Strictly Christmas special

[shallowness]

Well, some Strictly champions are more equal than others, aren’t they? While I really welcome the Strictly all-stars format for the Christmas special – they’ve all had some training and there’s definite audience recognition, so it’s better than random celebrities, I did spend all of this wishing that Bruce would retire for good, especially during the song. And not even a sniff of Claudia? (The only mitigating factor would be if it was during the time she was off.)

Anyway, it almost went like I expected it to. The Christmas-themed intros were better than normal. I spent the whole time of Chris and Iveta’s section laughing (at Iveta).

Rachel brought the cute kid that is one of Strictly’s key ingredients and had us all going ‘Was it that long ago since she was on it?’ (Still the best rumba as far as I’m concerned.) Tristan had the dazed look of a pro with a good celeb and the view at our lounge was that she was better than Sophie.

I’ll say this for Russell, he’s better than Scott. That’s about all you can say, though I chortled at Jasmine!Natalie mocking Aladdin!Joanne’s height.

Sophie didn’t quite have the pizzazz I’d expect for an American Smooth. Must have been weird for Brendan to watch. It was, as ever, good to see the ‘Class of 2014’ – the Christmas special helps with the withdrawal symptoms.

Ugh, then Lisa Riley and Robin and more judgey Christmas kindness.

And finally Louis, heir to the crown, and I thought he delivered. There were some really stylish touches to that quickstep and the speed was seriously impressive.

I would rather have seen the Simon, Frankie and Pixie supergroup than Bruce, but the visit to the residential home, despite threatening to be cloying, was genuinely touching, because what came out was how much ballroom dancing had and did mean to them. Frankie tearing up was as inevitable as everything else on the show.

The Cinderella number was disappointing from the second Darcey started talking – too much of bringing everyone in and not enough pro fabulousness.

So, an assortment, like those tins of chocolates, with some highlights and some Bountys or whatever you have rattling around in the tin by New Year.

Anyway, Merry Christmas. I hope to watch the Miranda and Downton Christmas specials, but I don’t know if I can face doing it with Family Members.