This wasn’t the most memorable serving of Strictly – but that is as surely all involved would have preferred it. The broadcast was overshadowed by the publication earlier in the week of the BBC’s investigation into accusations against former pro dancer Giovanni Pernice. The organisation cleared Pernice of physical aggression against actress Amanda Abbington. But it “upheld some, but not all” of her other complaints against him. Abbington had said that the dancer’s behaviour towards her was “inappropriate, mean, nasty and bullying”.
None of that was, of course, mentioned on air. Instead, everyone involved worked hard to restore the idea that Strictly is a big, happy family where hard work is part of the fun. Willcox certainly seemed to have enjoyed her time under the glitterball. She revealed that she had “waited 20 years” to appear on the show and that Jones was the perfect instructor. “I felt so comfortable and safe. You’re a great teacher, and you’re a great friend as well. You’ve just given me a new zest for life; that’s the most valuable thing I’ve come away with.”
With her exit, just five female contestants remain – though the BBC will hope that nobody is keeping a running total of the gender divide. At the end of an episode that featured a soothing performance by pianist Alexis Ffrench and a feel-good pro dancer routine inspired by the rom coms of cinema past, there was a sense that Strictly was ready to put recent rumblings were behind it. Willcox will be missed but it’s last season’s upheavals that the BBC really wants to forget.