Show is Strictly fab-u-lous

AS STRICTLY COME DANCING LIVE WHIRLED INTO METRO RADIO ARENA, MARIA WALDOCK WAS IN THE AUDIENCE

FAKE tan, sequins, glitter and glamour galore – Strictly Come Dancing Live is back in Toon.

After 11 arena tours, sparked by 15 television series, this show is still the hottest ticket around.

Strictly is more popular than ever, with the latest series breaking its own records and attracting an average of 11m viewers every Saturday night.

An enthusiastic Newcastle crowd welcomed back the team of professional dancers, along with their celebrity partners, who soon had the audience warmed up.

Built solidly upon familiar pleasures, the live show is a glossy recreation of the popular television format with jiving judges, dazzling professional dancers, celebrity partners and the wonderful Strictly band and singers.

The show lends itself brilliantly to Metro Radio Arena, which was transformed into a beautiful dance floor complete with staircases, chandeliers, glitterballs and a podium for the judges.

Bruno Tonioli, Darcey Bussell and panto villain Craig Revel Horwood seemed to enjoy themselves as much as the audience.

Hosted by popular 2016 winner Ore Oduba, the show opened with a group dance full of glitzy Hollywood glamour.

Seven of the celebrities from the last series performed with their professional partners, including series winner Joe McFadden and Katya Jones and fellow finalists Gemma Atkinson and Aljaž Skorjanec, Alexandra Burke and Gorka Marquez, and Debbie McGee and Giovanni Pernice. They were joined by popular duos Susan Calman and Kevin Clifton, Davood Ghadami and Nadiya Bychkova and Jonnie Peacock and Oti Mabuse.

The format is much the same as the TV show, with each celebrity and partner performing two dances followed by comments and scores from the judges, and the audience voting by text.

Highlights included Alexandra’s perfect 10 Jive; Debbie’s amazing American Smooth; Jonnie’s own fantastic American Smooth; Joe’s brilliant Tango, and Susan’s Samba.

The winners on the leaderboard with perfect scores were Alexandra and Gorka, but the couple who lifted the Glitterball were Susan and Kevin. Susan’s Wonderwoman routine has to be seen to be believed!

There was a lovely La La Land-theme finale with fireworks and amazing lights, and audience members of all ages left with a smile on their face and a spring in their step.

As Craig would say, FAB-U-LOUS.