No Show Like A Jo Show!

So I took a week off from watching Strictly last week to dedicate myself to all things X Factor for the sake of blogging and I have to say I am very happy to be back in my comfort zone this week.

I have considered why I am more of a Strictly watcher than an X Factor one and come to the conclusion that it’s all about the contestants and their expectation of what the show can do for them. Much as I enjoy watching Simon Cowell do his thing, the average X Factor contestant is very briefly exposed to a celebrity lifestyle only for it to disappear as soon as they are voted out. Only a small number manage to sustain a career in the business while the majority are tabloid fodder briefly before returning to their day jobs! The contestants are the meat in the sandwich and I fear many come away from the experience with little to show for it.

You don’t really get that impression while watching Strictly. Don’t get me wrong there are certainly people who take part in the show in an effort to revitalise their careers but no-one is taking part in the hope of becoming a professional dancer.

The people I enjoy watching are the ones who are there for the heck of it and Jo Wood personifies that type of contestant. Let’s face it the woman doesn’t need the money and I am sure she is not trying for a late career in television. Some random person in the BBC threw her name into the hat, she was asked and thought ‘let’s go for it!’ She smiled throughout the experience (even when she was compared to a kangaroo!), showed that grandmothers can be sexy, tamed the wild-man that is Brendan Cole (who has been a smitten-kitten throughout) and erased the public impression of a loyal wife ditched for a younger model. Ronnie who? You go girl!

Another person who I am liking more and more each week is Craig. Again he cannot dance but am loving his ‘I thought I was fabulous routine’ each week. Clearly the pictures in his head don’t match up to reality but you have to admire his enthusiasm and it would be great to see him make Blackpool in two weeks' time before making his exit. Only problem with that is he is the worst dancer left and I cannot see who could go ahead of him on Saturday. For my money Phil is expendable at this stage. He has okay rhythm but he doesn’t seem to be trying too hard and I am getting a little tired of his cheeky grins and gyrating bum.

Comeback of the week: That award goes to Ali and Brian who topped the table after a disastrous week. However maybe Arlene Phillips has a point when she said that all this talk of romance off set for contestants is not helping the chemistry on the dancefloor and perhaps that is something they should work on.

Must try harder: If Anton doesn’t get back into a tux and away from the Latin next week then he and Laila are in serious bother! After last week’s dance disaster, they followed up this week with an average example of Dad dancing not out of place at a school disco.

Roll on next week and let's hope Craig makes it to Blackpool.

Bree Treacy