Strictly Come Dancing champion siblings Kevin and Joanne Clifton can't wait to share new show "An Evening with..." in their 'second home' Blackpool

The last few years have been none stop for the duo who lent their vocal talents to a joint album inbetween touring theatres nationwide on their individual show tours last year.

2020 brought about new opportunities excitedly a chance to achieve their number one goal of sharing the stage together in a dream production - 'Burn the Floor.'

Joanne, 36, a former Ballroom Showdance World Champion, five-time British Champion, three time Italian Champion and Professional World Dancesport Games Champion says: "I'd been to see Kevin in the first UK tour of the show. I'd obviously moved into musical theatre and loving the new opportunity and challenges that had brought.

"I couldn't imagine going back to my dancing roots. I couldn't see it happening, not in a big headed way but I'd achieved everything I could have wanted in my dancing career from champions titles to Strictly and then I went to see Kevin in that show.

"I can't tell you but it suddenly fired something inside me and I thought this I have to do this."

Show producers were excited to get the pair on-board together for the energetic and fiery production, which has set stages alight around the world for the last 20 years, with long stints on Broadway and the West End.

Diaries set, a packed tour programme, rehearsals in progress and then Covid 19 set off a global lockdown.

Joanne, who along with Kevin grew up in Lincolnshire, adds: "We hadn't danced together since we were teenagers bar the odd group number in Strictly. We were absolutely loving it.

"The show was ready, I can't believe it, It was all ready and then - lockdown."

A former youth World Number One and four-time British Latin Champion and well as a holder of the famous Strictly Glitterball trophy Kevin, 37, adds: "I was in such good shape, the energy in this show is what makes it one of the best.

"I'd loved it on Broadway, then the opportunity to tour, I've said so many times how it has completely changed me as a dancer and a performer to another level. Everything about it is just amazing and this particular show, I felt was one of the best.

"We were gutted -absolutely gutted. Then when we rescheduled Joanne was already committed to another show - it felt like we were never going to be able to perform together."

Luckily for disappointed audiences Burn The Floor will return in 2021 but clashing dates for Joanne, mean Kevin will once again fly solo.

But as the roadmap for the entertainments industry slowly began to reopen in the late summer, the siblings got round the 'Zoom' table with show producers to come up with alternative ideas.

In true entertainer style the pair were determined a theatre show must go on, under new social distance measures. Next month, stocked up on their fake tan and dazzling costumes, they will hit the road and stages across the country with "An Evening with Kevin and Joanne Clifton."

The production is full of song, dance and sentiment as they share songs from their album, signature ballroom dances with their professional partners and stories of their lives and careers in dance and showbusiness.

The show arrives in their 'second home' Blackpool with a performance at the Opera House, a venue they are both familiar with on November 19.

Kevin says: "I'd never known of Zoom before lockdown, now it runs my life.

"The producers scheduled some meetings because they were keen to do something and Joanne and I just wanted to perform in whatever way we could. So it was a case of what do we do?

"The Evening with was a concept and we built it from there. We ultimately wanted to bring some positivity, a little escapism, keep it safe for people and with the guidelines what we have is something a bit more intimate.

"A chance for people to ask questions too, learn a bit more about me and Jo and with our fantastic dancers, some routines and show numbers.

"Now we're really excited again. Tickets are selling really well and we're delighted and just so grateful with the response."

Joanne adds: "It is going to be special and unique and I'm sure there will be lots of stories from Blackpool shared in there. It literally is our second home, we grew up there, as did our parents and grandparents dancing.

"Numerous trips a year for competitions and holidays and then with Strictly - it truly is a special place for us with some of our most treasured family memories."

Both are passionate about the resort but equally their love for theatre and speak of their 'hearbreak' and the state of flux suffered by fellow performers, theatre staff and the wider industry workers, that have been so deeply affected by the pandemic.

Kevin says: "I think what this time has shown people is just how important the arts are and only now coming to understand how many people are involved and what entertainments does in generating income for so many other industries too.

"It's not just our venues and theatres being affected , it's the bars, the restaurants, travel, wider industries. Performing has been our lives since we were young, so when the chance came to do this we jumped to help in whatever we could."

Joanne has recently been performing musical Pippin at the open-air Garden Theatre, a pub garden at The Eagle Vauxhall, London to crowds of just 50, an unusual role, she has relished.

"It felt so strange, it was my first socially distanced show but just so lovely to be performing with an audience again not just virtually.

"We understand it is going to be some time and for safety before we can have those mass groups again but you could really feel how much people have missed that entertainment, they crave it and as performers that's what you want to give.

"It's been a heartbreaking time, so many of our friends, colleagues have suffered. There are so many businesses struggling. When it's your livelihood it's so scary.

"We honestly hope these shows will be the start of the theatres being able to reopen up, build some confidence for people and at the same time ensure the highest level of safety for everyone involved - that's the most important."

Lockdown for the Cliftons has proven an interesting experience having both been none stop in their careers since their teenage years.

Kevin, who has been with his girlfriend broadcaster and presenter Stacey Dooley since 2018, admits for him it was a chance to take some much needed time out after coming very close to 'burnout.'

This year he announced his departure from BBC's hit entertainment show Strictly Come Dancing after seven years, a champion title and a multi-times finalist.

In recent years his involvement with the show came between his roles in musicals including Dirty Dancing on the West End and Stacee Jaxx in the 2019 national tour of Rock of Ages.

"With Burn the Floor cancelled, my decision to leave Strictly, it did force me into a break and actually it was the right time.

"The last few years had been none stop with tours and without realising it I was close to burning out - I wouldn't have had that break in different circumstances.

"So I actively chose to do nothing for the first time ever - it was very strange and for a few weeks I loved it. It gave me a chance to actively think about what I wanted to do next but then Stacey went back to work and I suddenly realised how much I was missing being out there performing. It really hit home to me how it is in you.

"The excitement to have something in the diary again I can't describe it.

"Although restarting the exercise regime came as a bit of a shock - I've been so used to keeping fit, I went for my first run and was struggling after 10 minutes. I've some work to do."

Joanne says she has been keeping busy writing her own plays alongside launching a new motivational business and wellbeing course The Beyond Lockdown Empire joining forces with Strictly Come Dancing star Katya Jones and musical theatre sensation Sasha Latoya.

"It's been really inspiring and moving seeing people take back charge in these difficult times;. It's very different for me but our hope is that we can build on the course and then when ready deliver live seminars."

Even 2020 couldn't keep the Cliftons still for long.

An Evening with Kevin and Joanne Clifton at Blackpool Opera House, November 19, 7.30pm.

Tickets from £33, visit https://www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk/whats-on/an-evening-with-kevin-joanne-clifton