1 of 5
brendan cole
2 of 5
Strictly professional Aliona Vilani
Strictly professional Aliona Vilani will be joining Brendan Cole in his Licence to Thrill show
3 of 5
Strictly Come Dancing 2013
Strictly dancing professional Brendan Cole and his partner Sophie Ellis Bextor on the 2013 series
4 of 5
Strictly Come Dancing Brendan Cole coming to Surrey
Dancing professional Brendan Cole and celebrity partner Sophie Ellis Bextor vamp it up on the hit TV show
5 of 5
Strictly's Brendan Cole
Strictly's Brendan Cole is bringing his new show Licence to Thrill to Surrey this February
Brendan Cole is coming to Surrey this February. Emily Horton caught up with the bad-boy of Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing bad boy Brendan Cole is set to shimmy on down to Woking’s New Victoria (Feb 16) Guildford’s G Live (Feb 19) and Croydon's Fairfield Halls (Feb 21) – much to the clamour of us local ladies.
Energised from what he says has been his most enjoyable series to date on the hit BBC show (partnering up with popstar Sophie Ellis-Bextor), the New Zealander has kick-started his brand new 48-date tour A Licence to Thrill.
And I have it on good authority from the dashing six-foot dancer himself that thrill is exactly what he plans to do – along with his fellow Strictly professional, the sizzling Aliona Vilani.
I caught up with Brendan to ask about the show he has written, staged and directed.
“It’s going to be a big night out, giving people the chance to see for themselves the magic that is created with a live show, with the right music and choreography,” he says.
In addition to his dancing prowess, Brendan promises plenty of banter with the audience.
“It’s not just a dance show. We want all those dragged along by their wives to have as good a night out as we can make it.
“It’s going to be an intimate evening with the audience as personally involved as they want to be.”
Does that mean that some lucky member of the audience gets a dance with him?
“You’ll certainly see my naughty side come out, but it’s a family show,” he protests. “We have everyone from kids to 95 year olds come along.”
But what of the fiery passion that we’ve come to expect from a man not afraid of sticking up for his celebrity partners, who often argues with the Strictly judges?
“You’ll still see some of my mischievous side!” he laughs.
Also exploding onto the Guildford's G Live stage like sticks of testosterone-fuelled dynamite (Feb 10) will be the all-male, Kingston-based Balletboyz. Harnessing raw and untrained talent, their gritty take on modern dance is fresh, fierce and daringly good.
And there’s another fearless and impressive performance to look forward to. It’s from Wilko Johnson of 70s punk band Dr Feelgood, diagnosed with terminal cancer and with only months to live. G Live is again the venue for perhaps your last chance to hear this legend of English rock.
We have three pairs of tickets for three very lucky readers to win to see Brendan's Licence to Thrill show at Fairfield Halls in Croydon on Feb 21. To be in the running for a night out with Brendon, enter here