The Strictly Come Dancing star returns to Watford next week with his latest ballroom and Latin spectacular, A Night to Remember. Rosy Moorhead catches up with Brendan ahead of the show and talks dance shoes, divas and disasters (darling).

Describe your show, A Night to Remember, in three words.

Exciting, dynamic, endearing.

What can people expect from your new show?

An all-round entertainment show full of everything! Live music from a phenomenal 14-piece, on-stage band, dance from my superb eight-strong dance cast, and with some chat thrown in for good measure. I love the fact that it is very intimate between me, my cast and the audience.

How many pairs of dance shoes do you get through during a tour?

Me personally, about five. The entire cast about 30 to 40. I like the boys to wear patent leather shoes as it looks very smart but they don’t last long as the patent gets scuffed easily.

Most number of costume changes during the show?

I have about 10, the girls have a couple more and the boys a couple less. It’s important to keep things changing all the time so that the audience stay engaged and entertained throughout but logistically it’s a nightmare!

Do you ever get heckled during your tours?

All the time and I love it. It’s an interactive show and I want the audience to feel like they can be very much a part of what is going on.

Any ‘hairy’ moments on your live tours?

So many. Flies open for entire numbers, wrong costume changes, forgetting choreography, collisions, nearly losing one of my dancers to pyrotechnics (his fault not the pyrotechnic) – and that’s why I love it. You never know what’s coming next and that makes exciting for all of us and the audience.

Best thing about touring?

Seeing the audience reaction every night and hanging out with a phenomenal bunch of people (my cast). We have a ball on tour, it’s always sad when it comes to an end.

And the worst?

Being away from my family. My daughter is now two and doesn’t like it when her daddy goes away.

Worst dancefloor disaster?

Too many to count. I’ve slipped, come undone, forgotten what I’m doing… the list goes on. They are all character building.

Any dance injuries over the years?

Tendonitis, sprained ankles, kicks to the important bits, I once slipped on a detachable skirt that had come off my partner (Natalie Lowe) in a Strictly pro dance. It had come off prematurely as she was up in a lift above my head (it’s called the Superman). I slipped and had to try to stop Natalie from crashing to the floor from nine foot in the air. I pulled all the muscles in my neck and shoulders as well as hitting the floor pretty hard myself. I was in a lot of pain for a long time.

Who’s the biggest diva of the pro dancers who are bringing their tours to Watford Colosseum – you, Anton or Pasha?

No question…. Anton! Pasha is too nice, I used to be quite demanding but not so much now, but Anton’s ways are definitely diva-ish but that’s why we love him. He’s a great guy.

What’s been the highlight of your ten years on Strictly?

I've had some magical moments – in 2013 with Sophie Ellis Bextor I did some of my finest work from start to finish, and making the final to me was a bigger achievement than winning in series one, although that was definitely a highlight.

What do you say to your celebrity partner just before you’re about to go on?

Don’t mess it up! Only joking. I just try to keep them from focusing on anything other than the dance – audience, VT playing, other contestants… if their head is not focused on the job at hand it’s very easy to mess it up.

Best friend among the Strictly pro dancers?

Anton. We have been there from the start but I get along with all the pros. It was a great bunch this year, new and old alike.

What’s your favourite dance style, and why?

The waltz. It is beautiful, elegant and emotional. The music is always quite heart tugging which adds to the beauty.

How long can you see yourself being on Strictly?

I don’t know. One day it will happen but until then I will keep going. I love being a part of the best show on telly!