STRICTLY BUZZING
In a smart photographic studio in west London, an explosion of sequins can only mean the photo shoot for the 2020 Strictly tour. We caught up with the stars – including one who can’t wait to come to Nottingham
FAVOURITES from the 2019 BBC1 series – Kelvin Fletcher, Emma Barton, Saffron Barker, Karim Zeroual, Mike Bushell, Alex Scott, Catherine Tyldesley… and, of course, their incredible professional dance partners – are all buzzing about.
And you have literally never seen a group of people more happy to see each other as they gear up to head out across the UK and to Dublin on a 33-performance extravaganza.
“What’s so lovely for me is that I’ve got a brand new partner,” says Emma Barton, of EastEnders and Strictly final fame, as she twirls around in a gorgeous sequined gown.
“It’s going to be a whole new experience. Not many people can say that.”
She’s not the only finalist who is trying out a new partner: Kelvin has also been re-coupled.
“Kelvin and I rehearsed for about an hour today and for him it was a bit like riding a bicycle but I was quite nervous, because he’s the winner!” says Janette Manrara, his new partner.
“But he’s amazing and I’ve been really excited about doing this.”
In fact, the pair had already become good friends during the TV show, having lunches together and generally hanging out, so it’s a good match, even though Kelvin reckons it’s tricky working out familiar moves with someone else.
“When you hold someone different it really feels different,” says Kelvin. “I whizzed Janette around and she was like, “Kelvin, you don’t need to do it so hard because I’m quite small…” So it feels different but it feels good.”
Someone else getting to grips with a new partner is Graziano Di Prima, who will be twirling Emma around the dance floor.
“This is the first time we’ve actually touched each other,” he laughs, talking about the shoot where he’s been whirling her in the air, demonstrating that there’s already considerable dance chemistry between them.
So what do the celebs and dancers think will be the main difference between performing live on TV in front of a small studio audience and doing it live in front of thousands of people in an arena on tour?
“I’ve pressed the reset button because it’s a new competition,” says Kelvin. “It is a competition, but I think it’ll be different in that there’s less sense of jeopardy. With the BBC1 show, you rehearse for 12 hours a day all week hoping that everything’s going to be all right on Saturday night, live TV audience, the judges… Hopefully the tour will be a bit more relaxed.”
Johannes Radebe, on his second Strictly tour, said: “I don’t think anyone can ever be prepared for the moment when you first perform in an arena. Last year I was just so overwhelmed with joy, I felt like a rock star! It was incredible to dance in front of that many people in an arena. You have to be a part of that to experience how great that is.”
Even for someone like his partner, Catherine Tyldesley, of Coronation Street fame, who is used to huge stadium crowds from her days as season singer for Manchester United, entertaining the crowds in between the action, the prospect is a little daunting.
“I knew I could sing,” she laughs with that trademark giggle, “but I’m not too sure about the dancing. But I’m excited – it should be an amazing experience.”
Besides, according to Karim Zeroual, who also made the final, nerves are good: “It means you care, right?” he says, hanging over his partner Amy Dowden’s shoulder as she gets her hair done for the shoot. “Nerves are good as long as you can channel them. If you let them get carried away it can be a bit of a disaster but if you can channel those nerves you have a good show, it gives you a bit of an edge on the night.”
“Perhaps the loveliest thing is seeing how happy it makes people,” says professional Strictly dancer Karen Hauer as she sits in the make-up chair getting ready for the official Strictly Tour 2020 photographs to be taken. “There are fans waiting at the hotel, at the stage door and you always see people leaving the arenas smiling.”
As far as the extra energy that’s needed – those arena stages are a whole lot bigger than the studio dance floor! – one person who has it covered is Alex Scott. “I’m used to going over those big areas with football,” she says.
“I feel like it’s going to be a lot more full-on because you’re doing two shows a day,” says Saffron Barker, who says she literally couldn’t be happier with the dances she is going to be doing with her partner AJ Pritchard.
As for Mike Bushell, who is currently practising some footwork as he waits to step under the lights for his photo, he’s just being swept along by the whole experience.
But the show he’s especially looking forward to is the first-ever “relaxed” performance in Nottingham on Wednesday next week.
“The lights are up and the audience can move around,” he explains. “It’s to help people, especially with autism or other particular needs who may feel a bit stressed when the lights are down. It’s one of Craig’s big things – it just gives people more chance to enjoy the performance without feeling the pressure and it’s backed by the National Autistic Society. So that’s a first and it’s great to be part of that.”
As for the judges, Craig Revel Horwood (who also directs the live show), Bruno Tonioli and Shirley Ballas, the tour is the first time they get to really mix with the dancers and the celebrities. “You don’t really have much chance to do that during the TV shows,” explains Katya Jones. “So we’re with the judges, having a laugh, getting on the tour bus.”
■ Tickets: Nottingham Motorpoint Area, Tuesday, February 4, and Wednesday, February 5, motorpointarenanottingham.com, 0808 164 4616, £51.60.