Simply Lionel in dance spectacular (From Gazette Series)

Simply Lionel in dance spectacular

A LAVISH new spectacular dance show starring a loveable household name is on its way to the Bristol Hippodrome from Monday, February 20 until Saturday, February 25.

The host of Simply Ballroom will be Lionel Blair, one of England's most popular celebrities for more than five decades.

Born in Canada, his family moved to England when he was a baby and he spent his childhood in Tottenham.

Aged 14, Lionel made his first appearance on the West End stage and his career has never stopped progressing: from dancer to choreographer to television presenter, director and actor, covering the entire sphere of showbusiness.

His many television appearances include being captain of the men's team on Give Us A Clue, hosting the shows Name That Tune, Saturday Night Royal and many others. He choreographed and appeared in innumerable television shows starring with artists like Anthony Newley, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald and Liza Minnelli, with a very special command performance in a duet with his friend Sammy Davis Jnr.

Lionel Blair appeared in several Royal command performances, Sunday Night at the Palladium and many Saturday Spectaculars, and also in The Beatles' TV special and in the film A Hard Day's Night. He has made three Line Dancing Videos, which have proved to be a great success and also hosted a Line Dance Extravaganza in Disneyland Paris.

Lionel Blair's West End musical appearances include Lady Be Good at the Saville Theatre, Mr Cinders at the Fortune and more recently the award winning musical Pageant at the Vaudeville.

He is also an accomplished straight actor starring in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead at the Piccadilly Theatre and a lengthy tour of Who Killed Agatha Christie for which he received national critical acclaim. His most recent West End engagement was a triumphant performance as the Child Catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium for a year.

Finally, another string to his bow - Lionel has recorded an album of songs made famous by his idol Fred Astaire, Blair Sings Astaire.

Tickets for Simply Ballroom are available from the Hippodrome box office.