AS WE CATCH UP IN REHEARSALS, THE STARS OF ‘STRICTLY COME DANCING’ TELL US WHY THEY’RE THRILLED TO BE BACK AND ON THE ROAD FOR THEIR NEW TOUR

‘The thought of performing in arenas – I can’t sing but I feel like a rock star’ Kelvin Fletcher

Less than a month after lifting the coveted Glitterball trophy in the 2019 series of BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing , actor Kelvin Fletcher is preparing to don his dancing shoes once again for the live Strictly Come Dancing UK and Ireland arena tour, which kicks off this week in Birmingham and makes its first ever visit to Aberdeen next week.

But he will not be partnered with Oti Mabuse, with whom he won the show, as her commitments on BBC1’s The Greatest Dancer prevent her from doing the tour, but with Strictly veteran Janette Manrara.

They will be joined for the 33 shows by six other couples, including runners-up Karim Zeroual and Amy Dowden and Emma Barton – dancing with Graziano Di Prima – and judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli. Strictly’s 2018 celebrity champion Stacey Dooley will host.

Actress Catherine Tyldesley and her dance partner Johannes Radebe will also be in the line-up.

“It’s so nice to behas got something for everybody, no matter what age group you are in.”