Strictly Come Dancing armchair critics need to pipe down and back off BBC show

Taking a pop at Strictly feels like a victimless whinge. It's a similar vibe to settling back on the sofa and sticking it to Fergie or Meghan. We quite enjoy being part of the conversation. None of it is personal. We can let rip without offending members of our own family and it is somewhat delightful to knock a well-established institution that - if we're entirely honest - has given us decades of unadulterated pleasure.

As a proud part of Strictly's Class of 2013, way back when beloved Sir Brucie Forsyth was still at the helm, I advise caution and moderation.

King Charles, Queen Camilla and the British monarchy might well be Teflon-coated and able to withstand the latest toe-curling revelations about the Yorks and the ill-tempered post-paternal meeting kerfuffle featuring an irate Prince Harry venting his spleen at the "men in grey suits".

Alas, although Strictly seems so inextricably embedded in Britain's DNA that we can't imagine the build-up to Christmas without it, in essence it is merely a television programme, fragile, disposable and easily hurled into the wheelie bin of broadcasting history the moment TV bosses conclude it's more trouble than it's worth.

If you value one of the last remaining programmes families watch together in convivial inter-generational harmony, don't join the chorus of curmudgeons heaping criticism on the show.

It survived the Amanda Abbington vs Giovanni Pernice debacle, after which the BBC apologised to the actress over some of her upheld complaints about his professional conduct. It withstood Zara McDermott's revelations about being kicked by Graziano di Prima, who was removed from the line-up.

Strictly has been rocked by accusations hurled by former contestant Wynne Evans who was dropped from the live tour. Now it faces a barrage of online hostility after replacing injured Dani Dyer with experienced West End musicals dancer Amber Davies.

Come on armchair critics, put a flipping sock in it! We all know by now this is just a TV show. If everyone has two left feet, watching is pure purgatory. A few decent dancers carry the whole shebang while the rest embark on their "journeys". That's how the formula works. It's a dance show. Some peeps must be able to dance. Relax.

The gifted professional dancers rarely take home the Glitterball. They do the heavy lifting and fall at the final hurdle. So pipe down and lay off our Strictly. Otherwise you might just end up getting what you wish for and I can't stand the thought of another Saturday night game show - can you?