Former Strictly Professional Calls for Show Overhaul
A significant shake-up within the professional dancer lineup of a popular BBC dancing competition has ignited a debate, with a former star characterizing the departures as necessary to remove “dead wood.” This comes after a period of considerable change for the series, which saw the exit of long-time hosts and the confirmation that several professional dancers would not be returning for the upcoming season.
Veteran Dancer’s View on Show Evolution
James Jordan, who was a professional dancer on the show from 2006 to 2013, asserted that a shake-up was “needed.” Reflecting on the nature of the competition, he stated, “When you join Strictly, you’re taking someone’s job, OK? And people forget that because they’re on the show, but then when they’re asked to leave, and then they’re replaced, they’re only worried about that.”
He continued, “But they forget at some point, they took someone’s job. It’s just showbiz, that’s what it is. Enjoy it for what it is – it is a juggernaut of a show, and it was an honour for all of us to be part of it for so many years. But you have to remember that it will come to an end at some point.”
Jordan elaborated on the controversy surrounding the professional dancer changes, arguing, “it needed a shakeup. Some of the pros have been on there for 14 years… dead wood… get rid of them and bring someone younger in, in my opinion.”
Contrasting Opinions on Dancer Exits
However, fellow former Strictly professional Ian Waite offered a different perspective on the specific dancers who were let go. “In my opinion, they got rid of the wrong ones,” Waite commented. While acknowledging the need for evolution, he added, “All the professional dancers are amazing in their own right, but you can’t stay on there forever. At some point, you have to give the younger ones a chance, because there’s so many amazing dancers out there.”
Calls for Broader Show Changes
Jordan further suggested that the casting changes could have extended to the judging panel. “I believed the cuts could have gone further and they could have got rid of some of the judges as well,” he said. He criticized what he perceives as the show’s current tone, remarking, “It’s all got nicey-nicey now, isn’t it? It’s all politically correct, and ‘you can’t say this, and you can’t say that’. You can’t be negative because they’re (the contestants) are gonna cry. It’s a dance show. You need that baddie… but even Craig (Revel Horwood) now is kind of toned down a lot.”
He expressed a desire for a more authentic portrayal of the series’ intensity. “I want to see how hard they’re working in the training room. I want to see the tears. I think that’s the magic that needs to come back.”
New Hosting Lineup and Future Tours
With the departures of the previous hosts, the new presenting team will include Emma Willis, dancer Johannes Radebe, and comedian Josh Widdicombe. Jordan praised Willis as “absolutely amazing” but reserved judgment on the other two, stating he had not seen them present before. He admitted, “I would have preferred someone like Bradley Walsh or Vernon Kay, or someone like that, because they’re tried and tested. But at the same time, sometimes you got to take risks, and I’m not going to say it’s not good, because I haven’t seen it until I see it.”
Later this year, Jordan will reunite with Waite and other former Strictly professionals, including Brendan Cole, Pasha Kovalev, and Vincent Simone, for a new dance show titled Vegas: After Hours. This production aims to capture the essence of Las Vegas with routines set to music inspired by iconic performers from the city. Jordan explained that the idea for the show stemmed from previous successful tours and an approach to create another production with “the old geriatrics from Strictly.” Waite light-heartedly commented that a request for a “research purposes” trip to Vegas was denied due to budget constraints, joking, “They said they couldn’t afford James’s casino bills and Vincent’s drinks bill.”
Unique Appeal of the New Tour
Jordan highlighted what he believes sets their tour apart from other Strictly-related productions: “These guys are amazing and inspire me every single day that I watch them on stage. They’re all so different and so brilliant at what they do, but I think what separates our tour from any other Strictly tour is the realism in between with the chat, the camaraderie between us, and the fact that we take the mickey out of each other.” He concluded, “If we were still working for the BBC, we wouldn’t be able to say some of these things… but it’s all very real and honest and funny.” The 30-date tour is scheduled to begin in Fareham on 3 October and conclude in Cardiff on 8 November, with tickets available through various ticketing platforms.
