Jodie Kidd and Rachel Stevens will be dancing their way around the country in 2009 when STRICTLY COME DANCING – THE LIVE TOUR! takes to the road next January. Jodie and Rachel will join fellow dancing celebrities from the current BBC1 series, Cherie Lunghi and Tom Chambers, along with past favourites Gethin Jones, Jill Halfpenny, Julian Clary and Kenny Logan for the UK tour, where audiences will get the chance to watch their favourite celebrities, dance champions and those all important TV judges.

Rachel Stevens is racing ahead in this year’s series, receiving the highest score of the series, 39 points, for her Rumba routine. Jodie Kidd is also proving her place in the final seven with huge improvements every week. Tom Chambers, who has swapped the wards of Holby City for the dance floor, has continuously impressed the judges with his ability to deliver amazing performances and actress Cherie Lunghi, dazzled right up until her departure from the show in week nine. Jill Halfpenny wowed judges with her dancing in the second series and was crowned champion, with Julian Clary closely following in third place. Julian commented: “I had a ball taking part in the second series of Strictly Come Dancing and learnt so much. I can’t wait to get back into training, back into those costumes and back into the arms of a beautiful woman in front of an arena full of fans!”

Last year, rugby star Kenny Logan was a hit with the viewers but waltzed out in fifth place and smooth mover Gethin Jones reached the semi-finals. Kenny is thrilled to be doing the Live Tour, he said: “I never thought I’d make it as far as I did during my time on Strictly and now to be touring the country in the live show is another unexpected turn in my dancing career! I’m used to a stadium full of rugby fans but I’m not sure how that will compare to the arenas on tour…. I can’t wait to find out.”

The 2009 tour will see the celebrities face their dance demons in the form of all four TV judges – Len Goodman, Arlene Phillips, Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli – joining each show to voice their professional opinions of the dancing duos. Bruno comments: ‘’I am so excited to be doing the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour this time, I really missed out last year due to TV commitments in America. The tour was a huge success, a complete sell out at all venues across the country! This year, it’s going to be even better – skilful routines and beautiful costumes brought together by fantastic live music – it’s going to be great!”

The celebrities will be joined on the 45-date tour by their world-class professional dance partners. From the current series, Camilla Dallerup and Vincent Simone, will partner Tom Chambers and Rachel Stevens respectively. Series two pro-champion Darren Bennett, who will dance with Jill Halfpenny. Cherie Lunghi and Jodie Kidd will partner with James Jordan and Ian Waite and Julian Clary will take to the stage with Lilia Kopylova. Gethin Jones will dance with Flavia Cacace and Ola Jordan will partner Kenny Logan. Current Strictly Come Dancing pro-champion Matthew Cutler and new dancer Kristina Rihanoff will also tour, performing in the showcase and group numbers.

Kate Thornton will once again host the tour, which kicks off at the Newcastle Metro Radio Arena on Friday 16th January. The five-week dance spectacular will also travel to Liverpool’s Echo Arena, Manchester’s MEN Arena, Nottingham Arena, Sheffield Arena, London’s Wembley Arena, London’s O2 Arena, SECC in Glasgow and Birmingham LG Arena, where the tour culminates on Sunday 22nd February.