Fancy Footwork
azzle
on the dance floor Expect glittering sequin dresses and sharp tuxedos when celebrity contestants and professional dancers take to The O2 stage for the Strictly Come Dancing Live tour
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ith more than 1 million tickets sold over the past three years, the hugely popular Strictly Come Dancing Live tour returns in 2011 for its fourth consecutive year, waltzing into The O2 for four January performances. This breathtaking show provides an unmissable opportunity to see your favourite celebrities and professional dancers competing for the judges’ acclaim. Audience members also have their say on which pair takes home the coveted glitter ball trophy, as the audience votes are added to the judges’ scores to select the winner at the end of each show. The eighth series of the television phenomenon is currently being broadcast on BBC1 and is attracting more than 9 million viewers a week. Previous series have all been huge ratings successes, with audiences for the series’ finales reaching more than 11 million. The television format, also known as Dancing With The Stars in the USA, entered the Guinness Book of World Records last year as the world’s most successful reality television show and has been sold by BBC Worldwide to more than 35 international broadcasters. Among the stars confirmed for the live tour are some of the contestants doing battle in the current series, including Patsy Kensit, Pamela Stephenson, Tina O’Brien and Kara Tointon. Countryfile presenter, hearthrob and series favourite Matt Baker will also star in the live show. Kara said, “I’ve been absolutely overwhelmed by the public support I’ve received. Being on Strictly has been a fantastic experience, and I just want to keep dancing
for as long as possible, which is why I’ve signed up to do a live tour. I’m really looking forward to meeting all the fans and learning some new routines.” The live show will be hosted by Zoe Ball, who came third in the TV series in 2005, and she’ll have the unenviable task of keeping the nation’s favourite judges Len Goodman, Craig Revel-Horwood and Bruno Tonioli in order! Revel-Horwood will also have responsibility for the show’s glamorous look and feel, as he takes the role of director for the first time. Hollywood actor Jimi Mistry has been added to the star-studded line-up, joining Olympic athlete and series runner-up in 2005, Colin Jackson and last year’s runnerup, actor Ricky Whittle. “Although gutted to have left the show, I am very much looking forward to starting Strictly Come Dancing Live” said Jimmy. “It will be great to learn some new routines, and maybe even add in a few of my own moves!” Patsy Kensit, a contestant in this year’s series, said “I love everything about Strictly; the dancing, the beautiful outfits, the live music, and the tour is going to be absolutely amazing – I’m so glad to be joining it. It’s going to be incredible performing each night in front of arena-sized audiences – hopefully I won’t get too nervous! I’ve been working so hard on my dancing during the TV series, so hopefully it will pay off on tour!” Set to be the biggest and best live tour to date, Strictly Come Dancing Live brings the excitement of the TV show competition to The O2 stage for a stunning live show. n
Performances will be held at the o2 on 22 & 23 Jan 2011 Tickets are available via telephone on 0844 856 0202 or visit www.theo2.co.uk/venue
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