Cat Deeley On What Keeps Her Coming Back To ‘So You Think You Can Dance?’

The new season of Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance is here. Cat Deeley has been with the show since 2006. We’ve had over a decade of Deeley serving as the host of the hit competition show, and even after all this time, she loves the show and it keeps her coming back, and the fans love it just as much as Deeley. All you need to do is head over to social media to see the conversations viewers have, vocalizing support for their favorite contestants.

Deeley grew up in the UK, hosting shows such as SM:TV on ITV and CD: UK. How does she keep the season fresh after doing this so many years? Deeley says, “I love my job. I love seeing what these kids can do.” Watch any episode of Deeley hosting and it comes across, she’s been doing it for years but you see that passion every time she’s on our screens . “I think being a good host requires authenticity. Just talking about it gives me goosebumps. I love that you can come from anywhere and you can be whatever you want to be.” She adds enthusiastically. “I love that some just want to go home and open a dance studio to be near their families. Others want to go and perform on stage. Others go and win Emmys, like Travis Wall.” She jokes. “I love that this show can completely transform lives.”
So, to ask Deeley the million dollar question, can SHE dance? “No, I can’t.” She says with confidence. “The kids can do backflips and somersaults, but I can’t.” Talking about routines, Deeley explains, “Either you don’t know we exist or you’re an avid fan of the show and you know everyone. You know the dancers, you know the choreographers, you’ve been with the show and you watch the show weekly.” She says. “The fans love the shows and they have their favorite routines.”

Deeley can’t narrow hers down, there are many to mention and she’s right. Every week the viewers are treated to something so completely creative and artistic. There have been some moments for her, one involved dancer Jay Jay Dixonbey. “I have to say that a highlight was when Jay Jay Dixonbey did a split leap over her head.” She laughs. “I went home after that and my husband said, ‘You’re an idiot’. Jay Jay is 5 foot 1 and in heels, I’m 6ft 2 and I never thought it through at all. But yes, my husband thought I was mad when he saw that.”

“I am prepared to stand up when I don’t think the judges are being fair.” Deeley says when it comes to the criticism the contestants face. “The thing to remember is that its constructive criticism. I’ll stand up and say, ‘Wait a minute, last week you said this, this week, you said this. Our judges are brilliant and they’re amazing, but I will stand up and represent my audience are thinking or if they’re not being fair.” Deeley explains.

“When we started, there wasn’t social media. We’d travel from coast to coast and go to the cities.” Deeley says when asked how the show has changed. “We’d discover dancers in other places such as in the middle of the country because they had talent, but not necessarily have the opportunity.” She “People post their routines and we use their videos that they post online and on YouTube and we see those videos and we invite them on to the show.” She says explaining how social media has helped with the show’s audition process and how they find new talent.

Of all the choreographers, dancers and winners who have gone on to achieve success from the show, Deeley singles out Wall as someone who not only has gone on to win Emmys but calls him the “Epitome of the show.”

What does Deeley watch when she’s not working? “I tried watching Handmaid’s Tale. I stopped and that just didn’t happen.” She laughs. “I just love Sex and The City though. I love that show.” She says, admitting it’s what she watches when she’s away and it’s her go to show when she needs to put her feet up at the end of the day.