Liverpool Tour

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats...-live-10822437

Went last night.
My main memories today are of the family of adults in the row directly in front who arrived late, chatted and played with their phones the whole way through (including plentiful selfies,) went out during to refill their beers and left early. And the bloke two seats away who obviously thought the band were one singer short of perfection.
When did people stop knowing how to behave at a show?

oh dear, poor you! I dont know when people stopped learning how to behave at a show - its not difficult to think of others around you is it

Didn't enjoy Mel's creepy middle aged Mum letching over Gleb either.
Bleugh!

You have my sympathies! I've been to a few concerts with people like that near me, and it SO annoys me... what really baffles me is why do these people pay so much money to attend an event that they don't seem overly interested in? Its ridiculous! Just go to the pub!

I think it's meant to be a joke.

More Tour News:

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.u...ail/story.html

I went to the Newcastle Metro Arena show for last night's Strictly show and thoroughly enjoyed it. A touch more risque than the television programme - more a highly enjoyable scripted show than competition, superbly choreographed by Craig - a wonderful evening's entertaining.

Anita & Gleb were my favourites and came very close to beating Jay & Aliona. I had a good seat - second row from the front - but the few shots I tried were blocked by the family in the front row who seemed to watch the entire show through their camera-phones.

Aljaz and Gleb were very good and stopped for photos with two youngsters in the front row. I thought Mel was excellent as host.

Highlights - the sublime dancing of course - Helen and Anita looked stunning - I enjoyed Kevin and Ainsley's play confrontations, Karen, when swinging her leg over - getting her it stuck on Ainsley's bald head. Craig gave Ainsley a mischievous 2 prompting a mock confrontation and Len comparing himself to Gleb in the shower - great fun and highly recommended 10/10

Sounds lovely, thanks for the report.

As annoying as the filmers are, I have appreciated being able to watch so much of the tour because of them. (And I wish they'd film more of Mel.)

Alijaz (and Janette) has really grown on me this past series, seems like a genuinely lovely bloke.

Notice how the emphasis is on the celeb of each couple ... apart from when it gets to Anita and Gleb!!

Oh yawn, not this again...

Well ... read the article. Why promote him and not Anita??

The band, singers and backing dancers were marvellous.
Gleb, who looks even more handsome in real life than on television, takes his shirt off for his spectacular Paso with Anita - much to the delight of the audience. When you can see all the footwork - you can see how good Jay really is.

It was good to see the singers brought forward, right into the arena.

I'm going to the matinée show tomorrow. I never been to any of the Strictly tours before, so this is a new venture for me and I don't know what to expect either.

What made me want to go and see it this time around, was that I was really enjoying last year's series and there was a great selection of celebrities taking part including Jay, Helen, Georgia and Anita. That series in my opinion will be hard to top.

A question I have to ask is, will I see any of the celebrities or professional dancers wander around the place in the arena a good half-hour to an hour before the show starts? Not that I will be expecting to see any of them or have the rare chance to meet.

I'll make this clear this advice is from a performance background in general, I have no idea how strictly works and I could be wrong, but here are my thoughts anyway!

You'll rarely see a performer (in general, not just this show) in the hour before a show unless it's for a pre-arranged meet and greet. They'll be backstage getting into costume and make-up, warming up and generally preparing themselves to go on stage.

A few people do seem to have managed to meet people after shows at some venues, but that was evening shows, once again performers in general don't tend to go to stage door/wander round between matinee and evening because they generally don't have very long to eat, get some rest, get re-ready etc.

(on a different note, I hope you have a wonderful time, I'll be there tomorrow evening and I can't wait!)

It is an unwritten (?) rule in theatre world that performers do not appear before the public before a show as it would spoil the illusion!

When I was writing that last paragraph, I was thinking that it was a very silly question to ask but I do think since I have never been before, I have no idea what to expect. At a venue like The Hydro, I don't think it is very easy for members of the public to go around to the stage door, like you can with a theatre - where I ended up meeting one of the contestants on the 2014 series, Pixie Lott last year in Newcastle.

The whole area though is going to be extremely busy today with the Scottish Caravan and Motorhome Show taking place in the main SECC building as well. I thought I better mention that to anyone else that was going to the matinée show today.

Anyway, thanks very much. I hope the same for you when you go tonight.

Glasgow review

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/1...tly_Live_____/

Jay and Aliona spotted in a nightclub together.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrit...alioni-7325543

I think they have all been going out in various places the tour has been. I saw someone on Instagram say she'd met Gleb out in Liverpool.

Yes and absolutely nothing salacious in the photos. It was a cobbled together story.
All of the cast have been out and about at times - they are after all young people - can't
expect them to sit in every night

I went yesterday to the matinée performance in Glasgow and really enjoyed it; even though I was high above the stage set.

As soon as the show started, all of the contestants came onto the stage dancing around the centre like little figures (again because I was high up sitting in level 2 ) and then it was a case of trying to figure out who was who. I quickly spotted Helen, Jay, Aliona and Alijâz. Even Len Goodman himself joined in with the dance routine.

For me personally, Jay & Aliona and Helen & Alijâz were the best. Helen looked gorgeous and even got some wolf-whistles from (some men) the audience just before the start of her first dance, the Viennese Waltz to "At Last" by Etta James. She even got the opportunity to dress up as Marilyn Monroe in the Hollywood themed showdance (which they did on the show during movies week). The very dance that has come to define Jay & Aliona - the jive was left right to the very end and it was incredible. The fans had been desperate to see this again, since they didn't do it during the final last year.

Generally, this was a very laid back show and none of the contestants felt the need to be competitive. They were all there to put on a great show and to ensure that the audience get the chance to see a selection of dances from last year's show (or in the case of Frankie & Jake, the 2014 series). Mel herself was a great host and she had made continuous references to the Great British Bake Off throughout the show. Since this was Glasgow, the Scottish stereotypes and achievements had to come out. Jake Wood for instance, decided to "see you jimmy hat" on his second dance; Janette telling the audience how much she loves to come to Glasgow and Frankie acknowledging the audience when she used to come as Glasgow as one-fifth of The Saturdays as well as wearing a lovely tartan dress which looked great.

They were all at the club. Look at Anita's instagram.

Complete non story.