Review: Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour - Wembley Arena ✭✭✭✭✭

Strictly Come Dancing 

Live Tour

Wembley Arena

Review by Claire Spence

I arrived at Wembley with an open mind; I wouldn’t exactly call myself a Strictly fan and I certainly wouldn’t cancel appointments or forgo a glass of Chardonnay in town to watch it. However, I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised with the “Flamourous” (Fabulous and Glamorous) offering directed by stern judge Craig Revel Horwood. Yet I was disappointed with the signs stating that Denise Van Outen would not be performing that evening due to prior commitments.

At intervals the familiar voice of the Strictly voiceover man announced the impending start of the show. The lights dimmed and on switched two huge screens flashing clips from the TV show against the sound of a ticking clock and a visual countdown, a la the opening ceremony of the Olympics. And on with the show… in a blaze of sequins, fake tans and glamour arrived the Strictly dancers who looked amazing and moved like the twirling smoke from an incense stick!

Craig Revel Horwood, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli

The arrival of the judges made me shiver slightly with glee and they relished in sending themselves up. However, by the end I’d grown tired of Bruno, who, for my taste, overacted his ‘camp’ note highlighting the fact that the show is staged and scripted. By contrast I'd grown to enjoy Craig’s dry, sarcastic tone and Len was, Len. The celebrities were good fun, in particular TV Presenter Fern Britton, who had excellent girly banter with host, Kate Thornton; Ex-cricketer Phil Tufnell was hilarious and entertaining fun; and the 2012 Strictly champion and Olympic Silver medallist Louis Smith looked amazing, danced seamlessly, and is single…

The sparkle from the outfits sometimes distracted me from the spectacular dancing, with both me and my guest coveting most of the wardrobe. There was a tense moment when former cricketer Michael Vaughan almost dropped his partner Natalie during a lift, however, he managed to ‘catch’ her but not after the huge gasp from the audience and St John’s Ambulance ready to spring into action, and by the look on her face it was a close call…

There were many links with the televised show with the audience even having the chance to vote for their favourite celebrity by text with a percentage of the costs going to Comic Relief. This is a show for all the family and if you’re a fan of Strictly I would definitely recommend it. Even if you’re not a fan I would still recommend this show because by the end you’ll be tapping away, drooling over the scantily clad dancers and googling the nearest church hall for Thursday night dancing.

To quote Craig Revel Horwood, “1 word, 3 syllables, begins with F: Fab/u/lous”.

5 stars ✭✭✭✭✭

Remaining tour dates:

5 – 6 February London: Wembley Arena 
(Tuesday 5th at 7.30pm, Wednesday 6th at 7.30pm)

7 – 8 February Nottingham: Capital FM Arena 
(Thursday 7th at 7.30pm, Friday 8th at 2.30pm and 7.30pm)

9 – 10 February Sheffield: Motorpoint Arena 
(Saturday 9th at 2.30pm and 7.30pm, Sunday 10th at 1.30pm and 6.30pm)

Buy tickets HERE

http://strictlycomedancinglive.com 

Twitter: @scd_live_tour 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/strictlylive