So You Think You Can Dance (British TV series)
Britain's search for its favourite dancer.
So You Think You Can Dance is a televised dance competition and reality show that launched in the United Kingdom in January 2010 on BBC One. Based on an American format of the same name, it combines contestant talent with original choreography by notable choreographers. The show is similar in presentation to the Pop Idol series of singing competitions.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Dance competition
- Creator
- Simon Fuller; Nigel Lythgoe
- Developer
- Simon Fuller
- Director
- James Morgan
- Presenter
- Cat Deeley
- Judges
- Nigel Lythgoe
- Arlene Phillips
- Louise Redknapp
- Sisco Gomez
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Language
- English
Facts from the source article.
Programme history
The show was hosted by British entertainer Cat Deeley, who also hosted the U.S. version from its second season. In the televised audition phase, contestants danced before judges Nigel Lythgoe, Louise Redknapp, Arlene Phillips and Sisco Gomez, hoping to advance to a choreography camp round. After further selection, the judges chose performers for live shows, where the public voted following a weekly celebrity performance. Contestants could perform any dance style but were required to learn other styles during the competition. The first winner, Charlie Bruce, earned the title "Britain's Favourite Dancer" in 2010. For the second series, it was initially announced that Alexandra Burke would serve as a guest judge during auditions and choreography camp to attract more viewers, but later all four original judges returned as the main panel. The show premiered on 2 January 2010 with one audition show introducing the top 14. Five elimination rounds led to a final where performances and results aired the same night. The winner received £100,000 cash and a trip to Hollywood to perform in the U.S. season finale. BBC One axed the show after the second series due to low ratings and because it had acquired the broadcasting rights for the UK version of The Voice.
Format
Contestants first attended a producers' audition before advancing to a second round of judges' auditions, which helped limit the number of auditionees. In the judges' auditions, contestants performed individually before the panel, who decided whether to send them to choreography camp. Auditions were held in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and Belfast. A selection of auditions was televised. To advance, a contestant needed at least three judges to say "yes"; if two said "yes" and two said "no", the contestant did not continue. Those sent through faced choreography camp, where the judges determined who would proceed to the live shows. The top 50 contestants were assigned groups and given time to choreograph a performance in a specified style such as hip-hop or jazz. At the end, choreographers and judges selected the top 16 based on their performances, with decisions delivered immediately after each performance. The process unfolded over a week, with many contestants cut on the first day and more eliminated each day through rounds testing dance skills, adaptability, learning speed and stamina. Most rounds involved the entire group learning a dance in a specific style—hip-hop, Broadway and ballroom were common—and performing it before the judges in small groups. Another round required randomly chosen groups of four to six contestants to create a choreographed group number for a given song, which they performed the next morning.
Judges and presenters
Show creator and producer Nigel Lythgoe, who also judged the American version, formed the original core judging panel with former Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips. Lythgoe and Phillips were the only permanent judges during the audition process, while Sisco Gomez and Louise Redknapp served as guest judges during auditions but became permanent judges for the live shows. In the second series, Alexandra Burke was a guest judge during auditions and choreography camp, and John Barrowman appeared as a guest judge on one live show when Lythgoe was absent. Cat Deeley, who also hosted the American original, presented both UK series. Executive producers were Nigel Lythgoe and Claire Bridgham; producers were Anna Meadows and Gareth Davies.
Series
Preliminary auditions for the first series were held in major UK cities in October 2009. Participants had to be aged 18 to 35 and could be amateur or professional dancers not under a professional contract. The BBC promoted auditions via its official website. The first series began on 2 January 2010, hosted by Cat Deeley. The first episode showed auditions from London and Manchester, choreography camp, and revealed the top 14. Permanent judges at the start of auditions were Nigel Lythgoe and Arlene Phillips, joined by guest judges Sisco Gomez, Louise Redknapp and Priscilla Samuels. Redknapp later became a permanent judge at the choreography camp stage. The next six shows were live; Gomez became a permanent judge at that stage. Each week two contestants—one female and one male—were eliminated until four remained (two females and two males). The finale was held on 13 February 2010. Robbie White was injured and could not perform. Lizzie Gough finished third, Tommy Franzén was runner-up, and Charlie Bruce won. Lythgoe said Bruce was the best contestant and that watching "small" dancers Bruce and Franzén grow was fabulous. For series two, auditions were held in Manchester on 17 October 2010, Glasgow on 19 October 2010, London on 21 and 22 October, and also in Cardiff and Belfast. Arlene Phillips, Sisco Gomez, Nigel Lythgoe and Louise Redknapp all returned. Alexandra Burke was a guest judge during auditions and choreography camp; after she left, John Barrowman joined as guest judge for the second part of choreography camp. Matt Flint won the second series.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created So You Think You Can Dance (British TV series)?
So You Think You Can Dance was created by Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe.
When did So You Think You Can Dance (British TV series) end?
So You Think You Can Dance last aired on 11 June 2011.
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