‘I watch it to check I’m not being idiotic’
Anton Du Beke
BBC/Guy Levy
- Emma Cox
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You’ve been part of Strictly since the start. How has the show changed over the past 20 years?
People say the standard has improved, but Jill Halfpenny did one of the best jives ever in series two. Darren Gough was fantastic in series three, as was Mark Ramprakash in series four. But it’s more spectacular now because we do lifts and dances that we never used to, like the American Smooth and the Charleston.
Did you ever imagine that the show would run for 20 years? What’s the secret of its longevity?
We never even considered it, but I thought it was a genius idea putting a celebrity with a professional. You can enjoy it for so many different reasons, whether it’s the live music, the judges, the dancing, the frocks. The nuts and bolts haven’t changed, but it’s become more impressive-looking every time.
What would it take for you to leave?
I’ll be there in a decade, don’t you worry. I think it can run and run. People are loving the show as much as ever, even with all the negative press over the past months. What the press don’t understand is that audiences don’t want to hear about that. They want you to leave it alone, thank you so much. We love this show.
Do you watch it yourself?
It’s a big thing in our house. My wife and children love it, so I watch from time to time and check that I’m not being a lunatic or idiotic.
Do you ever change your mind on your scores when you watch it back?
What we don’t see in the studio is what you see at home. You’ll see something from the front, where the cameras are, and we’re watching from the side. Sometimes I’ll go, “Oh, I didn’t see that, they went a bit out of time.” But I judge what I’m looking at and I’ve never been wrong yet.
Has the judging changed over the years?
It was harsher in the old days. Craig couldn’t get away with it now. He was absolutely brutal! I got the worst of it. If someone’s made a mistake and could do better, of course you point it out. But if my partners were never going to be very good, I didn’t think there was any need for the judges to batter us. That was pointless and unhelpful.
Did Craig’s comments ever upset you?
No. He said some really unpleasant things to me and Ann Widdecombe. Ann said, “Well, if you didn’t like that, wait till next week, we’re doing the samba.” It was brilliant.
Is it hard as a professional to find the balance between pushing the contestants and encouraging them?
My attitude was always that if it’s not working, find another way. If people started to well up, we’d go and have a cup of tea to take the heat out of it. I never wanted my partner to wish they’d danced with somebody else. I was very fortunate; I had a great time with all my partners.
Do you miss being a pro?
I get a twinge when I see a lovely dance that I’d love to have done. Then again, one or two of the dances I would gladly not have done, and that’s what makes me think I’m better where I am!
Will you be watching the Christmas special?
I’m very traditional. We do Christmas dinner, then sit and watch Strictly. It’s secretly my favourite edition of the show. I used to beg them to let me do it. One year I was still in the competition so I couldn’t do the Christmas special as well, but they let me dance to Michael Bublé.
Who would you like to see on the Christmas special?
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Mike and Zara Tindall. I know them both well and they’d be great sports.
Authors
Emma Cox
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