Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special

December 23 2009

On Monday 21st December, along with my colleague Julie, I attended the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special at TV Centre in London.

We queued like all good Brits for 2 hours uncomplaining - well maybe a little - braving the driving rain and at times heavy snow, huddling under minute brollies against a brick wall in the hope that our stoic efforts would, in the end, be rewarded with the opportunity to see the show - I should point out that queuing for a BBC show does not necessarily guarantee entry !

However, having eventually gained entry into the hallowed place, we then proceeded to queue again for the cloakroom, and yet again to acquire, by now, a much needed a beverage (or two, or three!)

Having thawed out for an hour or so and been subjected to recordings of previous shows, which are screened in the” holding area” to get us in the mood, we then proceeded to queue - yet again - for access into the studio itself.

Once in the studio, and having been asked to move three times - each time to better location! We found ourselves amidst the likes of newsreader Sophie Rayworth, famous Welsh mezzo soprano Katherine Jenkins, that cheeky chappy Ricky from Eastenders and a few others of note! - well worth all that queuing I was beginning to think.

On came the warm up act, a man who was the the spitting image of Dale Winton in all aspects of his person, then the judges parade, all dressed up, in good humour and raring to go, then out came the maestro himself, Bruce Forsythe to start the proceedings for real.


He gave us a tune – great voice by the way, did a twirl with Tess and then asked if anyone in the audience did ballroom dancing and would like to dance with him. I didn’t need asking twice, I was up like a scolded cat. He took me in his arms and led me around the floor. What an amazing experience, he is a magnificent dancer and in my view the only true all round entertainer left in the business so to have had this opportunity was,for me, a dream come true.

The evening got even better later when I got to take to the floor yet again and dance a 'CHA CHA CHA daaaarling' with Gethin Jones! What a night and what a show!

The, dancers, celebs, costume designers, lighting engineers, band (who are incredible), all the production team… indeed everyone who is associated with the show deserve heartfelt congratulations, and if the Queen reads this – when is Brucey going to be knighted??