Everyone seems to have an opinion about Lionel Blair - he is part of British culture. Dancer, entertainer and, for those old enough to remember, a team captain on the hit show Give Us A Clue, television's answer to the parlour game Charades. The television show helped a new audience get to see the man with the ready-to-use wide smile and now he is impressing a new generation. The teenies are joining their parents for a trip to the theatre to see Simply Ballroom, hosted by Lionel. "It really is the most entertaining show. There is lots of audience participation and it is a great occasion," says Lionel, heading to The Hippodrome in Birmingham from March 19 to 24. The show has already earned an impressive following - Lionel is joined on stage by young ballroom dancers with impressive calibre. The line-up includes ballroom experts like Gary Wright and Victoria Burke, current under-21 British National Champions. Building on the fever created stirred up by Strictly Come Dancing hosted by the equally irrepressible Bruce Forsyth, the live show features anything from the salsa, jive, samba, foxtrot and tango to the cha-cha. Lionel admits: "The television shows have brought in the audiences and we have had standing ovations. It is incredible." In between flashes of his tap-dancing talents, Lionel admits it was the charms of Fred Astaire who first got him interested in dancing. He recalls watching the Hollywood dance legend at the age of three - spellbound and determined to mimic the intricate foot steps. He recalls the era of the tea dance that brought together men and women for a waltz and a foxtrot in one of the many halls across the country. "So many men and women met at tea dances. Lots of people have met while dancing. My father and mother met at a tea dance. It is what you did," says Lionel. Now, in his mid-70s, Lionel is still impressive when tap dancing across the floor, but says: "I am a hoofer. I can tap dance but ballroom is something different." The audience get to put this theory to the test during the show. "We get members of the audience up to try out the moves. It is great. There are often men who have been dragged to the show by their wives and then they get up to have a go and love it." Who can blame them? The dancing is addictive. Lionel however, admits to other addictions. His New Year resolution was to give up smoking and several weeks into 2007 he was sticking to his guns. "I gave up smoking at Christmas and it's going ok but I have smoked for many years so it is hard," admits Lionel. In spite of the smoking habit, Lionel is looking remarkably fit and healthy. He has been married for 39 years to Susan and they have three children and one grandchild, and life is clearly treating him well. "I love what I am doing. The young people in the show are an inspiration." Anyone who sees Lionel in action will understand how easy it could be to be inspired by a pensioner - hoofer he may be, but he still does it with style and a smile. * Simply Ballroom runs at Birmingham Hippodrome from March 19-24.Tickets are available on the website at www.birminghamhippodrome.com or by calling 0870 730 1234. | 
