It's official - Ali and Brian are West End stars

Following Burn the Floor's official opening night on 26th July, Ali and Brian continue to promote the show. They were on Patrick Kielty's show on BBC Radio 2 interview on Saturday - this is now on BBC iPlayer - A&B are about 1 hour 44 mins from the start. Thanks to Pam for the pic which shows Brian wearing his hat in the studio.

They will be on Something for the Weekend on BBC2 at 11.30am on Sunday.

They spoke to Fiona Phillips on GMTV - thanks to Pam for uploading the interview. Fiona also commented about Ali and Brian in her Mirror column.

Ali and Brian do their very own version of Mr & Mrs when they appeared on This Morning on ITV1 on Monday 19th July.

There have also been some great reviews...
Opening night review by the TAFFs very own Emma Ellis
Show and Stay website
Official London Theatre website
Review by Lucie Bartlett on her blog The Writing's On The Wall with interesting comments about Ali and Brian's role in the show
Review in the Watford Observer newspaper
Review on LondonDance.com

And some awesome pictures...
The Daily Mail with Ali looking amazing in a Herve Leger dress.
Similar story in The Sun.

Free Burn the Floor tickets for teenagers

Burn the Floor is taking part in Kids Week in the West End from 13th to 27th August when children aged five to 16 will be able to see shows for free when accompanied by an adult paying full price.

There will also be a Cha Cha Boot Camp for children aged 12 to 16 to meet the Burn the Floor cast at the Shaftesbury Theatre, and learn all the steps and moves. These are on 13th August and 20th August at 4pm and you have to book to see the show on those days in order to attend the boot camp. There are 50 places available.

Please note that Burn the Floor is not suitable for children aged under 12.

And yes it should be Kids' Fortnight but maybe that doesn't sound so snappy.

Ali to make at least seven costume changes in BTF

Ali and Brian will perform several dances in Burn the Floor with Ali doing "seven or eight" costume changes during the show. The dances are being specially choreographed for the couple by the Burn the Floor choreographer.

Ali also told OK magazine that she and Brian are not living together and have agreed that it is "probably quite wise to have a little space" from each other while performing together in the West End.

Bolton show cancelled

The Brian and Kristina show that was due to be held on Monday 19th July at the Albert Halls in Bolton has been cancelled, the venue announced today.

Contact the theatre for refunds.

Brian solves the mystery of Ali's toe

Ali's toe injury during Week 7 in last year's Strictly was caused by her tripping over the couch at Brian's flat, according to an interview in this week's Woman's Own. She was running to answer the phone and banged into the furniture, bending back her toe - ouch!

Brian talks about the risks of injuries and how his mother warns him to be extra cautious - "Don't ski, go motorbiking or go skating."

Brian also claims that he and Ali are not living together - yet - but says that they are "incredibly happy".

Ali and Brian talk the talk for Burn the Floor

As the opening night of Burn the Floor approaches - on 21st July - Ali and Brian are undertaking media appearances and doing interviews to publicise the show. And their picture is now high up on the theatre at the top end of Shaftesbury Lane.

They will appear as guests on tomorrow's Five O'Clock Show on Channel 4 at, erm, 5pm. Fern Britton is the host for the week and the other guests are John Barrowman and Andy Garcia.

On Monday 19th July, they will appear on This Morning on ITV1 between 10.30am and 12.30pm.

Ali is interviewed in Closer magazine which also includes healthy diet tips from the Burn the Floor cast.

Brian "disappointed" by Strictly changes

Brian says he was "very disappointed" by the decision of Strictly producers to try to change his role in the next series by not giving him a celebrity partner.
"I thought I was a real part of the show, part of the family. But they didn't feel it," he tells New magazine.
Brian, and four other professional dancers, were instead asked to be part of a "dance troupe" performing routines. Brian then decided to quit the show.
"Going to be a member of a dance troupe in the background on Strictly is not the right thing for me," he explains.
In the interview, Brian admits that not making the Strictly final with Ali last year was "one of the most disappointing experiences of my life" but, he says, he won overall because he met Ali and they are both moving on to bigger and better things.

"It was love at first sight"

Ali and Brian star as Laura and Alec, the ill-fated lovers of Brief Encounter, in the Sunday Mirror celeb magazine today. Fortunately, their own romance is looking like it will be a little more longer-lasting with a much happier ending...

The newspaper is also giving away five pairs of tickets to Burn the Floor.

Edit: the interview is now online on the Mirror website.