There was no danger of anyone needing asking twice to ‘keeeeeep dancing’ as the Strictly Come Dancing live tour brought some ballroom magic to Newcastle on Thursday night.
While I am a massive fan of all things Strictly, celebrating in front of the TV when Jill Halfpenny won and spitting my dummy out when Alexandra Burke didn’t, I had never actually been to the tour before but, within minutes of it starting on Tyneside, I was completely bowled over by the brilliance of it all.
All the prime time panache that has millions of viewers tuning in year after year is brought to the live stage with real joie de vivre, with former Strictly pro Janette Manrara an absolutely marvellous mistress of ceremonies as tour host.
Just as they are on a Saturday night, judges Bruno, Craig and Shirley are quick witted and highly entertaining and the dancing, as you’d expect, is top tier from the get go.
Runners up from 2021 John and Johannes show exactly why they came within a whisker of snatching victory with their Pirates of the Caribbean inspired paso double every inch the swashbuckling spectacle it was back when they performed it on TV and their Show Dance just as joyous to witness in the flesh as it was sitting on the sofa.
Tilly Ramsay and her pro partner Nikita come into their own with their leaderboard topping routine from Musicals Week, with their dance to Revolting Children demanding full attention and their first half waltz delightfully dreamy.
Maisie Smith, who, for me, should have won Strictly in 2020, is utterly superb, with her partnership with Kai Widdrington a fairy tale twist of fate.
Maisie came into the tour as a replacement for the injured AJ Odudu and her and Kai have that money can’t buy chemistry that lights up the ballroom.
Rhys and Nancy’s Charleston is comedic charm personified, while their In The Air Tonight Argentine tango was so so intense.
The Wanted’s Max George makes a welcome return to the Strictly fold alongside the always incredible Katya Jones.
Glitterball glory pair Rose and Giovanni display their champion credentials in abundance with their Argentine Tango sizzling with skill and sultriness and the audience staying completely silent to honour their ground breaking Couples Choice with the respect and reception it deserves.
But night one in Newcastle belonged to one couple - Sara and Aljaz.
The County Durham born star of Dragon’s Den had the near capacity crowd on her side, with 10 paddles held aloft as they dazzled with their fantastic and fancy footworked foxtrot in the first half and their thoroughly entertaining 9 to 5 in the second, both bathed in cheers.
And, in a huge upset, given that Rose and Gioavnni had won every show before the tour arrived in Newcastle, Sara and Aljaz triumphed in the public vote, with the result greeted by a wild reaction from the Geordie faithful.
Strictly is shimmying back onto the Utilita Arena dancefloor for two performances on Friday.
The live tour is a sequin drenched spectacle that, to quote Craig, is fab-u-lous!!!
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