STRICTLY Come Dancing star Brendan Cole has quick-stepped straight out of the prime-time TV show into preparations for a brand new stage show.

A Night To Remember hits the road in the new year when Brendan and his hand-picked cast of dancers, musicians and singers present a dazzling spectacle at Portsmouth Guildhall, The Anvil Basingstoke, and Lighthouse, Poole.

The professional dancer, who has been with the hit BBC programme since its beginning in 2004, is producing and starring in 48 shows over three months.

He will be showcasing his expertise in an odyssey of music and dance, once again blending exquisite choreography with his own unique charisma in a bold, sensational show.

There’s new music, new costumes and new banter to keep audiences entertained, as Brendan, 38, leads his cast through a diverse selection of styles and numbers.

I caught up with Brendan for a chat as he juggled rehearsals for the final group dances on last week’s Strictly final with the endless tasks for his new stage production.

Despite not being in the final four he had to be at the TV studios every day. He was frantically busy.

“It’s exciting, full-on, physically exhausting: There is so much to learn, and then it’s into rehearsals on January 5 for the stage show and we work right up to when we open on January 27. There’s a lot of work to be done,” he said.

“At the moment I’m still in production mode: getting props such at top hats and canes and having meetings about costume design – all that responsibility is mine. It’s not a show put on by a production company that I put my name to; all the choices of dancers, costumes, routines etc are mine – but I love it.

"This and Strictly are two very different entities. With Strictly you are a small part of a large show, but with this I’m at the forefront of everything so you are more passionately involved. I’m ridiculously proud of my shows I’ve produced.”

As we spoke the nation was gripped with Strictly final fever but Brendan would not be drawn on who he wanted to win.

“Everyone is a winner,” he said.

“The outcome is all down to the audience. They vote for the personality, they vote for the partnership and the dynamic. I used to take it a bit more seriously but at the end of the day it’s an entertainment show. The judges will say things you don’t like and if you have put in 30 hours of work you do take their comments seriously.

"The thing with Strictly is it’s given people an insight into the work involved in ballroom and people have fallen in love with the magic of dance because we have put it in their homes. It’s good, old-fashioned entertainment and that’s the magic of the show.”

So was he running a bit short of sleep with so much to do?

“Sleep! What is that? I don’t know what you are talking about! I feel like I’m running on empty with everything that’s going on.

“I don’t want to delegate anything. I want to be involved in all aspects of putting on the show and know that every aspect has been created by me and my team. I do have difficulty delegating because I have a vision of what I want the show to be, although you do have to relinquish some responsibility. But I want people to know what’s in my head. I am a control freak. I am very disciplined and very determined.”

French Dancing With The Stars champion Fauve Hautot returns, as does Germany’s Patrick Helm who has been working as assistant to the artistic director on Strictly Come Dancing, as well as professional ballroom and Latin dance instructor Crystal Main. Brendan’s cast will be extended even further with more exciting names to be announced.

Brendan added: “I like to think of it as an evening with style ... we have eight phenomenal dancers, all world-class. Fauve is back as my leading lady and she’s amazing. When she walks on stage it’s incredible. You can’t help but watch her – there is something about her.”

Brendan is also thrilled to be working with Crystal Main.

“We are a great team and when we get together the energy we create on stage I’m most proud of: We work hard and play hard. We have ballroom, Latin, waltz, charleston – it’s an old-fashioned entertainment show.

"We have a completely mixed audience and we must please everybody. The costume changes are ridiculous. We have the greatest production values but it’s also an intimate evening where I chat about just about everything.

“On Strictly we get about 60 seconds to say hello but here there is the chance to be yourself – be a little bit cheeky and through the questions and answers section the audience can ask about all the back stage gossip – every night is different. Having a proper intimate chat with the audience makes them feel part of the show.

“There are 48 dates over three months. It’s full on but I love it. It’s the best thing I do and I’m really proud of it and very excited to see what’s been in my head for the last year come to fruition.”

Brendan says he plans to be back with Strictly again next year adding: “That’s the plan and I will see if they invite me and I’m free. I’ve been with it for ten years – over a quarter of my life and I’m very involved.”

Meanwhile there is Christmas to fit in too.

Married to model Zoe Hobbs, 32, since 2010, Christmas at home in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, will be particularly special: “I’ve promised my wife and daughter (Aurelia) I will be home: The ‘shop’ will be closed and I will spend more time at home. Strictly has been very busy and it takes over your life but I will be home at Christmas. My daughter will be two on Christmas Day so it will be very much celebrating her birthday first and Christmas second!”

  • A Night to Remember visits:

Portsmouth Guildhall on Feb 11.

Tickets: 023 9282 4355; portsmouthguildhall.org.uk.

The Anvil, Basingstoke on Feb 22.

Tickets: 01256 844244; anvilarts.org.uk.

Lighthouse, Poole, on March 12.

Tickets: 0844 4068666; lighthousepoole.co.uk.