'I worked on Strictly Come Dancing - this is what it's really like behind the scenes'

It's hard to judge the archetypal ever occurrence of Strictly Come Dancing deed our screens 20 years ago, with 8 celebrities and their nonrecreational partners sashaying into the nation's hearts and igniting a emotion of ballroom that has burned brightly ever since. "When it started, determination was thing other similar it," recalls Alison Maloney, writer of the authoritative Strictly annuals since 2008. "It brought this sprinkle of glitz and glamour to Saturday nights, and conscionable made radical smile. Whether it's bully dancing oregon atrocious dancing, it's a amusement that makes you consciousness happy, and adjacent the dependable of the taxable tune cheers you up."

Over 2 decades, much than 200 celebrities and 62 nonrecreational dancers person donned the glitter and sequins to grace the creation floor, and the BBC amusement regularly attracts up to 12 cardinal viewers. In 2010, Guinness World Records named it the world's astir palmy world TV format, and it has thrived successful much than 60 countries, nether names specified arsenic Dancing With The Stars.

On location soil, an array of spin-offs see companion amusement It Takes Two, 19 standalone Christmas editions and 18 foundation specials, portion millions of fans person flocked to the sell-out Strictly Come Dancing Live! arena tours. As befits a taste phenomenon, the amusement has besides scooped 3 Best Entertainment wins astatine the BAFTA TV Awards, with presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly accepting the latest successful May this year.

Strictly was archetypal inspired by Come Dancing, a ballroom dancing bid that aired connected the BBC from 1949 to 1998 and featured non-celebrity creation contestants. It was blended with elements of the cult movie Strictly Ballroom, and was developed by Karen Smith, enforcement shaper for the archetypal 5 series. "I retrieve thinking, if we get this right, it could beryllium immense – a due Saturday nighttime TV amusement that could truly beryllium loved by everyone aged 8 to 80," said Karen.

"The quality of an amusement entertainment similar Strictly is that it speaks a cosmopolitan language. There is nary obstruction to entree – children, parents and grandparents tin each beryllium down and ticker it, and acquisition that bosom and warmth and humour." Although the archetypal bid aired successful May 2004, the amusement is present cautiously timed to tally aboriginal successful the year. "It's getting colder, the evenings are darker, and it leads perfectly up to Christmas," says Alison. "You're battening down the hatches and you've got this lovely, joyous happening successful your surviving country for the full household to bask together."

With its affluent history, Strictly has ne'er failed to supply moments of sublime skill, emotion and hilarity. "It's pure, unadulterated escapism," reflects erstwhile enforcement shaper Andrea Hamilton. "People truly observe each different connected the show, which feels bully and is needed much than ever these days. There's besides a spot determination – you cognize thing excessively saucy volition beryllium shown, and it won't beryllium embarrassing for Nan to ticker it with her eight-year-old granddaughter. Yes, determination are cheeky jokes, but it's conscionable a twinkle successful the eye, ne'er offensive."

Andrea worked connected the amusement successful 2012 and 2013, arsenic good arsenic heading up assorted Christmas editions and The People's Strictly For Comic Relief. Explaining her role, she says, "You're managing each the celebrities, dancers, judges and presenters, arsenic good arsenic the radical routines. On amusement days, there's a squad of much than 100 people, truthful it's a immense operation." Andrea was fortunate capable to enactment connected the past bid presented by the legendary Sir Bruce Forsyth, who fronted 11 seasons alongside Tess Daly. Best known for his signature phrase, "Nice to spot you, to spot you nice!" and his famed "thinker" pose, helium stepped down from the unrecorded shows successful 2013 and, aft a play of ill-health, died successful August 2017, aged 89.

Having worked intimately with Bruce, Andrea recalls, "He was perfectly wonderful, and though he'd been successful showbiz for 50 years, helium was inactive truthful humble. He wanted everyone to bask his jokes and truly cared whether helium got a laughter successful rehearsals. The assemblage would beryllium sitting astir for hours, but he'd travel retired and archer a fewer jokes, person a chat and bash a small dance. People loved it and felt truthful privileged to person that astir one-on-one acquisition with him. No different big volition bash that nowadays, sadly." In its debut season, TV quality anchor Natasha Kaplinsky and her nonrecreational creation spouse Brendan Cole shimmied disconnected with the coveted glitterball trophy. Other winners to day person included vocalist Harry Judd, exemplary Abbey Clancy, comedian Bill Bailey, the precocious presenter Caroline Flack, and past year's victor, Coronation Street histrion Ellie Leach.

Taking portion successful the amusement has led galore competitors to waltz into spangly caller careers, with 2008 and 2010 winners Tom Chambers and Kara Tointon going connected to bask West End acclaim, and histrion Ricky Whittle hitting the large clip successful Hollywood aft landing a runner-up spot successful 2009. "Strictly truly does alteration lives," says Alison. "Back successful the day, Jill Halfpenny went consecutive from winning Strictly to starring successful Chicago. Even non-winners often spell into signifier roles oregon connected the unrecorded tours, which they emotion due to the fact that there's nary hazard of elimination."

Strictly has been successful the headlines for the incorrect reasons, aft allegations astir the behind-the-scenes behaviour of nonrecreational dancers Graziano Di Prima and Giovanni Pernice. Graziano's spokesperson admitted that helium kicked personage spouse Zara McDermott during rehearsals past year, portion Giovanni's spouse Amanda Abbington accused him of being "cruel and mean" – though helium has denied abusive oregon threatening behaviour. Both men person present near the show, but successful acknowledging the situation, the BBC has stressed the wellbeing of each participants is simply a apical precedence and that it is committed to maintaining a affirmative and nonrecreational situation for formed and crew.

Of course, immoderate of the show's astir talked-about characters person been those who person struggled. "Viewers ever similar to champion the underdog," says Alison. "We privation to spot radical turn successful confidence, particularly if they've ne'er danced before. It's similar with Krishnan Guru-Murthy past twelvemonth – helium didn't acceptable retired to win, helium conscionable truly wanted to beryllium there, and we loved watching him person a superb time."

While viewers are inevitably drawn to the celebrities' journeys, overmuch of Strictly's occurrence lies successful its ocular appeal, with the acceptable designs and outfits becoming ever much elaborate. Around 400 antithetic costumes are created for each series. Andrea, who is present MD of accumulation institution ModestTV, says, "It's hypnotic to spot each the unthinkable dresses and the antithetic colours and styles. The costume section is brilliant, and truthful is the make-up team. They enactment tirelessly and spell the other mile to marque definite it's each perfect." Entertainment aside, a cardinal portion of Strictly is learning astir antithetic forms of dance. "One of the joys of the amusement is that viewers go mini experts," says Andrea. "People whitethorn not person antecedently known the quality betwixt a waltz and a Viennese waltz, oregon a jive and the cha cha, but we prime up truthful overmuch from the judges, who instrumentality america on with them."