So I (Chantelle) went to see the tour in Leeds, not once, not twice, but three times in Leeds last weekend (24-26 January) – and wow, what a show!
I had a fantastic view at all three shows – front row for one of them! It was great to see everyone in action – but it was especially great to see Karen and Nicky reunited, and finally see them dance together live!
Their Argentine Tango was sizzling and just stunning; whilst their Charleston was as fun as I remembered, but came even more alive in front of an arena audience – it went down a storm each time!
Here are my Karen and Nicky-related pictures and videos from the weekend:
To check out the rest of my tour photos, check out my Flickr sets from each show:
DRIVING AHEAD:Kevin Clifton and his partner Karen Hauer, pictured with students and staff during their visit to the North East Lincolnshire Motor Project, in King Edward Street, Grimsby, to see the work supported by Sport Relief.
TAKE A BREAK: Kevin Clifton and his partner Karen Hauer, during their visit.
STRICTLY stars Kevin Clifton and Karen Hauer had everyone in ‘suspension’ when they toured a motor project.
The question at the North East Lincolnshire Motor Project as the couple – supporting Sport Relief – toured the training centre was: “Will they be appearing in the next Strictly Come Dancing series?”
But Kevin, more accustomed to clutches with Karen than a car’s clutch, said the list of professional dancers won’t be revealed until just before the start of the 2014 series in October.
The runner-up in the last series, who danced with BBC presenter Susanna Reid, said: “You just don’t know until just before it starts.
“We would both love to do it. It was my first series and Karen’s second and we would love to be asked.
“In the meantime the Strictly tour is going brilliantly and we are at Sheffield next. There is no pressure of getting kicked out of that so it is fun.”
The son of Grimsby’s world champion dancers Keith and Judy Clifton told how he carries the name of his hometown, wherever he goes.
He added: “I have lost my second name and it seems I am known as Kevin from Grimsby.”
As one of the UK’s biggest fundraising events, Sport Relief brings the entire nation together to get active, raise cash and change lives. The money raised by the public is spent by Comic Relief, and The Motor Project has benefited from £29,600 of that funding.
Kevin praised the project, which has introduced four new courses at the King Edward Street training centre.
Eight trainees have joined each of the courses which teach how brakes work, health and safety rules, engineering and how steering works.
The courses last for 12 weeks.
Project director John Bell said: “We were over the moon when Kevin and Karen agreed to visit us. I know there isn’t much to link motor mechanics and dancing on TV but we are delighted they have joined us from their busy schedule. Karen is no stranger to motor engineering as her uncle works in a garage in Venezuela.”
Karen, who was a star of the Strictly series and featured in the Strictly tour in Leeds at the weekend and will be at Sheffield tonight and tomorrow, said she will have to scrub her hands for the next show.
They were covered in motor oil after she fixed a set of brake discs.
Karen said: “I have always been around motor engineering so it has been great fun to visit today.”
She was awarded a maximum point 10 score by John Bell for her brake work.
Trainees steered the couple around the workshop and gave them a go in one of their kit cars.
John added: “We are delighted with the funding from Comic Relief. We help young people with problems at school or people who are trying to get into work. We try to raise their aspirations.”
Trainee Nathan Hockney, 20, said: “If it was not for the motor project I would be stuck at home. I am hoping when I leave I will be able to get work in a garage.”
He added: “It has been a pleasure to show Kevin and Karen around.
Glitz, glamour, sequins and bucket-loads of fake tan; it can mean only one thing – Strictly Come Dancing has arrived.
Winner Abbey Clancy was joining fellow contestants Natalie Gumede, Ben Cohen and Mark Benton as part of this year’s tour kicking off at Birmingham’s NIA today.
We caught up with Abbey who talks about the tour, her time on the show, no training or exercise before the show, diet during show, what she is up to next – spending time with family, and whether she’ll be dancing after the show.
The first to see this year’s live tour were fans who missed a performance last year due to the snow.
Promoters scheduled a special performance to take place today featuring the celebrity line-up from this year’s show, ahead of tonight’s show.
Around 1,700 fans couldn’t make it on January 18 last year due to the severe weather.
Strictly fans get to watch the couples competing live for the judges’ votes and then get to vote themselves with their mobile phones.
TV judge Craig Revel Horwood is directing the live show for the fourth year running.
The multi-million pound production runs at the NIA until Sunday.
Here’s a first look at the Strictly Come Dancing 2014 tour line up ahead of their first show tonight.
It was confirmed last year that the most recent series’ celebs Susanna Reid, winner Abbey Clancy, Deborah Meaden, Natalie Gumede, Mark Benton and Ben Cohen will join 2012 contestant Nicky Byrne on the line up.
The 2014 Strictly tour starts in this evening in Birmingham before visiting Liverpool, London, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle, Glasgow, Nottingham and Manchester.
Former Strictly contestant Lisa Riley will be hosting the show, saying: “I’m absolutely delighted to be hosting the Strictly Come Dancing Live Arena Tour 2014.
“I had a ball on last year’s tour and was blown away by the amazing reception I got from the audiences across the country; I can’t wait to go back on the road! See you in January!”
BBC Breakfast host and last year’s Strictly runner up Susanna said: “Strictly is intense, absorbing, enormously demanding and endlessly enjoyable.
“I’m thrilled I’m going to be part of the tour, I’ll be making sure I’m on top form, to put on the best show possible for the wonderful arena audiences around the country.”
Strictly 2013 champ Abbey added: “I’m having the time of my life on Strictly this year and I am so excited to be joining the 2014 tour.
“Dancing in some of the biggest arenas around the country is such a great opportunity and I can’t wait to thank everyone for the support I’ve received on the TV series.”
Team Kanicky 