Billed as one of the hottest shows in town (and, yes, I know there aren’t many open currently) I have to say that “Here Come The Boys” lives up to the hype.

There was such a buzz going around last night, and that was even before we got inside The London Palladium. Out in Argyll street the excitement was palpable as some familiar faces arrived and stood for photos looking both very happy and very glamourous in equal measures. I won’t name names but suffice it to say, there is clearly a lot of support and love coming from the Strictly crew.

“Here Come The Boys” is an clever mix of classical and modern both in terms of music and dance, and there really is something for everyone. The dance superstars in the show are some of my personal favourites from watching Strictly – Aljaž Škorjanec, Pasha Kovalev, Graziano di Prima, Robin Windsor, along with Strictly finalist Karim Zeroual, and joined by special guest star Strictly’s brilliantly-talented Nadiya Bychkova.  

And that was all I knew before I went along. I wasn’t prepared for the incredible performances from the whole cast, working seamlessly alongside the boys and Nadiya, and showing what talent is out there. Yes, we wanted to see the boys but the girls were really something too; so skilled and just making it all look effortless. It was just lovely to see the whole cast numbers, including the two male dancers who clearly are on their way to West End fame. The choreography was clever and well timed, keeping the energy levels high while giving us exhausted punters time to take breath and appreciate the slower but equally technically impressive sections.

Karim Zeroual was a great host; not too formal or scripted and clearly enjoying his role. His dance numbers were also great to watch, as he added in some TikTok references and took part in both traditional and more modern numbers.

All of the dance numbers had their special “wow” moments but I did love watching Graciano and his partner dance to Volare – so lovely. The Queen numbers, danced by Robin and partner were uplifting and a joy to watch too. Aljaž and Pasha were just as amazing in their performances, smiling, gliding, and smouldering through their different dances, giving the audience plenty of that real ballroom glamour.

Watch out for the finale and the encore. A finish fit for such a spectacular night out.

Lastly, if any of you are feeling nervous about going out for the first time, I have to say I was impressed by the attention to detail on the safety front. Prior to even leaving home I was sent information reassuring me about the seating patterns, and giving me information on the precautions that were being taken by The London Palladium.

On the night, it felt far less daunting and, once inside (assisted by a very attentive usher who couldn’t have been more helpful) the atmosphere was electric, with so many people just grateful to be there and a cast absolutely committed to making our night special. It really was quite an emotional ride.

Sadly, this is a short run over 10 days so you’ll need to get booking quickly if you want to catch the boys, and the equally wonderful girls.

RUNNING TIME: First half 55mins (20 min interval) Second half 55mins

Here Come the Boys is on until 9 June 2021 https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/here-come-the-boys-2/