Strictly star demands BBC rest the show so it can ‘go back to basics’
A Strictly Come Dancing star has suggested that the BBC take their beloved show off air for a year to ‘think about what we can do differently’.
The dance competition is undergoing a lot of change, with hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly announcing their shock departure and some long-standing professionals reportedly being axed from the show.
It’s now been on our screens for over 20 years, and continues to draw in big audiences.
But one former pro, who joined the show over fifteen years ago has some advice for the broadcaster.
Kristina Rihanoff, 48, told The Independent: ‘If I were a producer, I would give it a rest for a year, regroup and think about what we can do differently.’
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She went on: ‘There’s something to say about going back to basics and back to its roots – the roots of the show were pure ballroom and Latin dancing without the razzmatazz of 101 props and 3D projections.
‘When I came onto the show, it was about ballroom and Latin dancing. It was minimum props, all the group dances were live.
‘The professionals were choreographing it and the celebrities had to learn proper ballroom and Latin dancing. It would not do any harm to go back to the good old-fashioned [ways].’
Back in 2008, when Kristina joined the show, she was partnered with John Sergeant, who secured the popular vote despite scoring poorly with the judges.
Kristina stayed on the show for seven more seasons and danced with the likes of actor Jason Donovan, singer Simon Webbe, and rugby star Ben Cohen – who later became her romantic partner and the father of her child.
She left in 2015, after dancing with TV host Daniel O’Donnell – the pair became the third couple to be eliminated from the competition.
Amid the supposed bloodbath happening at Strictly HQ, with few professional dancers seemingly safe from being axed, Kristina shared with The Independent that this isn’t anything new.
Explaining the situation in more detail, she said that professionals are only ever contracted for 12 months, meaning that the period leading up to potential contract renewal could be an excruciating one.
Kristina said: ‘You never know who is in jeopardy or if they’re going to renew your contract. It’s not a very nice feeling and obviously, on a lot of dancers, it has a big mental health effect.’
A BBC spokesperson told Metro that ‘plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be confirmed in due course’.
Metro has contacted BBC for comment.
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