My 2026 pledge to do loads of fun stuff continues! Here are a few photos (slightly blurry as I only had my iPhone with me and not my trusty old Olympus D-SLR) from my deliciously dancey day trip to the Utilita Arena in Birmingham to see the Strictly Live tour Saturday matinée performance.

The couples from the 2025 season doing battle on the dance floor on this year’s tour were: Alexis Warr & George Clarke, Aljaž Škorjanec & La Voix, Vito Coppola & Ellie Goldstein, Karen Hauer & Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Kai Widdrington & Vicki Pattison, Lauren Oakley & Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Katya Jones & Lewis Cope.

As well as the couples competing for glitterball glory, there were exhibition dances from Nikita Kuzmin and his 2023 season partner, Layton Williams.

And the tremendous trio of judges, Craig Revel-Horwood, Dame Shirley Ballas and Anton du Beke joined hostess Janette Manrara and the whole cast for a joyous group number.

Of course, there was the all important audience vote. After each couple had danced twice, the judges scores (rightfully!) had Lewis & Katya in the lead.

However, in their infinite wisdom the audience (a large contingent of which were George’s fanatical YouTube disciples) decided that George & Alexis were the winners.

Although I am as biased towards Lewis as the screaming George-faithful are to their leader, I do admit that their Charleston was phenomenal. Tipped hat to Alexis for such a witty and entertaining choreo that really played to her partner’s skillset. Still, it would’ve been nice for Lewis to win. Hopefully he will lift the trophy in a future show.

The show was fantastic from start to finish. Here are a last few pics…