Sunday Express – 23 January 2011

Over the past couple of years, the Strcitly Come Dancing Live Tour has taken a nosedive but I am happy to say that has all changed.  Thanks to Craig Revel Horwood being let loose as director.  As well as manglinr the Queen’s English, the show is now dazzling, colourful, noisy and tuneful and full of big-hearted dancing.  The arena setting is the same, only better. A new central dais adds a friendly new dimension to Wembley’s vast space.  The glitter balls are still there, but more of them, and judges Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Horwood front the bands miniature Hollywood Bowl, all bright and busily lit.  The evening’s presenter, Zoe Ball, following an energetic opening number, fights for breath to kick things off and former hurdler Colin Jackson and Ola Jordan manage a mediocre turn around the floor.  But there is nothing half hearted about Coronation Street favourite Tina O’Brien and her dance partner Jared Murillo.  Theirs is a truly madcap Charleston, she in flaring red fringes, he matching kick for kick.  And it just gets better.  Each of the eight celebrities dance twice, once in each part of the two-part show.  The judges scores are supplemented by an audience phone-in and the winners take away a miniature glitterball.  The dancers were all out to topple the exquisite Kara Tointon, this years series winner, partnered by Artem Chigvintsev, who coyly reveals their personal relationship.  But it is all good, clean fun, and when they kiss on the dancefloor the audience’s shouts of encouragement and support seem genuine.  Pamela Stephenson has reached the age when she really gets what a tango is all about and she is sensational; Patsy Kensit still appears to be on another planet but remains irresistible.  Ricky Whittle has not danced for five years and it shows, while Matt Baker’s improvement is staggering.  Before the winners are annonced a lone voice calls “Anton, Anton”.  Ann Widdecombe, as a turquoise flapper, has to make do with Horwood throwing her about.  But the evening’s prize winners, and it really did matter last Thursday night, were Matt Baker and Aliona Vilani and 7,000 of us raised the roof.  Does it get much better? Not often. Rating:  5/5