'I worked on Strictly Come Dancing - this is what it's really like behind the scenes'

George Mihalcea

It's hard to believe the first ever episode of Strictly Come Dancing hit our screens 20 years ago, with eight celebrities and their professional partners sashaying into the nation's hearts and igniting a love of ballroom that has burned brightly ever since. "When it started, there was nothing else like it," recalls Alison Maloney, author of the official Strictly annuals since 2008. "It brought this sprinkle of glitz and glamour to Saturday nights, and just made people smile. Whether it's good