I went to the Strictly Tour a couple of years ago (at the O2) and hated it. Too big, too far away from the dancers, bad acoustics, no atmosphere.

And that's what I got last night, sitting on my sofa.

interesting

i was there and it was awesome, and also i felt much better than the tour - a lot more effort to make it more intimate - but perhaps it could have been better still with perhaps 3 more rows of seats around the dance floor - ie more people in, and a smaller floor - would have been better for tv maybe??

I hope they do go back for the following reasons;
raises money for CIN
allows many many more fans to see it live compared to the studio
Its only a one off so doesn't really have that much impact on the viewing experience for the whole series.

I am aware that i am in a minority, as on another thread where minorities were not allowed. Please don't shoot me down in flames but respect a different opinion in a country where we are allowed free speech

I would think instead of being "Londoncentric" they should take it to other capitals so ALL other license payers can have the opportunity to enjoy the experience, they should actually charge the studio audience, the money would be a great addition to the CIN fund.

This sums it up quite well for me.

there were people from wales and scotland in the audience, and the people who parked next to my friend & lift home (many thanks again) had driven from cornwall.

tickets were available to all and i understand the final is from blackpool?

I guess it will all be from Manchester once TV centre is sold off???

Are you really saying that people from Scotland had a fair opportunity to attend in comparison to those more local !!!!

I was very disappointed with it. No good for TV viewing.

I won't shoot you down in flames because I think your post covers lots of good points.

I'm sure the BBC will review how the Wembley show was received by viewers, but I hope they do it again next year. I'd much rather see a spectacular show from Wembley than the show we usually see from the smaller TV studio on CIN weekend.

I would like to ask a question though about the tour

Why are people saying that sort of venue is okay for the tour but not for the show?

I understand that on the tour there will not be the constraints of a live TV show and the banter will be 'lively' because it will be more light hearted, but I thought the tour was similar to the show in that each couple dance and are marked by the judges, so that there is a winner every night.

So what is the difference?

PS This is a serious question.

I thought it was fabulous. All the contestants looked like they were having such a fun time and that is what Saturday night TV should be about.

I didn't enjoy the show because of the acoustics and the camera work was too distant, the results show was much better.

But when I watched the dances back, without the other bits, I enjoyed them. Also think the lighting may have made the outfits look different shades to the viewers at home. When you saw the dancers afterwards in the results show clips, they looked a different colour, as they do on the pictures.

Whilst I agree about the problems of the overly cavernous space and the acoustics my main gripe is the dreadful music. One of the joys of dancing and what helps make a great routine is the music giving the right feel - after all the dancing is basically the physical expression of the music. Forcing dances into 'themed' nights is ls like forcing square bricks into round holes.

And even smart two-year-olds don't do that.

My take on Wembley is this; Everyone in the audience really enjoyed themselves and it worked for them as a tour show. The show number at the start was terrific but still a bit dizzy with all the whirring camera work trying to get everything in.

Folks at home didn't get the benefit of the audience atmosphere and it came across completely different. The dance floor was too big and that was reflected in the camera work, as it was all a tad too dizzy looking trying to follow it all.

As a tv viewer it just didn't work for me, the dances all looked as if they suffered due to the bigger dance floor too. All in all i felt let down by the pre show Wembley hype, and didn't enjoy the show as much as i usually do.

Looking forward to next week back in the studio and hopefully we'll get much better dancing from the celebs, with fewer mistakes not having to try and cover a big dance floor.

Keeeeeeep dancing.

I thought it was fabulous too. Spectacular big brilliant entertaiment.

I certainly dont get the point about lack of atmosphere, there was tons of it-just different to what there is in the studio. And I think that is the thing-people dont like the original design being tampered with at any price.

All we are talking about though is once a year, and like that I think it adds to the experience rather than detracts. As a mid way focal point for certain celebrities (like Russell) to aim for it could not be better.

And with Halloween and the final in Blackpool it adds the spice that has relaunched the show in such a spectacular fashion.

Well done all imo.