Brendan Cole back on stage

Posted on October 30, 2013

Brendan Cole’s stage show License to Thrill will return in January, giving Strictly Come Dancing fans some New Year sparkle.

The Strictly star will be joined by 14 musicians, led by musical director Barry Robinson and vocalists Ian Mackenzie and Julie Maguire. They’ll perform songs from across the decades, from Nat King Cole to Gladys Knight and Michael Jackson to Michael Bublé. “There is a small nod to James Bond with the music,” Brendan said. “One of the big songs is Gladys Knight’s ‘License to Kill’ (hence the License to Thrill title), and there is a dance-off between the males in ‘Live and Let Die’”.

His dance cast includes performers from Dancing with the Stars (Strictly’s international name) in France, Australia and Mexico, as well as dancers from the Broadway hit Burn The Floor and from Strictly Come Dancing itself. Brendan’s leading lady will be French dancer Fauve Hautot (pictured with Brendan). Brendan’s brother Scott will also return to the cast.

The tour opens on January 16, 2014 at the Congress Theatre, Eastbourne and continues until March 17. See Brendan’s website for full tour dates.

Zoe Anderson

Zoë was born in Edinburgh, and saw her first dance performances at the Festival there. She is the dance critic of The Independent, and has also written for The Independent on Sunday, The Scotsman and Dancing Times. In 2002, she received her doctorate from the University of York for a thesis on “Nationhood and epic romance: Ariosto, Sidney, Spenser”. She is the author of The Royal Ballet: 75 Years and The Ballet Lover’s Companion.