Strictly: The Board Game

If, like me, you're not actually a celebrity (there's still time, right?) or a professional dancer (OK, maybe that ship has sailed) your chances of being invited on to Strictly are somewhat slim. 

But there is an alternative. Enter Strictly Come Dancing: The Board Game. I was lucky enough to be invited to the launch of the game recently.

The game tries to capture some of the key elements of the show in a family-friendly board game format.

Players move around the board trying to gain votes. These can be picked up through dice rolls, answering trivia questions (a mix of general knowledge and questions for the Strictly fanatics), and even performing a few iconic dance moves.

The two winning players then battle it out in a real dance-off (or a finger-cha cha for those not brave enough/too full of mince pies to do a proper dance), with music provided by a mini-glitterball. Not only will fellow players vote for their winner, but Craig Revel Horwood himself will also pass his own judgement. His real voice is used in the game.

The quality of the game is very impressive. The board and 'stairs' that playing pieces move around look good and feel like the studio. The voting paddles look great. And who wouldn't want to raise the mini-glitterball at the end of the game?

The only disappointing thing about the game is that it needs at least three players, and would probably work best with the maximum of six. I wanted to rip open the box and get going, but I shall have to wait until I have some friends over. I have some dancing friends who are itching to play.

The game is available now, RRP £29.99. Don't just take my word for it. Amazon just named the game as one of their top picks for Christmas 2018.

Disclosure: I was invited to attend the press launch and was provided with a copy of the game to take away. And I was also awarded a bottle of champagne for being the best dancer, as chosen by CRH, after we learnt a little routine from Ian Waite. Not that I like to brag...