Strictly Come Dancing Live tour confirms line-up after Wynne Evans withdraws over "inappropriate actions"

The BBC's Strictly Come Dancing Live tour quicksteps back into Manchester this weekend - although it won't be the original line-up announced. The show heads to Manchester's AO Arena for four shows on Saturday and Sunday.

But the tour was hit by controversy this week, after the withdrawal of contestant Wynne Evans over his "inappropriate actions" amid comments made at a photocall for the event.

Welsh opera singer Wynne, who has been partnered with pro dancer Katya Jones since partaking in the 2024 series, said in a statement, which was posted to his Instagram Story: "I’ve agreed with the BBC that I’ll take some time out from my radio show and the Strictly Live tour, as well as my other public commitments, to prioritise my wellbeing.

"I am deeply sorry for the pain my inappropriate actions have caused, and plan to take this time for self-reflection. Apologies to those I won’t get to see at the remaining performances and I’m grateful to my fellow tour gang for all the amazing support they have given me."

But while Wynne will no longer be a part of the show, fans heading along can still expect to see six other of the class of Strictly 2024 doing ballroom battle once again.

The show has now confirmed that there will NOT be a replacement for Wynne on the tour, although his professional dance partner Katya will still be taking part in the group dances during the show.

So that means the celebrities now competing for audience votes - and aiming for tens from the judges - will be Jamie Borthwick, Montell Douglas, Tasha Ghouri, JB Gill, Sarah Hadland and Shayne Ward alongside their professional dance partners.

As for what audience-goers can expect, the show's spokesperson said today: "Manchester audiences are in for a real treat this weekend, with four spectacular shows, featuring a FAB-U-LOUS line-up of celebrities, pro dancers and, for the first time ever on tour, all four Strictly TV judges.”

Fans can expect all the glitz, glamour and sequins from the TV show super-sized for arena audiences. Strictly star and It Takes Two co-presenter Janette Manrara will be hosting for the fourth year in a row and judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood (who is again on directing duties) will be on hand to dole out wisdom, advice and their scores.

Motsi Mabusi will also be joining the tour’s judging panel for the first time and said: "I'm thrilled to be joining my fellow TV judges Shirley, Anton and Craig on the Strictly Live Tour. I've heard so much about the incredible audiences that come to the shows across the country - it will be such a joy to be part of that magic."

The judges will have their say, but it's up to the audience to choose who wins the Glitterball Trophy at the end of each show. A text for their favourite couple, sent from the comfort of their seats, will help decide the victors, with six couples now vying for the trophy.

Finalists Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola are hoping to take Strictly's top prize on the tour. "If I could just get my hands on it," the actress grins, "that would be amazing. I had such a great time on the show. I'd danced in musical theatre before but I tend to throw myself about, whereas with Latin and ballroom it's all about the detail. I've got a whole new appreciation for it now."

Vito laughs: "At the beginning of the week Sarah was like 'I'm not going to do that', then she'd go home, sleep on it and the next day she could do it. I haven't told her too much about the arena tour because I don't want to spoil the surprise, but the reaction from the crowd is incredible. Doing Strictly on TV is the cake and the tour is the icing on top of it."

Sarah's fellow finalist JB Gill is the lucky guy who gets two dance partners on the tour, namely Amy Dowden and Lauren Oakley. It's a first for the Strictly tour. "And I feel really spoiled," says the JLS singer turned presenter and farmer, "because they are both amazing dancers. Unfortunately my journey with Amy was cut short but then I got to dance with Lauren and go all the way through to the final.

"There's a lot that Amy's been through, so it's great that she's back for the tour. And I loved doing Strictly so I'm happy that I get to continue the dancing. It was challenging and full-on, with lots of ups and downs, but it was like the best rollercoaster ride ever. It was difficult physically, but I learned so much about myself."

Forced to withdraw in week six because of a foot injury, Amy is thrilled to be back on the dance floor. "I'm going to enjoy every second of it," she says. "It was heartbreaking having to pull out halfway through. Obviously we didn't expect our journey to end the way it did for us, but I was so happy that JB was able to continue with Lauren and make it to the final."

Having left the show in week seven, Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu are excited to be back together and Shayne will be hoping for big homecoming support here in Manchester. "We had a great innings," says the X Factor-winning singer and actor, "but I was sad to leave so soon. Now we get to dance every night, and this time it's up to the audience to vote on who gets the Glitterball Trophy. I'll be honest, I want one!" And if the judges get critical? "That's fine, and on the tour I reckon it's OK to have a bit of banter with them. It's going to be a lot of fun."

Nancy has danced with Shayne, Rhys Stephenson and Will Mellor over the last couple of years and says: "Just as much as the celebrities learn from me, I learn from them. It's important for me to get to know who they are, so to have been able to spend time with Shayne and his beautiful family is wonderful." As for the live tour, she smiles: "For me it's a really exciting part of doing Strictly. People come along to see their favourite couples and it's just such fun. It's like we're inviting them to the best party in the world."

The full dancer line-up for Manchester's Strictly Live dates

Celebrities and professionals

Jamie Borthwick partnered with Michelle Tsiakkis

Montell Douglas partnered with Kai Widdrington

Tasha Ghouri partnered with Aljaz Škorjanec

JB Gill partnered with Amy Dowden and Lauren Oakley

Sarah Hadland partnered with Vito Coppola

Shayne Ward partnered with Nancy Xu

Ensemble professional dancers

Dianne Buswell, Karen Hauer, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Jowita Przystal, Robbie Kmetoni and Jake Leigh

Strictly Come Dancing The Live Tour is at AO Arena in Manchester for four shows on February 1 and 2. For tickets see strictlycomedancinglive.com