JADAR

★★★★☆

Strictly Come Dancing spin-off shows are still as popular (and frequent) as ever, allowing audiences to peek into the lives and styles of their favourite professionals, but not all end up being huge successes. Scene transitions can be sloppy, talking segments can feel ingenuine and elongated, and sometimes the show lacks genuine cohesion. Anton, however, consistently delivers a feel-good evening of decadent dance, classy music, and witty comedy.

I described his previous show, Anton Du Beke at the Musicals, as a “musical extravaganza” chocker-blocked with top-notch comedy, enchanting routines, and lashes of charisma. Christmas with Anton Du Beke and Friends follows suit, with lively performances, lavish costuming, and tongue-in-cheek mischief tied together with a festive bow, and yet it never quite reaches the towering success of its sibling show.

Joined again by singers Lance Ellington and Paige Cook, Anton takes it up a notch from his prior show, performing large segments of the show’s vocal arrangements, harmonising endearingly with the duo and their hearty Christmas jumper garbed band. Also returning are dancers Kelly Chow and Ellie O’Gorman, joined by the bubbly Rosie Ward and Polina Mayer, their choreography led by Chow and Du Beke.

Lance and Anton particularly shine with their playful rapport and amusing jibes before an array of captivating musical treats, Lance’s mellifluous dulcet tones combining with Anton’s charming vocals.

The band were festively framed by six Christmas trees, numerous Anton-signed plinths, and a slithering bauble-adorned garland, pairing neatly with Jose Lorenzo’s Christmassy red, green and whites often spotlighting.

The show opens with a whimsical flurry of luscious white fur coats and papakhas, their flowing capes whirling across the stage before Anton’s chipper entrance, adorned in an equally classy white tailcoat and swaying in the sudden snowstorm of women. While there was a minor audio distortion issue (not surprising in such a large hall), it was fairly inconsequential and resolved by the second act.

As the King of Ballroom, Anton particularly thrived in these numbers, his impeccable frame and slender figure effortlessly floating about the stage while paired with his glamourous dancing partners. One such dance involved a stunning feather trimmed mermaid dress channelling some delightful mixture of Gatsby and Astaire, its glittering golden pattern beaming in a swishy number that exuded pure, blissful, grace.

Anton also appeared in a red, floral patterned suit and matching waistcoat, reportedly “lended” to him by Bruce Forsythe many Christmases ago.

A few costumes, while Christmas-themed, felt a little gimmicky, with clattering sparkly-antlered reindeer women, sexy, red-ribboned Mean Girls-esque Mrs. Clause costumes pairing with Anton’s Santa, and black tailed magician-like suits, trimmed with netted tights and top hats.

The ’12 Days of Christmas’ sing/dance-a-long routine, while amusing, was equally cheesy and longwinded, stalling the show’s momentum for unnecessarily drawn-out interaction. Admittedly, sometimes, I was left wishing for another dance routine to break-up some of these longer singing and comedy segments.

Chatter is still kept brief, touching on Saturday’s Strictly show with the talented Lewis Cope leaving the competition, before meandering to the Christmas specials, prior celeb partners like Ann Widdecombe, and his hilarious ideas to hide some of their less elegant dances with dense fog and showy never-ending lifts. Some of these moments transform into full stand-up routines, Anton, stood in his grassy pau, floral lei, and long socks discussing the bizarre nature of women’s tights, laddering, and under-skirts. It’s a touch of light-hearted fun that neatly slots into transitions before introducing the next piece, even if they last a tad long at times.

Anton remains as charming, cheeky and cheerful as ever, with an abundance of mischievous grins and naughty gags sure to have the audience in hysterics.

The show ended with a medley of classic Christmas hits before a chipper rendition of ‘Thank You Very Much’.

Christmas with Anton Du Beke & Friends offers exactly what it says on the tin. It’s a fetching festive frolic filled with Christmas cheer, memorable tunes, and lavish routines and costuming of typical of Strictly productions. It may be a touch cheesy, but I admire its playfulness and positivity. It’s like a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winters night… sweet, inviting, and a sure sign you’ve hit the festive season. What more could you ask for in a winter show-ho-ho?

Christmas with Anton Du Beke & Friends tours the UK until December 23.