Strictly star says 'I'm gutted' as live tour due to kick off tomorrow

A Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer has said he is 'gutted' ahead of the live tour, which is due to start in Birmingham on January 17 evening.

Kai Widdrington, one of the pros, is dancing the tour with Montell Douglas as her BBC show partner Johannes Radebe has other commitments. But the ballroom and Latin star said he was 'gutted' about one thing.

Speaking to Birmingham Live, Gladiator Montell said: "I am sad Jojo isn't here. As we did the show together and we had the connection so I am sorry he isn't here."

Read more: Strictly Come Dancing Live in Birmingham - tickets, times, full line up and new judge

Kai jumped in to add: "I'm gutted he's not here" and Montell was quick to comfort him, saying: "This guy, he's been amazing. We're going to have such a great time."

Strictly Come Dancing The Live Tour 2025

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The pair have been in Birmingham all week ahead of the opening night of the live tour on Friday, January 17 at Utilita Arena in Birmingham - which both Kai and Montell said they are 'buzzing for'.

Strictly Come Dancing Live will run from Friday, January 17 to Sunday, January 19 at Utilita Arena Birmingham, before continuing round the country. Tickets are still available on Ticketmaster here and start from £42.60.

The show is being performed at arena across the UK and features seven couples including Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas; Montell Douglas and Kai Widdrington; Wynne Evans and Katya Jones; Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec; JB Gill, Amy Dowden and Lauren Oakley and Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu. Sarah Hadland was due to dance with Vito Coppola but he has confirmed he will be replaced by Nikita Kuzmin for all the Birmingham shows due to a back injury.

You can read more here about the Strictly live tour.