Ask anyone I know well what my biggest aim in life is and they’ll respond with one answer: to be on Strictly Come Dancing.
Yes, it might seem stupid – even a tad sad – but the idea of walking down those ballroom stairs as Dave Arch and the Strictly band fire up that famous theme tune is one that fills me with deep, untold amounts of joy. In fact, I’ve a tear in my eye just thinking about it.
There’s only one snag – I’m a nobody. Although, these days, it seems like being famous isn’t even required to get on the show, and that’s something I think presents an opportunity to do something different.
Yet again, this year’s line-up come in for criticism for its lack of star power, with little-known names like Saffron Barker (nope), Viscountess Emma Weymouth (me neither) and Karim Zeroual (anyone?).
True, the success of Strictly has never depended on having an A-list line-up (last year’s series was testament to that), but if bosses are having to fill half the cast with relative unknowns thanks to a shrinking pool of willing celebrities, then why not mix things up and throw the ballroom doors open to the public?
The BBC have tried something similar before with The People’s Strictly – a four part half-documentary-half-competition in aid of Comic Relief, which saw “everyday heroes” nominated to take part. It was a real heart-warming spectacle.
However, I love the idea proper, ordinary folk getting the chance to step into the glamour of the Strictly studio for an experience that would mean even more to them than the (handsomely-paid) celebrities.
Like Bake Off – a show that totally benefits from having non-famous competitors – cast the right mix of people and you could have a recipe for real ballroom magic.
Just imagine little old Sandra from Grimsby strutting her stuff with Aljaz, slightly over-confident hunk Josh being put in his place by feisty Nadiya, or the adorable friendship that would form between call-centre worker Amy and school teacher Rob.
If producers found people that had emotional reasons for wanting to learn to dance, we’d also be even more invested in their journeys, while having non-showbiz types would also be an exciting new challenge for the pro dancers.
And then, you’d have the joy of watching Tess Daly trying to hold together a live show with 15 non-media trained contestants.
Now, try and tell me that all doesn’t sound even more wonderful than normal?
I’m not for a minute suggesting they bin off the usual series completely, but just for one year, this could be a really lovely change – and one which may also help reinvigorate the conversation surrounding the following year’s celebrity line-up.
Although if the BBC does decide to go with this idea, I want to be right at the front of the contestant queue, please.
Ash Percival is the Entertainment Editor of HuffPost UK.
