to dinner, and his friend started choking.
“And because he’d seen me doing the Heimlich manoeuvre on set, he did it on his friend and the food shot out of his mouth. Saved his life. And then Shirley Ballas’ life.”
It follows Shirley choking back in November. She said she struggled to breathe for “20 minutes” backstage at the famous Tower Ballroom, after the show relocated to Blackpool for its annual special. However, her make-up artist Jane Burstow came to her rescue and dislodged the fish bone by performing the Heimlich manoeuvre.
While Ann Droid might be saving lives, will it be able to help save Strictly? I fear not, and the BBC’s attempts at shoehorning the dance competition into any conversation possible are frankly quite embarrassing.
