Why we need Strictly Come Dancing and the valuable tool it can provide Christians

Eastenders’ Phil Mitchell was gunned down on his doorstep in 2001 and it was all anyone could talk about. More than 23 million people tuned in to the episode. Lively discussions, pouring over potential suspects, turned us into a nation of Poirots for the summer. I proudly wore a t-shirt that said “I shot Phil Mitchell”.

Such was the unifying effect of popular TV. These days, with more choice than ever and no limited window in which to watch an episode, viewer figures are far lower and what we consume varies greatly from person to person. But there are still a handful of shows that capture our collective attention.

As 2025’s Strictly Come Dancing comes to an end on the 20th December, it has amassed around seven million viewers.

As 2025’s Strictly Come Dancing comes to an end on the 20th December, it has amassed around seven million viewers. Sure, it’s no Phil Mitchell assignation attempt, but in this day and age, that is remarkable. The viewing numbers make it the second most watched broadcast show after the Celebrity Traitors – Claudia Winkleman’s earned an extra satsuma in her stocking this year.

READ MORE: What Annabel Croft’s performance on Strictly Come Dancing taught me about sorrow and joy

In a world where politics divides us, and even Christians can’t agree on topics of religion, light-hearted television can provide an anchor for community and connection that we desperately need. 

In a world where politics divides us, and even Christians can’t agree on topics of religion, light-hearted television can provide an anchor for community and connection that we desperately need. Cheering for your favourite contestant on Gladiators, praising Ellie Goldstein’s Strictly samba and debating Alan Carr’s Traitor tactics are easy wins in conversation. Suddenly workplace banter and after-church cups of tea have go-to topics to provide social cohesion and a sense of belonging that many of us lack. We can create in-jokes around the characters giving common reference points and fostering a sense of being “on the inside”.

READ MORE: From the infidelity ‘curse’ to alleged physical abuse, Strictly reveals our need for a Saviour

As Christians we can be quick to dive to “the real stuff”. We don’t want small talk. We want to get to matters of the heart and soul. We want to offer support and care in times of pain. We want to weep with those who weep. But I would argue that we can be too quick to push for emotional intimacy. When really, we need to foster trust and connection through laughter and fun before trying to go deeper.

READ MORE: Can Dan Walker nail the dreaded paso doble to win this year’s Strictly Come Dancing?

I’ve found television to be a vital tool to loosen people up and help them to feel at ease in my company. Sure, not everyone watches these shows, but it’s rare for someone to have no concept of them whatsoever. And even the discussion around why they don’t watch TV, and how they do spend their time, opens doors for a better understanding between us.

It’s for these reasons that I would go as far as to argue that a basic understanding of the most popular TV shows – excluding anything with questionable content – is a helpful tool for Christians. Far from shunning them as mindless entertainment, harnessing the unity that they offer a fractured society could be a stepping stone to something far more powerful.