Strictly Come Dancing burst back onto screens on Saturday night (October 22) and despite the 2022 competition still being only weeks in, viewers have started a campaign for the 2023 line-up after spotting someone with all the moves minutes into the latest episode.
Huw Edwards, Naga Munchetty and Graham Norton were among the BBC stars who featured in a special opening of the BBC One dance contest to mark the broadcaster's centenary, which was officially marked on October 18.
To kick off Saturday’s show, the professional dancers and judges performed a routine which moved through numerous classic BBC shows including Casualty, EastEnders and University Challenge. The number opened with broadcaster BBC News' Huw paying tribute to the dance competition and later Graham featuring judge Motsi Mabuse in his show’s famous red chair.
There was also a special feature for the show's former host Sir Bruce Forsyth who was seen in a throwback clip dancing with late broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan. BBC weatherman Owain Wyn Evans also brought his drumming talents to the Ballroom while Pudsey Bear got in on the action.
Opening the show, co-host Tess Daly said: “Tonight we are celebrating 100 years of the BBC.” Fellow host Claudia Winkleman added: “That was our most ambitious group number ever featuring 14 BBC shows and 35 BBC stars all choreographed by Matt Flint." The dance competition then honoured 100 years of the BBC with routines to classic BBC theme songs and references to popular shows.
But there was one person featured in the opening of the show that caught viewers' eyes and that was former Manchester City star Micah Richards. He was seen busting some moves alongside Dion Dublin in the Match of the Day studio while host Gary Linekar refused to join in.
And fans were impressed by the former footballer's groove. @emmabridge83 said: "Loved that opening number... Loved seeing Micah Richards. He definitely needs to appear on Strictly at some stage." @AndrewJazzie tweeted: "The campaign for Micah Richards Strictly Come Dancing 2023 starts now. He would be amazing." @MillieSansoye screamed: "MICAH RICHARDS AND DION DUBLIN SERVING MOVESSSS #Strictly."
The first celebrity performance of the night, TV presenter Helen Skelton went back to her Blue Peter days as she danced the Charleston to Mike Oldfield’s theme tune for the children’s show. She dressed in red dungarees and partner Gorka Marquez donned red trousers as they performed before revealing a puppet creation of the judges.
They secured a score of 35, with judge Anton Du Beke describing it as Skelton’s “best dance yet”. Wildlife cameraman Hamza Yassin also secured the top score after he paid homage to his BBC nature programming background as he danced the quickstep to On Top Of The World by Imagine Dragons, with Jowita Przystal, with fake polar bears in the background.
Kiss FM DJ Tyler West and Dianne Buswell brought a haunting atmosphere to the dancefloor as they danced the tango to the Doctor Who theme tune. The couple remained striking and mysterious throughout their routine, which also featured a Tardis and Weeping Angels, to land a score of 32.
In traditional Eurovision style, Norton introduced singer and presenter Fleur East and Vito Coppola to the dancefloor for their performance to Waterloo by Abba, which won the Swedish pop group the song contest in 1974 in Brighton. Meanwhile, EastEnders star James Bye paid an emotional homage to the BBC soap as he performed the foxtrot to Julia’s Theme, the show’s alternative version of the classic theme song.
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