New movie role for Brian?

Brian Fortuna could be starring in a film soon after he told the Daily Mail that a role was being written specifically with him in mind.

He spoke to the paper about life after Strictly and emphasised that he had used his time since leaving the BBC programme to develop his career as an all-round entertainer. He said: "Since I left the show I’ve done things I thought would never be possible. I’ve done a short film that was shown at Cannes and now a film role is being written for me. I have even been to the Oscars . . ."

Professional dancers earn less than celebrities on Strictly on both the TV show and the tour but can build on their media fame to earn significant money if they are canny, said Brian. He said: "I was offered the chance to be in the troupe, but that was not going to be the career for me. So after Strictly, I decided I wanted to enter the entertainment business.
"You have to understand that Strictly will come to an end for you one day. And if all that you have done with that opportunity is to dance then you will still be only a dancer.
"I set myself the challenge to be an all-round entertainer like Fred Astaire."

Brian said he was rooting for his former dance partner Kristina and her celebrity Jason Donovan to win this year's Strictly.

Brian will be switching on the Christmas lights in Northampton tomorrow afternoon and starring in Aladdin in the Royal & Derngate Theatre in the town.

NB: One correction in the Daily Mail story: Ali and Brian earned perfect scores of 40for the Viennese Waltz and 50 for their semi-final American Smooth as there were five judges on that night.

Ali's tour dates for Chicago

Ali has been cast in the starring role of Roxie Hart in the UK tour of the musical Chicago.

Tour dates were announced today: starting on 10th February at the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford, the show will visit Hull, Southend, Birmingham, Manchester among others, before ending on Saturday 16th June at Grimsby Auditorium. More dates may be added.

Other cast members include Stefan Booth, Tupele Dorgu and Bernie Nolan.

Information about tour dates is here.