Strictly’s glitterball shines brighter for inclusion
An opinion piece by Clare Uytman, Senior Lecturer in the Division of Psychology, Sociology and Education, Queen Margaret University.
This weekend, the nation will once again gather for the Strictly Come Dancing final, a fixture as seasonal as mulled wine. Sequins will shimmer, and the glitterball will sparkle as another champion is crowned. Yet the true cultural significance of this year’s series lies not in who will lift the trophy, but in who has already graced the floor. Ellie Goldstein, a model with Down’s syndrome, may have been eliminated earlier in the competition, but her presence was another positive step in British broadcasting.
Goldstein’s inclusion was about more that trophies, it was about belonging. By casting her, the BBC continued their commitment to giving disabled performers a place in the mainstream, not as curiosities or “special cases,” but as competitors, artists, and entertainers. Strictly has always been more than fox-trots and paso dobles. It is a mirror held up to the nation, reflecting who we allow into our shared story.
For decades, disabled people have been absent from primetime stages, or worse, framed through tired tropes of pity and “overcoming adversity.” When comedian Chris McCausland danced on Strictly, praise was laced with the word “despite”, as though blindness and talent were mutually exclusive. That single syllable betrays the ableist logic still embedded in our cultural imagination.
This framing is not harmless. It shapes how audiences perceive disability which is as obstacle first, artistry second. Disabled people are severely underrepresented in British media. The Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity has rightly urged media to abandon deficit-based storytelling. The lives of disabled people are not morality tales. They are messy, brilliant, ordinary, and exceptional in the same measure as anyone else’s
The lesson was highlighted during the 2024 Paralympics, when campaigners demanded we reject “inspiration porn” and pity narratives. The real barriers are not bodies but the social and institutional structures that disable people daily. Paralympians deserve recognition for sporting excellence, not for “defying odds.”
Goldstein’s participation, even if short-lived, normalises disabled presence on mainstream stages. And normalisation is the true revolution. Research shows that varied, positive portrayals reduce prejudice and foster inclusion. Representation without asterisks changes what audiences expect of talent and creativity.
The responsibility now lies with commentators and viewers. Resist the urge to call Goldstein “brave” simply for dancing. That is not a compliment, it is condescension. Celebrate her as a performer who brought individuality and joy to the floor.
When the glitterball is raised on 20th December, let us remember that the real victory will come when disabled contestants are no longer headline-worthy, but simply part of the norm.
