Strictly: Anton gives semi-final feedback to Annabel Croft
Used to the brouhaha from ‘I’m A Celebrity’ about who is being paid what – this time Nigel Farage is said to have trousered £1.5 million while lesser names like influencer Nella Rose signed up for a mere £40K – have you ever noticed how not a single word is ever breathed about the cash contestants earn on Strictly?
I’ll let you in on a Strictly secret. The show is what’s called ‘favoured nations’. In plain English, that means everyone taking part is paid an identical fee.
You might wonder why a household name like Les Dennis would agree to participate for the same paycheque as, say, BBC Asian network presenter Nikita Kanda? True body and soul Strictly fans won’t waste a second wondering. They already know the answer.
Some programmes are all about the fat fee. Celebrities hope appearing on them will boost their profile and soup up their earning power but deep down they are showing up for the spondulicks. Strictly is an entirely different proposition – a contract confers instant prestige.
Agents beaver away behind the scenes pushing their clients’ credentials to the show’s revered bookers. Only the very fortunate are chosen and every one of them is so grateful for the privilege of being part of the beloved and iconic show they’d probably do it for nothing.
READ MORE: BBC Strictly’s Anton Du Beke sparks fury as viewers all issue the same complaint
When you factor in the infinite hours of rehearsal, appearances on ‘It Takes Two’, filming the weekly pre-dance video, queuing for the spray tan and sitting in hair and makeup at 7.30am on Saturdays when the programme doesn’t start for another 12 hours, the flat fee is far from princely.
That changes in the semi-final. If you make it that far – I alas didn’t – your money increases by a decent whack. If you survive to the final it bumps up even more. So there really is everything, including cash to play for.
Saturday’s semifinal soared to the celestial heights of Strictly history. All four remaining celebrities were bringing their A-game with such vigour and enthusiasm they practically took flight.
Anton expressed the enraptured audience’s feeling exactly when he said if Layton and Nikita had been evicted earlier we would never have witnessed their earth-shattering Charleston and that would have been a devastating loss.
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Of course, they scored straight 10s. Truly the judges needed an extra special star-studded paddle for their performance. It was better than a 10. If you think I’m exaggerating and it’s technically impossible to improve on perfection, you can’t have seen their remarkable routine.
Dance after dance was simply sublime. The thought of one of these four delightful and ravishingly talented couples being booted out was almost too much to bear.
Although her departure had started to feel inevitable in such a distinguished semi-final, I couldn’t help praying some miracle would save Annabel and Johannes.
Her story has been the most compelling of the series. She began in a state of abject grief, lost in the shock of unexpected widowhood. She was a wraith, thin and gaunt, haunted by her heartbreak.
Gentle Johannes and her unexpected empathy for dance have rescued and revived her. Each week she has regained a little of herself, colour quietly creeping back into her beautiful face.
Her dancing is delightful. The restorative quality of Strictly is astonishing. I hope Annabel is already booked to do the Strictly tour and will continue to be part of the family, buoyed up by her many friends.
As for the final? I’d like to say the Glitterball glimmers in an open field but I think the trophy is already engraved with Layton’s name, unless Bobby or Ellie unleash a terpsichorean triumph so supersonic even his artistry and athleticism are eclipsed. I can’t wait.
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