THIS time of year is often a bit quiet on the television front.

Strictly and X-Factor have been packed away with the festive decs and apart from the odd film being premiered, it’s usually all quiz shows and documentaries.

But this weekend we had a dance show and a singing show vying for our attentions.

A great big sigh bubbled up in me when I saw the endless trailers for the BBC’s Greatest Dancer.

All the usual ingredients were there, a panel of experienced performers, a gaggle of keen wannabes and a Banjo brother all in situ.

So far, so formulaic.

A la the Voice, dancers have to impress before they can really perform in full, but the audience get to decide if the mirror will open and the performers will appear to finish their routines.

I didn’t see the entire show but the audience clearly hadn’t come from the Simon Cowell school of judgement as they opened the mirror for the three or four acts I did see.

Including Andrew, a young boy with Down’s Syndrome who had found a talent and absolute joy in dance which basically lit him, and the room up.

Cheryl (she doesn't have a surname any more), she’s a judge of course, was in tears.

I was in tears - everyone was in tears.

But having decided to hate the show, for being another talent show with nothing new to offer, I have been converted with that one performance.

Like, All together Now, this is a show about the joy of doing something that makes you happy.

You might not be a mezzo soprano, but if you get every one up and singing, you are a winner and if you can make someone laugh or cry with your dancing and it makes you feel good then it’s a win-win situation.

over on the other side the Voice also often, wisely, shows the tough side of wanting to be a professional singer.

Even the legendary Lonnie Donegan’s son has struggled, with what he proved is a prodigious talent, to break into the big time.

If you don’t sob watching Sir Tom duet on the song Lonnie wrote for him with said son then I suggest you might have a part of you missing.

The pairing of the girl who had been understudying the Dream Girls role in the West End made famous by J Hud with her musical twin was a bit less heart-warming but powerful none-the-less.

They both went for it but it started to become uncomfortably like one of the battle rounds contestants hope to reach later in the show.

If I were her I wouldn’t try and out do J Hud, who I must say has clearly had a meeting or two with her stylist/wardrobe adviser because her outfit wasn’t as chaotic as in previous series.

I can’t rid myself of the image of the denim jacket which looked like she had the ironing board still inside - she clearly has the same adviser as Rita Ora’s.

I am still unsure if that pink outfit she is wearing on the adverts for listening to more radio is a joke or she actually think’s it looks good.

Google it if you missed it - its a shimmery pink number with shoulder inserts which look like camel humps.

Anyway, back to the Voice.

And our very own Olly Murs, relentlessly chirpy but occupying the chair on the end which has continuously proved a tough sell.

It’s not like he hasn’t made coming second the greatest thing ever to happen to him - they might be missing a trick there.

The man released a single with Snoop Dogg for goodness sake !