Come Dancing

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title: "Come Dancing" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1950-british-television-series-debuts", "1950s-british-television-series", "1960s-british-television-series", "1970s-british-television-series", "1980s-british-television-series", "1990s-british-television-series", "bbc-one-original-programming", "ballroom-dance", "dance-competition-television-shows", "television-series-by-bbc-studios", "british-english-language-television-shows", "1998-british-television-series-endings"] description: "British BBC TV ballroom dancing series (1950–1998)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Come_Dancing" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary British BBC TV ballroom dancing series (1950–1998) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox television"]

Field	Value
genre	Ballroom dancing talent show
creator	Eric Morley
presenter
narrated
country	United Kingdom
language	English
num_episodes	424
location	Mecca ballrooms (original filming locations)
company	British Broadcasting Corporation
channel	BBC One
first_aired
last_aired
related
::

|genre = Ballroom dancing talent show |creator = Eric Morley |developer = |writer = |director = |creative_director = |presenter = |starring = |narrated = |theme_music_composer= |open_theme = |end_theme = |composer = |country = United Kingdom |language = English |num_seasons = |num_episodes = 424 |list_episodes = |executive_producer = |producer = |editor = |location = Mecca ballrooms (original filming locations) |cinematography = |camera = |runtime = |company = British Broadcasting Corporation |channel = BBC One |first_aired = |last_aired = |related = Come Dancing is a British ballroom dancing competition show made by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), which aired on BBC One at various intervals from 1950 to 1998.

The show was created by Eric Morley, the founder of Miss World, and began by broadcasting from regional ballroom studios owned by Mecca, with professional dancers Syd Perkin and Edna Duffield on hand to offer teaching. Its original format was based on a knock-out process of teams from various regions around the UK, such as East Anglia or the South West. In 1953, the format changed to become a competition, with dancers representing the home nations (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales), with later series seeing regions of the United Kingdom going head to head for its coveted trophy.

Broadcast

In 1950, Come Dancing joined Television Dancing Club, and the two programmes ran on alternate weeks until 1964, when the latter finished. At its peak, in the late 1960s and 1970s, it attracted audiences of ten million.

In 2023, BBC Four began repeating episodes of the show from the 1970s. The entire 1979 run was repeated by BBC Four in January and February alongside an episode from 1977 and the Grand Final from 1974. On 12 October 2024, the channel repeated the 1990 Grand Final, as part of an 80th birthday celebration night for former Come Dancing presenter Angela Rippon, which also features future Strictly head judge Len Goodman as part of the judging panel.

Presenters

The first presenter in 1950 was Peter Dimmock, McDonald Hobley, Terry Wogan, Frank Bough, David Jacobs, and Rosemarie Ford. Commentators included Ray Moore, Bruce Hammal, and Charles Nove.

Revival

Inspired by the resurgence in ballroom dancing in the UK following the 1992 Australian film Strictly Ballroom, a relaunched celebrity version entitled Strictly Come Dancing (affectionately known simply as Strictly) debuted on BBC One in 2004, and became a major success with Saturday evening audiences. Strictly paired a professional dancer together with a celebrity partner, and was originally hosted by Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly, assisted by Claudia Winkleman. In later years, Winkleman was promoted to full-time co-host in 2014 after Forsyth's departure. The title is an amalgamation of the titles of Come Dancing and the film Strictly Ballroom. The format of the newer show has become an international success, having been successfully exported to many other countries as Dancing with the Stars or similar names in local languages.

References

References

1. (). "History of the BBC – First episode of Come Dancing – 29 September 1950". [[British Broadcasting Corporation]].
2. (). "History of the BBC – First episode of Come Dancing – 29 September 1950". [[British Broadcasting Corporation]].
3. (24 October 2003). "Come Dancing waltzes back". Newsquest Media Group.
4. Nott, James J.. (2015). "Going to the Palais: A Social and Cultural History of Dancing and Dance Halls in Britain, 1918–1960". [[Oxford University Press]].
5. (). "Come Dancing – 1950–1998 (UK)".
6. (18 June 2014). "Come Dancing (1949–1998)". [[British Broadcasting Corporation]].
7. (). "History of the BBC – Television Dancing Club – 27 January 1948". [[British Broadcasting Corporation]].
8. (29 December 1998). "BBC Programme Index – Come Dancing 50". [[British Broadcasting Corporation]].
9. (2014). "BBC - Radio 2 - Presenters - Charles Nove". [[British Broadcasting Corporation]].

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