You Make Me Feel Like Dancing!!

....79 days to go......

Now that my friends, is what they call a top night!!

Let me take you back a month and a bit…..nope…..must go further back…..to 2004. It was that year that ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ hit the television screens across the UK. For those uninitiated – where have you BEEN the last decade?? - it is a programme which pairs celebrities (some famous and some….not so famous….!) with professional dancers who take them under their wing and introduce them to the world of the ballroom or the latin. Week on week they appear on live tv to amaze – and often horrify – judges Craig, Len, Bruno and Arlene/Alesha/Darcy with their latest routine; and week on week, one of them is voted out of the competition by combination of the judges and viewers phone vote.

In the ten years since the series kicked off, Strictly has become a phenomenon; now with versions in over forty (yes, FORTY other countries). In the UK, what originally was an eight week series one shown in the middle of Summer, has now become a twelve week extravaganza forming the linchpin of the BBC’s Christmas build-up; culminating in the Christmas day special.

So why has it become so popular? Now that is simple; it’s brilliant!! Whether you like the dancing, the pretty dresses, ‘the journey’ of the celebrities into the world of dance, or maybe even the handsome gentlemen or the pretty girls (how positively neanderthal of you……you won’t find me gazing fixedly at Christina Rihanoff’s legs, ooooh no!......well ok, maybe a little); there is surely something in it for everyone to like. For me, I do love the dancing (I can even cut a mean salsa rug myself!); but above all, it is just pure, unadulterated, fun!!

So from early October, Strictly takes over my life; many a Saturday and Sunday night see me sat in my own living room, sat with my Mum, sat with my family, watching the latest batch of tangoes, rhumbas, jives, waltzes. Then, after Christmas, the fun is over; and not only do we then have to negotiate being back at work after the holidays, we have to do it without the dancing. Boo hoo!

But, as Fraulein Maria said; when God closes a door, somewhere he opens a window. The window in this case is ‘Strictly Come Dancing – Live’!! Yes; for the fifth year running, the Blaydon clan – in some way, shape, or form – have alleviated the cold tv-turkey by paso-doble-ing along to the MEN Arena for one final Strictly fix; and I – in a fit of mass generosity – have yet again bought the tickets; this year for Mum, brother, sister-in-law, sister and me (pssst – don’t tell anyone, but I kind of have a vested interest in doing this, as I get to go too; kind of like dragging a child to see Disney’s ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarves’ because you want to see it yourself!).

It’s much the same format as a regular episode, but we get to see them up close and personal (and as I book the tickets about a femtosecond after they go on sale; VERY close and EXTREMELY personal). SUCH a good night; plenty of laughs, plenty of fantastic music, plenty of incredible dancing, a wee bit of dreadful dancing, and a LOT of fun! So hats-off to Lisa, Denise, Fern, Dani, Michael and Louis (stole the show with the iconic ‘Dirty Dancing’ finale, including ‘the lift’; amazing!) for putting on another night to remember. I'm already on the mailing list for 2014!!

Oh, almost forgot to tell you; not only did we get our dancing shoes on tonight; Clare (sister) also treated us to afternoon tea at the Midland Hotel. Now let me tell you; THAT was the perfect way to start a great night (champagne, sandwiches, cakes, more champagne, scones, more champagne, pot of coffee……the ooooonly way to fly!!).