Just A Quickie with... Strictly Come Dancing regular Brendan Cole, who sets out on his A Night To Remember tour on Tuesday with York Barbican in his sights in March.


What can the audience expect from A Night To Remember, Brendan?

"I like to think everything. Probably best described as An Evening With-style show, full of live music from a phenomenal 14-piece band who are on stage with us; Latin and ballroom dances from my superb eight-strong dance cast – four female dancers, three other male dancers and me – and some chat thrown in for good measure.

"It's a real variety type show with all you'd expect to see on Strictly, but more intimate as it’s geared for a live audience. We have all of the dances you'd expect: Argentine tango, salsa, some beautiful waltzes, Charleston, quicksteps....they’re all there. I host the show and perform throughout. I love the fact that it’s very intimate between me, my cast and the audience."


How do you create the concept for this show?

"It’s a massive process. Myself, my musical director Barry Robinson and my wife Zoe started throwing music ideas around whilst we were producing my Licence To Thrill show. As music choices begin to take shape, I start planning the running order and the logistics of getting on and off stage, costume changes etc.

"During this time, I start to think about my cast and who I would like to have join me while Barry does the same with our musicians. This year, [French Dancing With The Stars champion] Fauve Hautot is back as my leading lady; she is amazing. Patrick Helm [from Germany] and [ballroom and Latin dance instructor] Crystal Main are also back and then we have some new dancers who people may well recognise!! Over the space of about ten months, the show takes shape. It’s a massive job and one that I am very hands on with."


What do you hope the audience will take away fromA Night To Remember?

"What I want is for them to be entertained from start to finish and to leave with a smile on their face. Hopefully they'll feel they have met the real me, a slightly cheeky, pretty normal fella, and feel excited from having seen some magic on stage."


You will be on the road for three months. What is the best thing about touring?

"To me, the excitement of performing and having a reaction from a crowd is what I love best. I love looking out at the audience just before the show starts and seeing people’s anticipation of what they are about to see and then again at the end to see their reaction.

"To see people smiling and discussing what they have just been a part of is so satisfying. I also look forward to hanging out with my cast. We have an incredible time together travelling around and performing; it’s always sad when it comes to an end. It’s like having a party that you really want to be at that lasts for more than two months and doesn’t get boring."


Do you have any rituals before each show?

"Not too many. I generally try to get my adrenaline going, which isn’t hard when you have an excited audience ready to be entertained. I shake my legs as fast as I can and get myself pumped up, try to contain my excited grin and burst out."


Was it always your ambition to become a dancer when growing up in New Zealand?

"No, not growing up but, as you get older, opportunities present themselves and you make the decisions that are best for you at the time. I believe you create opportunities and it's whether or not you choose to take them which defines your path. I could have very easily stayed in New Zealand and created my life there but my dreams were bigger than that. I didn't know that it would be dance necessarily, I just knew I wanted more."


Was winning the first series of Strictly Come Dancing, partnering newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky in 2004, your greatest achievement?

"No, not my greatest achievement although certainly a highlight. My greatest achievements in dance are definitely my shows. They are not put on by a production company with me just coming in to headline; they are mine from start to finish creatively. I’m extremely proud of what my cast and I achieve.

"I've had some magical moments on Strictly. 2013 with Sophie Ellis-Bextor I did some of my finest work and making the final to me was a bigger achievement than winning. I was also ranked in the top 12 of the world competitively pre-Strictly, which I am immensely proud of."

Brendan Cole – A Night To Remember's 48-date tour visits York Barbican, March 5, 7.30pm; Leeds Grand Theatre, March 24; Hull New Theatre, March 28,7.30pm. Box office: York, 0844 854 2757 or yorkbarbican.co.uk; Leeds, 0844 848 2700 or leedsgrandtheatre.com; Hull, 01482 300300 or hullcc.gov.uk/hullnewtheatre