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'Strictly' tour delayed to 2022 because of the coronavirus pandemic

Stacey Dooley, Ashley Roberts, Lauren Steadman, Faye Tozer,  Janette Manrara, Dianne Buswell, Karen Clifton, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, Amy Dowden, Dr Ranj Singh, Joe Sugg, Graeme Swann, Aljaz Skorjanec, Pasha Kovalev, AJ Pritchard, Giovanni Pernice, Graziano Di Prima and Johannes Radebe attend the photocall for the 'Strictly Come Dancing' live tour at Arena Birmingham on 17 January 2019 in Birmingham, England. Picture date: Thursday 17 January, 2019. Photo credit: Katja Ogrin/ EMPICS Entertainment.
Strictly Come Dancing live tour photocall (Katja Ogrin/ EMPICS Entertainment)

Strictly Come Dancing’s much-loved live tour has been delayed to 2022 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The popular show sees contestants from the series and their professional partners entertaining audiences up and down the country.

The tour usually starts early in the new year, after a celebrity has lifted the coveted Strictly Glitterball trophy.

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But the tour for this series has been pushed back a year because of the virus and will now start in Birmingham in January 2022.

A post on the Strictly Tour Twitter account said: “2022 will see the return of the magnificent Strictly Come Dancing Live Arena Tour - kicking off in Birmingham 20 Jan 2022!

“Celebs and professional dancers from the BBC One TV series will waltz around the country performing 33 shows in some of the UK’s biggest arenas!”

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Another message said: “As a result of Covid-19 restrictions - and to keep everyone safe - the 2021 arena tour will not go ahead, but tickets for the 2022 arena tour will be available this year and will go on general sale at 10.00am on Friday 16 October at strictlycomedancinglive.com.”

However, there will still be plenty of sparkles and sequins on offer to keep Strictly fans entertained.

The current series of the programme starts later this month, with the launch show on 17 October and the live shows getting under way on 24 October.

This year’s line-up includes actress Caroline Quentin, boxer Nicola Adams and reality star Jamie Laing, who is having another crack at the trophy after injury forced him to drop out last year.

And it has also been announced that there will be two Strictly productions touring the country next summer.

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Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Bruno Tonioli arrive as Presenters, Professional Dancers, Celebrity dancers and Judges onstage during the BBC Strictly Come Dancing Launch at Broadcasting House in London. (Photo by Keith Mayhew / SOPA Images/Sipa USA)
Strictly judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Bruno Tonioli (Keith Mayhew / SOPA Images/Sipa USA)

Strictly Come Dancing: The Professionals starts in May, and a brand new show, Strictly Presents: The Power Of Dance, opens in June.

It will feature dancefloor favourites Janette Manrara, Dianne Buswell, Amy Dowden and Neil Jones, with two special guests set to be announced.

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