This would be a good subject for a poll...
How long have you been watching Strictly?
5 of 5
I missed the first series, the first half of the second series, and have watched almost every show since then!
Originally Posted by Monkseal:
“And that's a large part of why I hated it. The coded homophobia around Darren ("real man" and "masculine") vs Colin ("airy fairy" and "feminine") was horrible to watch for me.
Good for the homophobic mouthbreathers in the audience that they can have a hero I guess, but when the show was actively closeting its gay male dancers at the time and has taken 14 years to cast an openly gay man as anything other than a comic turn to be laughed at, and was as recently as last year releasing press releases saying they wouldn't feature same-sex dancing because it's "a family show" then I don't see it as anything to celebrate at all.
Anyway, I started watching about halfway through series 1 woop woop
”
“And that's a large part of why I hated it. The coded homophobia around Darren ("real man" and "masculine") vs Colin ("airy fairy" and "feminine") was horrible to watch for me.
Good for the homophobic mouthbreathers in the audience that they can have a hero I guess, but when the show was actively closeting its gay male dancers at the time and has taken 14 years to cast an openly gay man as anything other than a comic turn to be laughed at, and was as recently as last year releasing press releases saying they wouldn't feature same-sex dancing because it's "a family show" then I don't see it as anything to celebrate at all.
Anyway, I started watching about halfway through series 1 woop woop
”
Oh I agree totally, it was a blindingly obvious agenda on the show in terms of the contrasts between them both as sportsmen but I can also completely understand why they went that route.
I don't buy into the homophobia angle so much as the desperation to show that dancing could be done by anyone, including the bloke you'd normally find in the pub with a pint.
Originally Posted by POTD:
“Slightly unfair, I never got the impression that Colin was derided in any way. He reached the final, so the public still liked him a lot (and still do).
Gough was such a story because he was so unexpected, a blokey working class Yorkshire fast bowler loving dancing, and being pretty good at it was such shock and great publicity for the show.”
“Slightly unfair, I never got the impression that Colin was derided in any way. He reached the final, so the public still liked him a lot (and still do).
Gough was such a story because he was so unexpected, a blokey working class Yorkshire fast bowler loving dancing, and being pretty good at it was such shock and great publicity for the show.”
I agree, I've always felt they ran with it once they realised that Gough had fallen in love with dancing and he was such an atypical competitor.
Started watching Series 3 when Darren won, stopped after series 10 when Lewis won. I just lost interest.
Now back for this series and absolutely loving it!
Now back for this series and absolutely loving it!
From about series 4 onwards. Lost interest about series 8 but would have watched if it was on. Never missed a show from series 10
I remember sitting in my Grandparents kitchen watching the semi final of the first series and I loved it so much I got my whole family sat down to watch the final the following week. Haven't missed an episode since 
Watched from the very beginning.
First series was a different kettle of fish - just a few couples, in the summer and to raise money for Sport Relief.
Than a surprised BBC had a hit on its hands, but didn't really alter the format for a few years.
Didn't like the introduction of the dance-off, but can see why they have it now. It makes a cheap, popular Sunday evening show - but they shouldn't have it for the semi and quarter finals, especially when a celebrity drops out.
Think in recent years they've tried to jazz Strictly up a bit too much. Whether it's to attract homeless, disillusioned X Factor watchers or whether it's too many of TPTB with DWTS links I don't know - but Strictly has lost something.
I used to watch every single programme - even Bruce - but now I tend to record it to avoid the irritating VTs.
First series was a different kettle of fish - just a few couples, in the summer and to raise money for Sport Relief.
Than a surprised BBC had a hit on its hands, but didn't really alter the format for a few years.
Didn't like the introduction of the dance-off, but can see why they have it now. It makes a cheap, popular Sunday evening show - but they shouldn't have it for the semi and quarter finals, especially when a celebrity drops out.
Think in recent years they've tried to jazz Strictly up a bit too much. Whether it's to attract homeless, disillusioned X Factor watchers or whether it's too many of TPTB with DWTS links I don't know - but Strictly has lost something.
I used to watch every single programme - even Bruce - but now I tend to record it to avoid the irritating VTs.
Since the beginning with family, but fell in love in Lisa Snowdon's series (I think I was her sole voter). 
The first series I remember being serious about and watching religiously was Ali Bastian's series (7 was it?) ... I've since heard a thousand times that it was one of the worst ever Well, it entertained me anyway.
Well, it entertained me anyway.
i've watched every episode of every series, and never missed an ITT either. Strictly inspired me to learn ballroom dancing.
I think some of the original activities in the show ought to come back
-nobody getting an 8 as a score until at least week 5
-nobody getting a 10 until after Blackpool
All couples to dance the 10 dances
I dont like the results show, and the Dance Off, but it's a good "filler" for a Sunday night.
I love being part of the spoiler thread on the Saturday night been on the forums since series 4,to stop me being a bore at work as I was going on about it all the time
I think some of the original activities in the show ought to come back
-nobody getting an 8 as a score until at least week 5
-nobody getting a 10 until after Blackpool
All couples to dance the 10 dances
I dont like the results show, and the Dance Off, but it's a good "filler" for a Sunday night.
I love being part of the spoiler thread on the Saturday night
been on the forums since series 4,to stop me being a bore at work as I was going on about it all the time
Regularly from midway through series 4 onwards, sporadically before then (and have caught up since as far as earlier series clips are available on Youtube).
I haven't been such an avid viewer in the last few years since they started making it too gimmicky for my liking, but I still watch on catch-up most weeks (it's a lot quicker that way!)
I haven't been such an avid viewer in the last few years since they started making it too gimmicky for my liking, but I still watch on catch-up most weeks (it's a lot quicker that way!)
Since the first series in 2004. Back then I was teenager who finished school that year & went straight to college.
Fast forward to now I'm in my lates 20's, have finished further education, I'm married & have a child at school & own a house. Love Strictly still a firm favourite of mine.
Fast forward to now I'm in my lates 20's, have finished further education, I'm married & have a child at school & own a house. Love Strictly still a firm favourite of mine.
Originally Posted by Alleycat666:
“Right from the off in series 1 - and pretty much never missed a show.”
“Right from the off in series 1 - and pretty much never missed a show.”
Me too - and I watched the original Come Dancing as well. Peter West the best host ever!
Originally Posted by Alleycat666:
“Right from the off in series 1 - and pretty much never missed a show.”
“Right from the off in series 1 - and pretty much never missed a show.”
Me too, right from the beginning. my favourites are, Darren Gough, Mark Ramprakash and Tom Chambers and more recently Louis Smith and Harry Judd.
The very first year I didn't see live (as in, while the series was airing weekly). Caught up online in later months.
The series with Jill & Darren, hardly watched any live, but caught up later online. I think I watched the 'famous' Jive actually proper live on the airing date, unless I imagined I did, but I think I did.
The series with Darren & Lilya, hardly watched live again, but caught up later online.
Mark Ramps & Karen is the first series I watched from start to finish, in ever LIVE sense (when not out getting drunk), and was well and truly hooked. From this series onwards, I've watched every year!
Was particularly great Uni viewing, helped bonding in our house, and used it in living situ post it for same reason.
So 10 full series watched, and now this 11th in the the process of.
I think I qualify as a near super fan.
The series with Jill & Darren, hardly watched any live, but caught up later online. I think I watched the 'famous' Jive actually proper live on the airing date, unless I imagined I did, but I think I did.
The series with Darren & Lilya, hardly watched live again, but caught up later online.
Mark Ramps & Karen is the first series I watched from start to finish, in ever LIVE sense (when not out getting drunk), and was well and truly hooked. From this series onwards, I've watched every year!
Was particularly great Uni viewing, helped bonding in our house, and used it in living situ post it for same reason.
So 10 full series watched, and now this 11th in the the process of.
I think I qualify as a near super fan.
I missed the first series, but have watched every one since, although it has lost its appeal the last few years, I just don't get the comedy they are trying to push, it no longer feels like a professional show to me. I just watch the dancing now and rarely bother with the results show.
Originally Posted by VintageWhine:
“This would be a good subject for a poll...”
“This would be a good subject for a poll...”
I'm Arts & Humanities, I like words not numbers
Originally Posted by DeltaBlues:
“I'm Arts & Humanities, I like words not numbers”
“I'm Arts & Humanities, I like words not numbers
”
So am I but you could do both although I suppose less people would comment if it's a poll.
Originally Posted by Mrs F:
“
I think some of the original activities in the show ought to come back
-nobody getting an 8 as a score until at least week 5
-nobody getting a 10 until after Blackpool
All couples to dance the 10 dances:”
“
I think some of the original activities in the show ought to come back
-nobody getting an 8 as a score until at least week 5
-nobody getting a 10 until after Blackpool
All couples to dance the 10 dances:”
I know this is more of a general point, but in every single series since the first one at least one couple has got 8s for their first dance. They've never been anything special.
Originally Posted by Cadiva:
“I don't buy into the homophobia angle so much as the desperation to show that dancing could be done by anyone, including the bloke you'd normally find in the pub with a pint.”
“I don't buy into the homophobia angle so much as the desperation to show that dancing could be done by anyone, including the bloke you'd normally find in the pub with a pint.”
Sure, but your post was the one introducing the idea that they were using Darren to market the show to men who thought dancing was "just for poofs". The subtext was there.
Series 1 and 2 I was still in my waitressing/bartending days so I could only watch when I wasn't working on a Saturday night. From 2005 on I hardly missed a show and was also the year that Youtube launched so people started uploading a couple of things here and there. When they launched the IPlayer in 2007 it was absolute heaven, even I had missed a live show I always caught up in the IPlayer later.
From the very first episode of series 1! (Claire wuzz' robbed). Never missed an episode since, whether live or on catch up. Strictly struck the dance bug in me (at 11), and, several Ballroom/Latin trophies later, I'm still an enthusiastic armchair judge.
5 of 5
