Nottingham Evening Post – 30 January 2008

If somebody has told me five years ago that I’d be battling through football traffic to get to a dancing show I’d have thought they were one pint short of a Watneys Party Seven. But last night, there I was heading away from a top-of-the-table clash at the City Ground to see a live version of the surprise TV smash. Strictly Come Dancing on tour is almost exactly as seen on TV. The format, the live band, live singer, voice-over man, scoreboard, it’s all there…even the phone (up to 70p via mobile phone with 12.5p going to Children in Need). The only things missing are Bruce and Tess (replaced by the more-than-able Kate Thornton and exuberant judge Bruno Tonioli. Eight celebrities team up with the professions for a round of ballroom and a round of Latin, with the judgesand audience favourites such as Darren Gough and Matt Di Angelo, it was Zoe Ball and Ian Waite who took top honours with their tango and samba. Don’t worry, I haven’t ruined the ending. The great thing is about this fabulous show is it will be different every time with each performance judged on its merits on the night on the night and that all important audience phone vote. Its on until Friday.  Don’t miss it.