I am not the only one who thinks the BBC has missed a trick hiring Darcey Bussell to replace Alesha Dixon as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing.

I have never made a secret of the fact I am a big Strictly fan and that I thought it was wrong for the Beeb to replace Arlene Phillips with Alesha Dixon back in 2009.

Regardless of the ageism claims, the show lost one of the most respected figures in the world of dance and replaced her with a young, beautiful but largely clueless ex-contestant.

No one can deny that Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha is the show’s best female champion ever but there is a huge leap between doing what you’re told and spotting flaws and strengths in other people’s efforts.

Now, to say Darcey Bussell is a step back in the right direction is an understatement but hiring the former principal dancer of the Royal Ballet misses one vital point.

Ballet is not a category of dance performed on Strictly Come Dancing.

Now hold your horses. I remember just as much as you the lovely jive Darcey did with professional Ian Waite when she guest-judged on the series in 2009. It was very nice.

But sitting her alongside Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli when the show returns in the autumn does not add a relevant string to the judging panel’s bow.

I was chatting to the lovely, if not a little ditsy, Ali Bastian about this, for an interview about her starring role in the UK tour of Chicago, which you can read about in next week’s What’s On (out from Wednesday, May 2).

Aside from her appalling lack of current affairs knowledge – when asked who should replace Alesha she replied “What? I didn’t even know. I had no idea. What is going on? I have not seen the news or a TV,” – she actually made some very valid points.

“It’s important to get someone from a ballroom and Latin background. When you are waiting for the judgements with Len you know it has technically got to be good and Craig is from a massive showbiz background and is a choreographer.

“So maybe someone like Karen Hardy would be good. She would have my vote. She is amazing and a leading voice in ballroom and Latin.

“She is so well respected in the industry. People travel the world to have lessons with her when it is competition time.”

OK, Ali is biased because she is a regular visitor to former Strictly professional Karen’s dance studio in Chelsea. But Karen was the force behind the show’s greatest ever champion, Mark Ramprakash, and its best ever moment, when the pair performed their Argentine Tango to Tina Turner’s GoldenEye theme.

If they wanted someone who was respected in the industry, still young, and someone with previous on the show, surely Karen should have been the BBC's choice.

(Karen Hardy, pictured hosting a summer school at Maidstone's Margaret Preedy Dance Studio last year)

They say if you can remember the 1960s then you weren't there.

Perhaps the O2's new nightclub Proud2 is pushing for a similar slogan, judging by the incredible party they threw for their press launch on Thursday.

Yes Thursday. Four days ago and I still can barely remember anything past 11.30pm from that night. The occassional free bar is a wonderful perk of the journalistic world but they never lose their devastating potential.

And on Thursday, it felt like they caused Armageddon for my liver.

Ok, so I fell fowl of having a few too many glasses of champagne and can barely report on The Bees, Nero and The Mystery Jets, pictured left, who performed on the night to the, shall we say, enthusiastic crowd.

That doesn't make me a criminal but it did make me ponder my attitude towards drinking.

Did I go out with a couple of my mates on Thursday with the intention of getting mind-bogglingly bladdered at the free event? No I didn't. Did we decide we were going to take advantage of the free booze on offer? You bet!

There lies the problem. Although we claim to know our limit, all notion of moderation went out of the window once what was on offer became free.

Was my shaky camera work at the opulently laid out and impressive club a sign of unprofessionalism? Or did I just have a few too many on a night where I was letting my hair down?

Perhaps we deserved the raging hangovers (mine suffered at work) the following day. But should we feel bad about it?

I was still at work at 8am and able to report on what was going on. Work hard, play hard is a philosophy that has served many before me well and will serve many well in the future.

Should I have felt naughty for arriving at my desk bleary-eyed the next day, even though I got on with the task in hand? Answers on a postcard please.

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In Strictly news, Tom Chambers appears to be the main star set to grace the stage at the New Marlowe Theatre when their first programme of events gets underway in October.

He will don his dancing shoes once again for Top Hat, the first ever stage version of the 1935 film starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

Tom was never my favourite Strictly Come Dancing champion. Lisa Snowden or Rachel Stevens should have won that year but no one could deny he was a charmer.

Also Tom made no secret of claiming Fred and Ginger were his dancing idols during his run to the glitterball in 2008.

Which surely means his toe-tapping antics will be a coup for the new Marlowe, who will stage the show before it goes on a West End run.

So … it’s New Year.  Stating the obvious I know, but some of you may still be in a Advocat fugued state.  I’m only slightly more ‘with it’ because I was sick over Christmas and couldn’t partake in any alcohol rel ated shenanigans.  Not that I’m bitter.  (*hooks IV drip up to the Crème de Menthe.*)

I’m not the sort of person who makes New Year’s Resolutions.  I realised quite early on in life that I had the willpower and attention span of a toddler and so there became no point in making resolutions I’d only break the following week.  If I lasted that long.  Therefore, big props go to anyone who can be bothered.

That doesn’t mean I don’t have goals.  Oh no!  For example, I’ve been vodka-free for seven days now (see above) … I just choose to set goals during the year when I’ve run out of bigger dress sizes or when I’m ill.  See … I can be really focused when I want.

What I like to do in the New Year though (overdosing on Quality Street aside,) is try new things out.  My degree was so time consuming, I’ve spent the last four years pouring any spare time and energy I had into studying – so now that chapter is closed I find myself in an enviable position – choice!  Very dangerous …

Here are the three new things I’m going to at least try this year:

1. Write a Book

I had to chuckle to myself when I read that one back.  Yeah Kate, write a book!  No problem!  You’ve got a spare 25 minutes free next Thursday – do it then. So, let me qualify this one slightly.  Part of my degree was Creative Writing and we were encouraged to try our hand at writing different genres (who knew I could write such rude stories!)   Another project I worked on was writing the beginning to a children’s book and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.  So, three years on, I’m revisiting it.  The main theme is there, the characters are basic, but created.  Oh, and I even have a bit of a plot going on.  It needs a whole lot of work.  A whole lot.  But I’m up for the challenge.  It's based on a place I spent a lot of my childhood in in Rainham, and it's now somewhere I take my son to - I wanted to bring this place to life and what better way!

2. Go Dancing Again

I haven’t danced properly in years (I don’t think doing Salsa feet under the café table counts,) but I did take Salsa lessons eight years ago (tis how I met ‘Im Indoors,) and I’ve taken many a streetdance class (that reminds me, I still need to blog about my Pineapple experience!) so I’ve been on the lookout for something new to try.  Poledancing is out – don’t think I could lift my bodyweight 2″ off the ground if I’m honest – so, cue Zumba!  Not sure what it is really – and quite frankly, don’t care – it looks fun!  I’ve been to Notting Hill Carnival plenty of times and every year I try to look like I fit in, and end up doing some hyrbrid Samba/Bogle/Salsa move.  People usually think I’m having a fit and back away slowly.  All the same, the energy and enthusiasm is there – just need a little technique to go with it. I've done my research and there are Zumba classes popping up all over Medway so watch out - I'm on my way!

3. Get Fit

This isn’t a ‘New Year/New You’ kinda thing.  This has been a work in progress for a looooooong time.  For the last few months especially, I’ve made slow but steady progress – my main intention, to remain uninjured.  I don’t ask for much.  I’ve progressed from walking (I know – check me out!) to jogging and interval training around the streets of Rainham.  I’m back to boxing, which I love, and I do believe there is slightly less wobble to my bingo wings these days.

I’m only mentioning three new challenges here – more chance of fulfilling at least one of them – but that’s not to say more won’t be added to the list.  There is also this scary idea that keeps popping into my head about doing a Triathlon.  Yes, yes, I know … stop LOL’ing you lot – I’m being serious!  Oh and who knows what colour my hair will end up come Springtime!  

So this time next year Rodney, I doubt I’m going to be a millionaire, or a thin, best-selling author/Zumba Queen!  But I will be richer for at least trying new things.

Happy New Year!