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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Dianne Bourne

Strictly Come Dancing Live tour - what to expect, tickets latest and full-line up for Manchester AO Arena gigs

After a two year absence, the sequin-festooned spectacle of Strictly Come Dancing Live is back at arenas up and down the country.

Stars of the latest BBC series will be joined by previous show favourites to all once again do ballroom battle in an arena setting - with audiences getting to vote for their favourite at every show on the tour.

And fans of Strictly will get to watch the series 19 winner, EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis and her dance partner Giovanni Pernice, once again compete against runner-up, Great British Bake Off star John Whaite and Johannes Radebe.

READ MORE: Gary Barlow to play intimate hometown gigs in February

The Strictly Live tour kicked off in Birmingham, and heads to Mancheser's AO arena next weekend, January 29-30 for four dazzling shows.

There are matinee and evening performances on both Saturday and Sunday, with tickets still available for most shows.

Here we take a little look at what you can expect on the new tour and who will be aiming to impress for the audience votes.

Who is in the line-up?

Strictly 2021 winners, EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice, will be defending their title on the dancefloor, alongside runners-up Great British Bake Off star John Whaite and Johannes Radebe for the live tour.

They will be joined by show favourites Dragon's Den star Sara Davies and Aljaž Skorjanec and Rhys Stephenson and Nancy Xu.

Reality star Tilly Ramsay will reunite with her dance partner Nikita Kuzmin on the tour, after he missed earlier dates having tested positive for Covid-19.

Returning Strictly stars for this year's tour are The Wanted heart-throb Max George who is teamed with Katya Jones, and EastEnders star Maisie Smith who has stepped in for the injured AJ Odudu to perform with Kai Widdrington.

As well as the couples’ dances, fans will have the chance to see some breathtaking group performances throughout the show.

Professional dancers Nadiya Bychkova, Amy Dowden, Neil Jones, Jake Leigh, Cameron Lombard, Luba Mushtuk and Jowita Przystal will be bringing even more wow to this super-sized dance extravaganza, which features live music from the Strictly singers and band.

Who are the judges and presenter?

Strictly fans can look forward to something of a reunion on the judging panel for the 2022 tour.

For as well as the BBC show's head judge Shirley Ballas and Craig Revel-Horwood, there will be the return of Bruno Tonioli who was a judge for 17 series of the show until 2020.

There's also the return of another show favourite, professional dancer Janette Manrara, who becomes the new host for the tour.

Janette, who is now host on the BBC's Strictly It Takes Two, heads out on the tour with her husband Aljaz who remains a pro dancer in the show.

How to get tickets

Tickets are still available for the Strictly Come Dancing Live tour priced from £35 - £95 (price bands vary at each venue)

All ticket prices are subject to a booking fee and may be subject to a venue facility fee.

For more information and to book tickets, visit the official tour site here.

What are the remaining tour dates and times?

25-26 January Leeds First Direct Arena

(Tuesday 25th at 7.30pm, Wednesday 26th at 7.30pm)

27-28 January Newcastle Utilita Arena

(Thursday 27th at 7.30pm, Friday 28th at 2.30pm & 7.30pm)

29-30 January Manchester AO Arena

(Saturday 29th at 2.30pm & 7.30pm, Sunday 30th at 1.30pm & 6.30pm)

01-02 February Sheffield Utilita Arena

(Tuesday 1st at 7.30pm, Wednesday 2nd at 7.30pm)

03-04 February Liverpool M&S Bank Arena

(Thursday 3rd at 7.30pm, Friday 4th at 2.30pm & 7.30pm)

05-07 February Glasgow The OVO Hydro

(Saturday 5th at 3.00pm & 8.00pm, Sunday 6th at 1.30pm & 6.30pm, Monday 7th at 7.30pm)

09-10 February Nottingham Motorpoint Arena

(Wednesday 9th at 7.30pm, Thursday 10th at 2.30pm & 7.30pm)

11-13 February London The O2 Arena

(Friday 11th at 7.30pm, Saturday 12th at 2.30pm & 7.30pm, Sunday 13th at 1.30pm & 6.30pm)

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