DVD Review: Bruno's Bellissimo Blackpool

New Strictly DVD Bruno's Bellissimo Blackpool is a tram ride (not literally) though some of Strictly's best Blackpool performances.

Not including 2018, Strictly has visited the Tower Ballroom during nine different series, so there are a lot of dances to choose from.

The DVD features some of the best and worst performances at the Tower. Excitingly for me, four of the performances I saw in Blackpool are included - Mark Wright & Karen's Charleston, Pixie & Trent's paso, Judy & Anton's Viennese waltz and Simon & Kristina's memorable Argentine tango.

It also features some other routines I loved, and others I had forgotten about. It was so good to see Natalie Gumede & Artem's Charleston again, as well as Kara & Artem's American smooth and Harry & Aliona's quickstep.

My disappointment, as with some of the past compilations, is the focus on the last few years. I do appreciate that there was no HD for that first visit, but it would be nice to see more older routines.

I liked that this DVD included a couple of the group routines, not just the individual performances. The Ballroom Blitz number, which Vicky Gill mentioned on It Takes Two last night is on there, for example.

There was one screaming omission from this DVD for me, and that was Aled & Lilia's samba to It's Not Unusual. An iconic moment in Strictly history. If you haven't seen it, watch it here.

Bruno is a fine host of the DVD, and if you like a curated selection of dances, this could be the DVD for you. It would make a great Christmas gift for someone, too.

The DVD is out now.

Still not convinced? Watch the trailer:

Disclosure: Thank you to the nice folks at BBC Studios for supplying a copy of the DVD for me to review.

Strictly Tour: First Couples Announced

The first three couples participating in the Strictly Come Dancing Live tour have been announced.

Ranj & Janette
Joe & Dianne
Stacey & Aljaž

With Stacey being paired with Aljaž, that implies that either Kevin is not joining the tour this year, or he will be paired with a previous partner. The only one of his former partners who hasn't done it is Kellie Bright.

Kevin is going on tour with Burn The Floor next year, but his tour commences later than Jannette & Aljaž's Remembering The Movies tour, so I don't believe this would have any bearing. Pros embarking on their own on tours usually keep the new year free in order to tour with Strictly.

Book Review: Strictly Come Dancing Annual 2019

I always think that I can't possibly learn anything from the Strictly Come Dancing Annual, and every year I am proved wrong.

Of course, the annual has interviews and profiles of the presenters, judges, celebrities and pro dancers. But it's the articles in between which interest me the most.

This year there is a profile of the main Strictly singers - Tommy, Lance, Andrea and Hayley - who give an insight into how they choose who sings what, how the learn the tracks, how they care for their voices and some memorable moments on the show.

There is a 'day in the life' profile of Executive Producer Louise Rainbow. She explains how each Saturday night runs from her perspective. Related to that is an explanation of how dances go from concept to the dancefloor. For example, props constructed for a couple who are eliminated before they get to use them might be re-purposed for another routine. And I didn't know that Jason Gilkison or someone from his team visit ever couple each week to see how things are going and relay key information to the sudio team.

My favourite article this year was an interview with the show's theme tune composers. Who would have thought that that little tune would mean so much to millions of viewers every Saturday night? I even have that tune as my ringtone. My proudest achievement years ago was composing the theme myself on my Nokia in the days before polyphonics!

Not to be missed are the pros' baby photos. Can you guess who they all are? Some are tricky, but Pasha has not changed a jot.

The Strictly Annual is a sure fire Christmas present hit.

Disclosure: Thank you to the nice folks at Penguin Random House for supplying a copy of the annual for me to review.

Sunday Service: Week 10

Back to basics this week. No extra dancers, no theme, no gimmicks. Well, apart from the Lindyhopathon. And the pool table. And the basketballs...

Graeme & Oti's quickstep was a bit of a dance disaster. There was an error on the Charleston section and a stumble in the middle. It was lumpy in the faster parts, and his frame was terrible, especially in the slower section at the end. Not good at all, and probably not good enough when we're at this late stage of the competition.

Another excellent dance from Ashley & Pasha. Her samba action was excellent. Great hips, great placement, great performance. And great fans. I want those for Christmas.

Faye & Giovanni's waltz was gorgeous. It was relaxed and controlled. Great footwork. Great musicality, too. I loved the crescendos on the chorus, first with the pivots and then the standing spin. Lovely.

A really fun street/commercial routine from Joe & Dianne. Great timing. Loved the routine. They both coped well with all the props. They kept the energy all the way through. Great musicality. A great job.

There were times in the tango when Charles looked totally disengaged, which other times he looked very connected with Karen. The posture was strange at times. It was a bit jagged. It wasn't bad. Just a bit odd.

Lauren & AJ's salsa was a bit soft for me. I was a nice routine, and Lauren danced it well, but it lacked a bit of attack. Again, earlier in the competition you that would easily take her through, but I'm not sure if it's enough now.

Amazing paso choreography once again from Kevin, and Stacey danced it well. I was worried she wouldn't get the shaping, but her lines looked great. Great light and shade. She captured the mood. She pulled it out of the bag.

The Lindyhopathan was a bit manic, and it's very difficult as a viewer to pick a winner. Graeme stood out for the wrong reasons for me. Lacked energy and performance. Stacey and Faye stood out as being the best. The judges should be voted off for a complete shambles.

For me, the leaderboard pretty much reflected how I felt, except I thought that Graeme was the weakest. I would put Graeme in the dance-off alongside Lauren or Charles.

Sunday Service: Week 9

This year, Blackpool was very much a show of two halves. It was definitely back-loaded to build to the end.

Before we get started, I have yet to read anyone say anything nice about the use of extra dancers. That's nothing against the dancers themselves, they are all very talented. It was nice to see more of Johannes. There is a place for them in the big group numbers. But with the couples they are largely distracting, and intrusive.

We started with the return of Disco Salsa: Stacey & Kevin Edition. Disco just about worked for Abbey & Aljaž in Blackpool five (five!) years ago. It didn't really work for Stacey & Kevin, though, at least not for me. Stacey's arms still bother me, especially in turns, although luckily for her most of the arms were set this week. I loved the lifts, though. Fearless. Stacey always goes for it.

I felt that Lauren & AJ were grossly undermarked last night. Their Argentine tango wasn't perfect. Far from it. But it was better than the judges gave them credit for. Lauren's biggest problem was her toes. If she pointed her feet, it would have improved her leg lines. Her legs needed to be straighter all though, but pointing her toes would have hidden it a bit. The routine wasn't easy, and she danced all of it correctly. It had the intensity and mood you need.

I wanted Graeme & Oti to be amazing. Theatre/jazz to The Trolley Song sounded like a winner. And yet, it wasn't that interesting. It was lots of running and brolley tapping, and not much else. The choreography didn't move me. The performance was fine. Good in fact, but it's not enough at this stage to be good.

We've seen some excellent pasos at Blackpool, so expectation is always high. But sadly, Faye & Giovanni's effort just didn't quite do it for me. Like Graeme's routine, it was good, but I wanted more. I actually liked it better on second viewing, which is not very helpful on Strictly, where you get one chance to impress. It was strong and passionate. It should be enough to see her through.

Kate & Aljaž's Blackpool honeymoon fell a little flat for me. It just wasn't a showstopper. Decent enough, and well danced. Nice pivots at the end. Nice lift in the middle. It was all just nice.

Then the evening started to take a turn. I was concerned that with the couple's choice and Charleston behind them, Charles & Karen would have little left to offer. Charles has not found his stride with the ten dances. He proved everyone wrong last night with his samba. Lovely promenade runs, gorgeous hip action on the voltres, and a fluidity of movement throughout. Charles looked to be having a blast. So good to see the penny drop for him.

Quickstep is always a good dance to get at Blackpool, and Joe & Dianne didn't waste it. Their routine was quick and light with no gapping. The was joyful and musical. I could have done without the giant piano section in the middle - this is not American smooth - but all told it was a great performance. 

Ashley & Pasha's jive was amazing, and definitely worth of a full forty. If you didn't know which was the pro and which was the celebrity, you'd have a hard time guessing. Probably because the celebrity is a dancer by trade. But I am not trying to take anything away from Ashley. The performance was on point. Excellent leg retractions. Beautiful arms. Beautiful turns. Perfection.

Ashley was definitely the best last night, followed by Joe and Charles.

I think it'll be the dance off for Graeme and Kate. I fear for Lauren at the bottom of the leaderboard, she doesn't deserve to be in the dance-off.

I can't wait for tonight!

Book Review: In Strictest Confidence

Craig Revel Horwood has written another autobiography, In Strictest Confidence, his third book.

The book covers the last three years, which doesn't sound long, but it has been a period of significant change for Craig. He lost his father, he turned 50, he gave up his life in London to buy a house in the quiet countryside and he bought a ride-on lawn mower.

The book starts during the period in late 2015 when he was in panto in High Wycombe. During the run, he learnt of his father's death. But even before that, he was lonely. His (now-ex) boyfriend didn't visit, and he was stuck in a small budget hotel room close to the theatre. There are two budget hotels in Wycombe, I just hope he chose the one where Lenny Henry stays, and not the one with the puppets.

This revelation killed me. I live less than two miles from the theatre. I saw him in that show. I would happily have kept him company! If only I'd known...

The book then covers his reaction to his father's passing. Craig's period of reflection continued as he appeared on Who Do You Think You Are? It was interesting hearing how the programme is put together.

He also talked about his two fiftieth birthday parties, his time in Annie, obviously more about Strictly, including the passing of Sir Bruce, and the departure of Len and arrival of Shirley.

One of the most interesting parts was the filming of the upcoming Nativity Rocks movie. Much of the script is improvised. I can't wait to see it.

I have been a big fan of Craig since the start of Strictly. He was always the judge I found myself agreeing with the most. And he is way more talented than people give him credit for. Don't let the affected Craig you see on Strictly fool you. He really can sing, dance, direct and choreograph. I can't wait to see if he can improvise.

If you are a Craig fan, this is another excellent read.

And Craig, if you ever find yourself lonely in Wycombe again, just let me know. We'll go for cocktails in the Heidrun and have a fabulous time.

Disclosure: Thank you to the nice folks at Michael O'Mara books who kindly sent me a copy of the book to review.

Sunday Service: Week 8

No-one wants to be chucked off the coach to Blackpool before it's even left Elstree. For one participant, it is the end of the road. But who?

Kate & Aljaž started things of with their quickstep. It was bright and breezy. Her top line is a bit iffy in places, but that's being picky. It was relaxed and confident. She kept up with the music, and didn't appear to tire out.

Danny & Amy's samba was well choreographed, and nicely performed. But Danny's jerky side returned. It was too stiff and punchy, rather than smooth and bouncy. The hip action wasn't quite there. I want Danny to stay, though. He is a good dancer.

When the couples are doing contemporary dances, with amazing lifts, what is there for us to look forward to in the showdance at the end of the series? Ashley & Pasha's contemporary dance was gorgeous. It was emotional. The lifts were superb. Ashley & Pasha were a team throughout the dance. Excellent.

My reaction to Graeme & Oti's salsa was "I'm not sure what I just watched." It was the most bonkers salsa ever. Tredmills, Reebok steps, I Don't Like Cricket in the middle of Follow The Leader. Mad. But strangely entertaining, if a little flat footed.

What a jive from Faye & Giovanni! A wonderful sequence of turning kick ball-changes at the beginning. The whole thing was light and bright. Brilliant retraction on the flicks. And all danced in Latin sandals, which seems to be a dying art on Strictly. Loved it.

Stacey & Kevin's waltz was never going to stand out among the wow factor of jive or contemporary. It was nice, but lacked a bit of something. Good footwork, but needs more drive and more fluidity.

It was obvious that Dianne had really worked on Joe's hip and leg action. It wasn't quite there, and was lacking the undulation required, but it was a good effort. Samba is really difficult and I was impressed with Joe's effort. Not a classic, but a good attempt.

Lauren & AJ's Viennese waltz was gorgeous. It was romantic. It flowed well. Lauren't top line has improved since the last time she did ballroom. The underarm turn at the beginning was lovely. Excellent footwork. It was a great ending to the show.

The Charleston might have saved Charles & Karen from another dance-off. Like street/commercial, it totally suited Charles. It was a flawless performance. Great timing and musicality. Lovely swivel action. A cool Charleston.

The strongest for me this week were Ashley, Faye, Charles and Lauren.

There was no-one weak this week, and it's going to be heartbreaking to see anyone go home tonight. Could be anyone in the bottom. I suspect Kevin's fans will keep him and Stacey in. Graeme, Kate, Danny and Joe could all be in danger. Or maybe it's time for the shock exit that we usually see at least once a series.

Tonight's results show will be quite exciting.

Sunday Service: Week 7

Seven!

What an odd week it was. The judges seemed to be watching a different dance a few times, and there were a few stumbles from some good contestants.

I definitely wasn't watching the same jive from Lauren & AJ that the judges were watching. They thought it was great. I thought it wasn't good at all. It was heavy, stompy and messy. I liked the tricks, but the jive content was not so good.

Graeme & Oti's waltz was very sweet. It was elegant and engaging. It was exactly what a waltz should be. Not gimmicks. Very pure. Graeme is a tad pigeon toed, and there looked to be a moment where he made Oti stumble. I also wish he had smiled. He was concentrating so hard, and he wanted so desperately to do well, that it translated to a slightly severe face. A good job, though.

We went from the Sound of Music gazebo of Graeme's waltz, to Aljaž's outfit which Maria made from the curtains! I desperately wanted Kate & Aljaž's Argentine tango to be great, but it just didn't quite hit the mark. One thing that ruined it for me was Kate's toes. She didn't point them, which killed the leg lines. The pair lacked a bit of connection for me. The choreography was correct throughout, but it just didn't quite move me.

Ranj & Janette's routines are always fun and infectious, and the samba was no exception. It was upbeat and energetic, with the usual Ranj flourishes. His samba technique wasn't perfect, and it lacked the undulating hip action. I would have liked to see some samba rolls, too. But it was another fun performance from an infectious couple.

I really liked Stacey & Kevin's street/commercial routine. The choreography was excellent. And I actually thought it was once of Stacey's best performances so far. She looked really comfortable with the funky style. The thing that really bothers me about Stacey is her arms. She tends to extend her arms from the elbows, so they are truncated down near her waist, instead of from the shoulders to give a long line. It just looks odd. It's especially noticeable on her turns.

Danny & Amy's quickstep was sadly a complete dance disaster. The opening was great. There was a little error just as they took hold, and I thought they were over it, but then it spiraled. He recovered during the second half of the dance, but it was such a shame. It had the potential to be a show-stopper. If they make the final, I'd love to see them do it again, and smash it.

You can trust Pasha to turn out a pure piece of choreography, and that's what he did. A gorgeous foxtrot. Ashley looked so glamorous and at ease in Pasha's arms. I loved the routine, the footwork was excellent, Ashley has a gorgeous topline. Pure Hollywood.

Faye & Giovanni's tango was what I wanted Kate & Aljaž's Argentine tango to be. It was staccato, it had attack and drive. Faye is just great at that moody stuff. Like Craig, I wasn't really a fan of the cube, as I think it limited them, but it was still a good routine.

Charles & Karen's Viennese waltz was nice enough. It was sweet, not overly complicated. It was definitely a week for 'pure' choreography. His posture looked a tad odd to me, but I'm wondering if that's because of their height difference. A good week for Charles.

Joe & Dianne did a good paso. It was clear that Joe had worked hard, although his shaping was a bit odd in places. He definitely seemed to be leading Dianne, and he looked in control and made no mistakes.

My favourites this week were Ashley and Stacey, although Faye and Graeme were good too.

It's difficult to choose a bottom two. Danny made mistakes, but he's too good to go home. No-one really deserves to be there. I'd put Lauren in the bottom two, becuase I really didn't like her jive. There were no other routines that I really didn't like. Ranj, Graeme, Kate and Charles could all end up there.

It's going to be a tough dance-off tonight.

Panto Roundup 2018

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Here is my annual round-up of which Strictly stars are appearing where. Shirley Ballas is making her panto debut!

Shirley Ballas (judge), Jack & The Beanstalk - Empire Theatre, Liverpool
Craig Revel Horwood (judge), Cinderella - New Victoria Theatre, Woking

Flavia Cacace (ex-pro), Snow White - Palladium, London
Brendan Cole (ex-pro), Snow White - Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe
Kristina Rihanoff (ex-pro), Peter Pan - Theatre Royal, St Helens
Vincent Simone (ex-pro), Snow White - Palladium, London
Robin Windsor (ex-pro), Aladdin - Palace Theatre, Redditch

Claire Sweeney (Series 1), Sleeping Beauty - Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells
Julian Clary (Series 2), Snow White - Palladium, London
Claire King (Series 4), Sleeping Beauty - The Plaza, Stockport
Rachel Stevens (Series 6), Cinderella - Alban Arena, St Albans
Ricky Groves (Series 7), Aladdin - Melton Theatre, Melton Mowbray (Dec)
Ricky Groves (Series 7), Aladdin - Pavillion Theatre, Exmouth (Dec/Jan)
Ricky Groves (Series 7), Aladdin - Majestic Theatre, Retford (Jan)
Ann Widdecombe (Series 8), Snow White - Harlequin Theatre, Redhill
Anita Dobson (Series 9), Cinderella - Hull New Theatre, Hull
Dani Harmer (Series 10), Snow White - The Anvil, Basingstoke
Sid Owen (Series 10), Peter Pan - Marina Theatre, Lowestoft
Lisa Riley (Series 10), Beauty & The Beast - New Theatre, Cardiff
Simon Webbe (Series 12), Aladdin - Alhambra Theatre, Bradford
Tameka Empson (Series 14), Aladdin - Hackney Empire, London
Lesley Joseph (Series 14), Cinderella - Churchill Theatre, Bromley
Brian Conley (Series 15), Cinderella - Bristol Hippodrome, Bristol
Debbie McGee (Series 15), Sleeping Beauty - Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton

Su Pollard (Christmas 2011), Snow White - Festival Theatre, Malvern
Bobby Ball (Christmas 2012), Jack & The Beanstalk - Lyceum Theatre, Crewe

Book Review: One Enchanted Evening

Not satisfied with being a professional dancer, media personality and singer, Anton du Beke has now added novelist to his CV.

Anton's debut novel is entitled One Enchanted Evening.

The action centres around the Buckingham Hotel, and the many characters working in the hotel, all of whom have secrets which could destroy their careers, and probably their lives, if they were to get out.

The story is set in 1936, the inter-war period, a time of uncertainty and unrest.

Raymond de Guise is the confident professional ballroom dancer who wows the patrons of the Buckingham's Grand Ballroom. With a name like de Guise, you cannot help but think about Anton, but he also quite Johnny Castle-like. He has reinvented himself, and his colleagues know little of his past.

Hélène Marchmont is Raymond's dance partner. She has recently returned from a year off spent travelling and trying to become a star. But she has a secret...

Nancy Nettleton is a young chambermaid, who has just joined the Buckingham, hoping to earn money to support herself and her younger brother. They have recently lost their father.

Maynard Charles is the hotel director, pivotal to the running of the hotel. He does the hiring and firing. He also has secrets...

Vivienne Edgerton is living at the hotel, which is owned by her stepfather. She is a lush, who gets exactly what she wants because she is the boss' daughter.

Billy Brogan is the young page, who seems to know everything going on in the hotel. Knowledge is power, and there isn't much that Billy doesn't know.

All of the characters' stories intersect, as they try to maintain their secrets while upholding the values of their upmarket workplace.

Is the book any good?

I'm not going to lie. I love Anton, but I was skeptical. An autobiography would be an obvious move, but a novel? Could he pull it off?

The book is quite engaging. Every so often I had to remind myself that this was written by Anton. You soon begin to care about the characters, and want to learn more about the secrets they are protecting. Anton's love of this period of history is apparent. The descriptions of the Buckingham and its Grand Ballroom are vivid.

I wasn't a fan of the ending, personally. I thought that there were much more engaging scenes earlier in the book. But I am happy to say that I did enjoy it, and would consider reading something else from Anton. He recently told Chris Evans that he has enough material for more books, so I don't think this will be the last one.

One Enchanted Evening is available now.

Disclosure: Thank you to the nice folks at Bonnier Zaffre publishing who kindly sent me a signed copy of the book to review.