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Friday Night Is Music Night with Len Goodman at the Strictly Prom

Over the next four weeks we present our Radio 2 at the Proms season. Ken Bruce will be counting down the Ten Pieces Prom; Paul Gambaccini is our curator for the John Wilson Orchestra's glorious Gershwin Prom and we'll make a quick dash out of town to the Snape Proms to celebrate the Great British Musical. But tonight we roll up the carpet as Len Goodman presents the first ever Strictly Prom.

Len Goodman is your host from London's Royal Albert Hall. For Len this famous venue brings back many dancing memories - for it was here that he won his first novice dance competition in the late 60s. He and his partner Cheryl were finalists in a contest run by Pontins and following success in the qualifying stages at a holiday camps around the UK - Len found himself at the grand finals at the Royal Albert Hall.

Len recalls the splendour of first dancing at the venue -" I was shocked and a little amazed by everything that day". But an outstanding memory was dancing to a real live band - Joe Loss and his orchestra! History doesn't record if Len achieved the coveted 10 points - but according to Len he was triumphant in the waltz and quick step. Throughout his career Len was to return to the Albert Hall both as a contestant and judge in many championship finals.

Tonight, he will be casting a eye but no votes over the Strictly Prom and commenting on the music performed by Friday Night is Music Night's own resident band - the 麻豆社 Concert Orchestra - conducted by Gavin Sutherland. There'll be waltzes, paso dobles ,sambas, tangos and rumbas. Music from Gypsy, Die Fledermaus, Carousel and Top Hat. Katie Derham is the presenter on stage with other Strictly favourites including Joanne Clifton, Karen Clifton, Kevin Clifton, Janette Manrara, Giovanni Pernice and Alja啪 Skorjanec.

Recorded at the Royal Albert Hall - 21st July 2016
Concert first broadcast on Radio 3.