Strictly Come Dancing Live

Published Wednesday 23 January 2008 at 13:05 by Thom Dibdin

The BBC has succeeded in transferring Strictly Come Dancing from small screen to big arena while retaining the format - but without making great use of the potential benefits of the different environment. It is still, very much, a television show.

At times, this works to its advantage. It is much easier to appreciate the judges comments - an integral part of the performance - on two large screens flanking the main stage. Other elements are less successful. Kate Thornton has no presence in the arena setting and her shrill emceeing is often drowned out by the audience.

What’s really missing in this reduction of a TV series to one show is the drama of the winners and losers. It is not helped that most of the celebrity amateur dancers are relatively strong and wish to continue to be seen as such.

By contrast, while the performances of James Martin and Christopher Parker leave much to be desired in technical terms, they perform to the crowd. And at least cover the ballroom floor where other, stronger, dancers might be doing dining-room dancing, for all the ground they cover.

Stronger direction from Arlene Phillips, more thoughtful choreography and a lighting design by Mark Kenyon that at least tried to create an intimacy, rather than a distracting spectacle, would greatly improve the show.

Audience participation is retained with a mobile phone vote. Although it feels greedy to charge up to 75p a vote - with the obligatory half crown thrown to Children in Need - when the audience has already paid handsomely to be there.

A strictly correct transfer, particularly in Allan Rogers’ orchestra and Tommy Blaize’s singers. But one which could do with paying more attention to its footwork. I’d give it a seven.