Strictly Come Dancing host Tess Daly has spoken out about the controversy surrounding Paul Merson’s song choice for the first live show of the series. The 56-year-old ex-Arsenal footballer turned Sky Sports pundit is set to debut with a routine to the anthem ‘Vindaloo’, with mixed reactions from the audience as the first live show approaches. Despite whispers of Paul’s discontent with the song choice, he is expected to showcase his moves alongside professional dancer Karen Hauer.
Looking ahead to this weekend’s performances, Tess, appearing on husband Vernon Kay’s BBC Radio 2 show, expressed her excitement: “Hi Vern, the excitement is palpable in the studio today. It’s really building, because all 15 celebrities are dancing live for the very first time on tomorrow night’s show.” Anticipating the variety of dances and the effort put into preparations, Tess continued: “Costumes are being finalised, fake tan sessions are being booked. We have sambas, two sambas, and the samba’s challenging as a first dance, so that’s going to be really interesting.”
Further hyping up the event, she remarked: “We’ve got cha chas, and when I tell you that Paul Merson’s American Smooth is not to be missed, I promise I am not joking,” as reported by Birmingham Live. In her closing remarks, Tess left listeners eagerly awaiting the upcoming extravaganza: “We just can’t wait for everyone to see all the hard work these brilliant celebrities have put in the training room, it’s gonna be an amazing show! See you tomorrow, 7 o’clock!”
Paul’s selected song, ‘Vindaloo’, is a track by the British band Fat Les. The song, released in 1998, coincided with that year’s FIFA World Cup. Initially conceived as a spoof of football chants, ‘Vindaloo’ swiftly gained a following, becoming a cult hit and an anthem in its own right. However, the song has faced criticism in recent years. An onlooker at the recording of Strictly’s opening episode relayed to The Mail on Sunday that Paul had to redo his reaction upon learning he’d be dancing to ‘Vindaloo’, as his initial response appeared noticeably “cross.”
Tess Daly’s supportive comments come in light of the debate surrounding Paul Merson’s song choice, adding to the anticipation for the premiere of their dance routine. Excitement is building for the first live show of the series, set to feature a range of dances and performances from the celebrity contestants. Fans are eagerly awaiting the spectacle that the Strictly Come Dancing stage promises to deliver.