DANCE
Brendan Cole - Licence to Thrill
Watford Colosseum
*****

It was like shooting fish in a barrel – every last seat in the house was packed with die-hard Strictly Come Dancing fans ready to lap up anything and everything that veteran pro dancer Brendan Cole could throw at us in the reprisal of his hit show, Licence to Thrill. And even though there was the odd moment where it seemed that Brendan was giving it slightly less than the five other dancers on board – probably because he knew we were going to love it all anyway – that somehow didn’t seem to matter. There’s no doubt about it – this show is a spectacle and a half.

Brendan is joined on this tour by fellow Strictly pro Aliana Vilani, who replaces his leading lady from last year, French Dancing with the Stars champion Fauve Hautot who had to pull out after injuring the cruciate ligaments in her knee. And Aliona is an absolute delight to watch – Brendan described her to me before the show as one of the best dancers he knows.

But this show wasn’t just about the two stars – there was a real sense of camaraderie among them and the other four dancers in the show – Crystal Main, Melanie Hooper, Patrick Helm and Brendan’s older brother Scott Cole – the vocalists Julie Maguire and Iain Mackenzie, musical director Barry Robinson – who is from Watford – on the piano, and the 11 guys in the band, and Brendan went to great pains to have the audience get to know them all, giving the show a lovely, personal feel.

All of this was an added bonus to what we were all here for – the dancing – and it was truly amazing. Despite most of the small stage being taken up with the band and singers, every single number was spectacularly choreographed and executed.

It’s hard to single any out, they were all so good, but Brendan and Aliona doing a rumba to Licence to Kill was spectacular, as was the full cast performing an Argentine tango to Man of La Mancha. Oh and the full-cast mambo to I’ve Had the Time of My Life, which got us all up and dancing along with them (though not quite so well). And Brendan and Aliona’s breathtaking waltz to With You I’m Born Again. No, I’m just listing them all now.

Mention also has to be made of the stunning costumes, designed by DSI London with help from Brendan himself – as well to the dancers for their mind-bogglingly speedy costume changes between numbers.

Stunning, spectacular, sexy and super good fun, this show is an absolute treat.