Podcasts about bbc's strictly come dancing

Libby Purves meets writer Frederick Forsyth; entertainer Sir Bruce Forsyth; costumier Tim Angel and stonemason Louise Tiplady. Tim Angel OBE runs Angels Costumiers which has been dressing the entertainment business for 175 years. The company has supplied costumes for television, theatre and film productions from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Star Wars to The Iron Lady and Morecambe and Wise. The exhibition, Dressed by Angels, tells the history of the costumier and features bespoke costumes made for Fred Astaire, Noel Coward, Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett. Dressed by Angels - 175 Years of Costumes is at the Old Truman Brewery, London E1 6QL. Legendary entertainer Sir Bruce Forsyth has presented the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, The Generation Game and Sunday Night At the London Palladium. His career has spanned eight decades and is recognised by the Guinness World Records book as the longest TV career of any male entertainer in the world. Strictly Bruce - Stories of My Life, is published by Bantam Press. Frederick Forsyth CBE is a former journalist and author, best known for his thrillers including The Day of the Jackal; The Dogs of War and The Odessa File. In his new book The Outsider, he writes about his own life from becoming a fighter pilot to covering the Biafran War as a foreign correspondent and spying for British Intelligence in the 1960s. The Outsider - My Life In Intrigue is published by Bantam Press. Louise Tiplady is a stonemason and letter carver. Her work features in a new exhibition Cutting a Dash - The Female Line. The exhibition showcases the work of 15 female letter carvers whose skills are helping to ensure that an ancient art remains relevant in 2015. Cutting a Dash is at the Lettering Arts Centre at Snape Maltings, Suffolk, IP17 1SP. Producer: Paula McGinley.

Ahead of performing at Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre, Pasha Kovalev spoke to Marketing Manager Richard Loftus about Strictly Come Dancing and his brand-new show with Katya Virshilas. Pasha Kovalev started dancing at the age of 8. In September 2011, Pasha joined the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing as the new professional dancer of its ninth series. In his first series he was partnered with Waterloo Road actress Chelsee Healey. The two made it all the way to the finals, finishing as runners-up to Harry Judd and his partner Aliona Vilani. In 2012, Pasha was partnered with Girls Aloud star Kimberley Walsh. The pair were the series runners up. In 2013, Pasha partnered Countdown’s Rachel Riley. An Evening with the Stars of Strictly, starring Pasha Kovalev and Katya Virshilas, will run at the Wyvern Theatre from Monday 14 – Wednesday 16 April. Book tickets today at http://swindontheatres.co.uk

Libby Purves meets silversmith Jocelyn Burton; biographer Michael Holroyd; Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli and memory champion Jonathan Hancock. Jocelyn Burton is an award-winning silversmith, known for her witty and often maverick pieces. She was the first woman to become a freeman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths and to win the Prince Philip City & Guilds Medal for silversmithing. She is currently celebrating 40 years of her work in an exhibition, 'The Art of Silver,' at the Royal jewellers Bentley & Skinner. Michael Holroyd is the acclaimed biographer of George Bernard Shaw and Lytton Strachey. In his book, 'On Wheels', he traces his relationship with cars through a lifetime of biography. 'On Wheels - Five Easy Pieces' is published by Chatto & Windus. Bruno Tonioli is a dancer-turned-choreographer and TV personality. He is best known as a judge on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, and its US version, Dancing With the Stars. In his autobiography, 'My Story', he tells how he escaped the confines of his upbringing in Northern Italy to follow his dreams. 'My Story' is published by Headline. Jonathan Hancock is a primary school teacher and a former World Memory Champion. He devised the National Junior Memory Championships in association with the Learning Schools Foundation. The competition, which takes place next March, uses memory techniques as an aid to learning. He is also the author of several books including 'Brilliant Memory Training'. Producer: Paula McGinley.

Libby Purves is joined by Graham Short, Peter Tatchell, Gary Mulgrew and Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace. Graham Short is known as "the world's smallest engraver" for his miniature masterpieces. He has spent almost fifty years honing his craft, going to physical and mental extremes to produce the highest quality engravings. His latest work, The Word of God, is the first chapter of the Qur'an engraved on the head of a pin, which follows on from his first pin on which he engraved the Lord's Prayer. Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell turns sixty today. This year also marks 45 years since his first human rights campaign in 1967 which was against the death penalty in Australia. Also July is the 40th year of London LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) Pride Parade; he helped to organise the first one in 1972 and has attended every parade since. Gary Mulgrew became known as one of the 'Natwest Three' when he was extradited to the US and served a prison sentence for banking fraud. His book, Gang of One, tells of his time serving in one of America's toughest prisons, Big Spring in Texas. Gang of One is published by Hodder & Stoughton. Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace, stars of BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, bring their creation, Midnight Tango to London's West End. Set in a late-night bar in downtown Buenos Aires, it brings to life all the drama, sensuality and elegance of the tango. Midnight Tango is on at the Aldwych Theatre. Producer: Paula McGinley.

This week Libby Purves is joined by Arlene Phillips, Max Zachs, Antonio Carluccio and Simon Clothier. Ukulele player Simon Clothier worked in construction on sites including the iconic Wembley Stadium and Olympic 2012 until his musical talent was recognized by his fellow workers. Construction has now been put on hold as he goes on tour with his band in the new year and has a new album out, 'Songs from a Small Guitar', and a single 'Over and Done', which is in aid of the Children's Society. Max Zachs is appearing in the Channel 4 series 'My Transsexual Summer' which follows seven transgender men and women as they come together to share their intimate and on-going experiences of changing gender. Max was born female and three years ago began his physical transition to becoming male. He is also a Reform Jew, attends synagogue regularly, and hopes to enter Rabbinical School to fulfil his goal of becoming Britain's first trans-gender Rabbi. Antonio Carluccio is the much loved and respected Italian food writer, chef and restaurateur. He is appearing in a new series of the campaigning food series 'The Great British Food Revival' on BBC Two and his mission is to revive the fortunes of the British beetroot. Arlene Phillips created the dance group Hot Gossip in the seventies and went on to become a world renowned choreographer for theatre, film, pop concerts and music videos. She was also a judge on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing for six series. She has just published the book 'Dance to the Musicals - the fun way to fitness' and is published by Kyle. Producer: Lucinda Montefiore.

Tickets http://www.midnighttango.co.uk/about/ | Youtube http://ow.ly/4Z0ru | Podcast http://ow.ly/4Z0pf Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace have dazzled television audiences for six series of the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing with their stunning Tango routines. Now they have created their own live show, Midnight Tango, a breathtaking evening bringing to life all the drama, sensuality and elegance of this most exciting of dance forms. Midnight Tango is set in a late-night bar in downtown Buenos Aires. Vincent and Flavia will be joined by ten of the finest Tango dancers in the world, and, between them, they will take the audience on a journey into the heart of this intoxicating city, as danger and excitement, joy and jealousy, pain and passion combine into a spectacular and explosive evening.