The line-up never really matters. Every year the announcement is overshadowed by a cacophony of “never heard of him” and “who is she?”, not one of us stopping to pause to consider that it’s practically irrelevant whether the celebs donning their dancing shoes are actually famous or not. I’d bet you didn’t know who George Clarke was before his -themed Charleston – and he made it to last year’s finale.
Even so, this year’s line-up does feel a little… off. Yes, there are a few B-listers (practically royalty when it comes to ‘s fame scale): Gavin and Stacey actor Melanie Walters, who played Stacey’s mum Gwen; ‘ Lacey Turner AKA Stacey Slater; former England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, and Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey. But there’s also football influencer John Nellis, ex- Cach Mercer, dog trainer Graeme Hall, and Kim Kardashian’s hairdresser Chris Appleton (yes, really). The alphabet runs out of letters before you get to whatever list this lot are on.
This is no ordinary year for the BBC’s flagship dance competition. Come September, the show will not only have a fresh look (according to an insider, the studio will have a new “sleek, impressive set”), but three new presenters: Emma Willis, Josh Widdecombe, and former pro dancer Johannes Radebe. The Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman era of is well and truly over, and with a new epoch comes unavoidable uncertainty. The television-loving British public do not like change.
That goes some way to explaining why this year’s line-up feels a little more desperate than usual. No celebrity with a reputation to protect or a project to promote is going to risk being part of a show that has a chance of being a flop. If this new iteration of ends up being a shadow of its former self, it’s not just the new presenters who will be tarred with that brush of failure – it’s anyone even remotely related to the show.
Let’s not forget the reason is having to enter a new era in the first place. It was once the most respected (and therefore safest) programme in the land – family-friendly, glittery fun on the never offensive BBC. But the scandals have come thick and fast over the years, with accusations ranging from bullying to drug taking on set, from offensive language both on-stage and behind the scenes, to police investigating rape claims involving male stars of the series. The revamp is by no means an ironclad guarantee that these upsets will stop. In fact, a fresh new start might just be a sticky back plaster on a gaping wound.
I have unbridled respect, then, for the celebrities who have decided to throw caution to the wind and sign up for this year’s show anyway. Of course some have something to gain from the experience. Dani Dyer will be hoping to redeem herself after pulling out of last year’s competition due to an injury, John Nellis will be hoping to break into mainstream sport broadcasting, Cach Mercer will be after a few new followers.
And then there are the celebs that have a more symbiotic relationship with . Take Chris Appleton – he might be known as a celebrity hairdresser, but he’s also got four million Instagram followers and a direct line to the most famous woman in the world. The publicity generated from an appearance from the one and only Kim Kardashian is worth whatever fee they’re paying Appleton tenfold.
In the end, it doesn’t really matter who you are – actor, sportsperson, influencer, or hairdresser – the dance floor is the great leveller. We love to see them take on the judge’s advice and improve week on week, even if that means simply putting one foot in front of the other. It’s the only show we can earnestly talk about a contestant’s “journey” without being sick in our own mouths.
owes it to this year’s contestants to pull off this reboot. If it doesn’t, it might struggle to fill the dance floor next year.