S Poddar
Paul Merson is reportedly furious with BBC Strictly Come Dancing bosses over their choice of song for his first dance. The former footballer, 56, was said to be displeased when he learned that his debut track would be the controversial football anthem Vindaloo by Fat Les.
Merson’s dance partner has not been announced yet but viewers who were present during the filming of the launch show noted that the song for his first performance was the 1998 World Cup song. The tune has become popular among the football fraternity over the years, its history, however, has courted accusations of racism.
Vindaloo was cowritten by Blur bassist Alex James, along with Guy Pratt, while comedian Keith Allen provided the lyrics. However popular it proved in football circles, the song barely saw the light of day before controversy surrounded it, as claims emerged that its lyrics had been lifted from an on-air altercation Allen had engaged in with Asian writer Farrukh Dhondy during the BBC’s now-defunct The Late Show.
Further controversy came when BBC presenter Nick Ahad recalled an incident from 2016 where a car full of white men drove past him, shouting the word Vindaloo, and claimed that the song had been taken up by right-wing football hooligans. The image of this song has been tainted by this association with far-right groups and racism.
Insiders say that the Strictly team had to re-record his reaction when Vindaloo was played for Merson during filming because he looked so furious. According to one insider who spoke to the Daily Mail, Merson was appalled, believing he was being set up as the “joke act” for the season.
“You can’t blame him for thinking he is being set up to be the joke act, but also the connotations of it [the song] are also not exactly positive either,” the source said. “It has been accused of being racist, and it’s a song that far-right football hooligans have embraced.”
It was then that the source proceeded to berate the BBC for the lack of sensitivity in choosing that particular track, particularly in light of the various scandals that have besmirched both the broadcaster and Strictly Come Dancing over the last twelve months. “The BBC clearly forgot its woke agenda on this occasion,” added the source.
GB News has contacted the BBC seeking a response to the claims; so far, the network has not commented.
Merson has spoken of competing on Strictly for very personal reasons: the former Premier League footballer has been public about his addiction to alcohol and gambling in the past and now sees this appearance as a chance to set an example for others who may be facing similar challenges.
Speaking ahead of his appearance on the show, Merson revealed his motivations. “Being an addict and a recovering alcoholic myself… to show people watching this show who have got addictions, that you can go out and do something like this… is so important,” he said in an interview with The Mirror.
Merson explained how addiction secludes people from their families and friends, as well as normal, everyday things. “Because addiction takes you away from everything. That’s all it ever does. It wants you on your own,” he said, explaining how key it is to be part of something that brings him back into the fold, and assists others in finding a way out.
While Merson’s reaction to Strictly’s song choice has cast a shadow over the launch, his personal story of resilience and his decision to participate in the show remains a point of focus for many viewers. His journey, both on and off the dance floor, can be potentially inspiring to others struggling with addiction, and his appearance on the program may serve as that beacon of hope.
The BBC’s casting decisions and song choices have sometimes been arguable, but Merson’s involvement does indeed allow the show a real chance to show it does, on occasion, suggest some actual personal growth and strength beneath all the glitter of the dancing competition.
