Strictly Come Dancing Live

Last night my friend Yvonne and I travelled to the NEC to watch Strictly Come Dancing Live. After an interesting journey ( which took in excess of two hours instead of an hour due to an M5 closure and a search for an alternative route ) we still managed to arrive on time as I had, as ever, "allowed for traffic" in my timing. Leaving at 4:15 for a 7:30 start and an hour's drive seems eminently sensible to me ;-)

It was such a fun evening. Craig, Arlene, Len and Bruno were on top form. The band and singers were fantastic, and Kate Thornton made a good fist of the Tess Daley role. Eight couples took part. Tom and Camilla, Cherie and James, Vincent and Rachel, Ola and Kenny, Lilia and Julian Clarey, Jodie and Ian, Gethin and Flavia and Jill and Darren.

In the first round, all the couples danced a ballroom dance. Tom danced his classic quickstep, which was lovely to see, Kenny danced to Flower of Scotland, Flavia and Gethin danced a beautiful waltz and Rachela and Vincent danced their powerful tango.

The judges critiqued in the usual way ( the repartee between Julian and Craig was very funny ) Who was to know, for example, that Julian Clarey hailed from Ladywood!!!!!!!!!!! ;-) Diamante maracas are a sight to behold ;-)

From the interval onwards the audience were able to vote by text. In the second half, the couples performed a Latin dance. Cherie and James danced their beautiful rumba, as did Rachel and Vincent. Jill and Darren danced THAT jive and Kenny wore his kilt for the paso. There was a professional dance, with Matthew and Kristina dancing a breathtaking dance too, and a group dance. Gethin and Flavia were the eventual winners. All in all it was a strictly wonderful evening and I'd recommend it to anyone.