THE Strictly Come Dancing Tour of 2010 waltzed into Birmingham yesterday for a four-day stint and the eight celebrities did not disappoint, and neither did the judges with their comments.

New champion Chris Hollins, crowned just before Christmas with Polish beauty Ola Jordan, came under fire early on from Bruno Tonioli, who described the BBC Breakfast sport presenter as having a face "like a hamster with toothache."

Natalie Cassidy and former EastEnder Ricky Groves, who nearly took a tumble just walking onto the stage, also felt the full wrath of the Bruno, Arlene Philips and Craig Revel Horwood, who with the absence of Len Goodman as a calming influence, just let rip.

But as the professionals the pair are, they both took it in their stride.

And when the likes of Austin Healey, Kelly Brook, Zoe Lucker, Ali Bastian and Mark Ramprakash came onto the stage, their strides were spectacular.

Watching the dancing on television doesn't do justice to how quick and light on their feet these people are - or indeed do justice to Austin or Mark's pecs, which gave all the ladies a thrill. The men, many of whom had clearly been dragged along John Sergeant-style, didn't lose out either with some very revealing costumes for the female contestants.

The live show follows a similar format to the televised version with audience members voting for their favourites. These are then added to the judges marks to give an overall result. On the opening night on Thursday, Mark Ramprakash came out top.

For me, the star of the show was Ricky Groves though. His efforts may have been described as “excrutiating” by Arlene but his humorous and quick-thinking retorts had everyone in fits of laughter. And at the end of the day the whole evening was about having a good time.

He dazzled on television and along with the rest of his celebrity dancers, he set the LG Arena in Birmingham alight with this great live show. Not one to miss.