strictly come dancing live at the echo arena

By Catherine Jones on Jan 19, 10 08:38 AM

It may have lost out in the TV rating battle to ITV rival X Factor, but Strictly Come Dancing is certainly still a draw if the size of the crowd at the Echo arena last night was anything to go by.
There must have been around 6-7,000 people in there to see 2009 champ Chris Hollins, Wallasey rugby imp Austin Healey and their celeb cohorts put through their paces.

I was lucky enough to have a front row seat which was just fantastic. I don't know what the view was like for people further back though - reports please.
The Beeb have got a pretty slick set up sorted, replicating the show on a grand scale (the dancefloor was huge) with real judges - Craig Revel Horwood, you're my favourite!
It's camp and glitzy, full of annoying innuendo and the scripting of the show ranges from lightly funny to lumbering - when Ali Bastian coyly suggested if she and Brian Fortuna got maximum marks for their Viennese Waltz they'd get engaged I was WILLING the judges to go off script and put them on the spot - but ultimately it's an evening of good old fashioned, elegant, silly, high energy and smile-inducing entertainment.
It was a foregone conclusion local lad Austin Healey would lift the trophy last night (although Mr snake-hips Ramprakash gave him a run for his money).
But he did a terrific Tango and was a popular winner. However, as you'll see from my review in today's Echo, he renaged on his pledge in the paper that if he won he'd flash some flesh.
Tut tut Austin!

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-entertainment/echo-reviews/2010/01/19/review-strictly-come-dancing-stars-compete-at-the-echo-arena-100252-25630410/