*** Catch up time, because I’ve fallen behind writing my reviews. Not convincing reasons, but in my defence, they do involve theatre and learning lines. ***

How does a person who knows nothing about dance review Strictly Come Dancing Live? Yes, that’s me, who can’t tell a Paso Doble from … well, erm … a Paso Doble. And I don’t follow celebrity culture so had only heard of half the contestants, therefore, this evening out was always going to be challenging.

I’m guessing in an audience already 80% female, the remaining included many who were there only as a Plus One. So, what was on offer for us poor folk who thought Strictly was something you only had to put up with a few weeks on TV each year?

The answer — Colour, lights, sound and wonderful movement along with excellent singing to back it up. You see, you didn’t have to know much; it was a spectacle, end of, and I’d defy anybody to say they hated the experience.

Sure, I still knew nothing and quite frankly would have held up a score panel to say 10 for every dance, so even though there was opportunity to vote for favourites to win on the day via text, I didn’t do so. I’d have only gone on personality, not technical ability, although I suspect that is what happens on both this, and the TV show itself at times.

Hosting proceedings was Janette Manrara who worked well with continuity, interviewing the contestants and engaging in the banter with the star judges. For that role, there were three of the TV quartet in head judge Shirley Ballas, comic foil Anton Du Beke and pantomime villain Craig Revel Horwood (who also directed the tour). It was a formula which worked well and bridged the gaps between performances.

The couples were those who made the later stages of the 2022 series. Winner of that, botanist Hamza Yassin again paired with Jowita Przystat to defend that title. However, it has since been nice to find out that many of the others shined and won the glitterball on the nights during the tour. On my visit it was presenter Helen Skelton who due to her TV partner Gorka Marquez being unavailable to tour (What the hell else was he doing?) teamed with Kai Widdrington. At a disadvantage as the chemistry had to be built again with a new partner. Not a problem as the Helen & Kai combination not only won on my viewing, but overall, during the tour.

The other contestants were also magnificent entertainers and consisted of Fleur East and Vito Coppola, Will Mellor and Nancy Xu, Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu, Tyler West, and Dianne Buswell, then finally, Ellie Simmonds with Nikita Kuzmin. I must admit, coming from Walsall, I did root for Ellie but as I have said, had I voted, it would have been for personal and not performance reasons. And all were good anyway.

Also involved were other professional dancers from the series: Amy Dowden, Neil Jones, Robbie Kmetoni, Jake Leigh, Luba Mushtuk and Michelle Tsiakkas. Supporting well in song, we had Tommy Blaize, Andrea Grant, Tara McDonald, and Patrick Smyth, backed well by the band led by Allan Rogers.

So, how did a Strictly Ignoramus cope with an evening of dance? Well, to mimic a Craig Revel-Horwood comment, “I didn’t like it. I loved it, darling.”

Strictly Live is now over for 2023 but a tour of Strictly Come Dancing – The Professionals is not far away. On this showing, I would recommend it.

Cheers.

Antony N Britt