The Kevin Clifton Show – Details, episodes & analysis

Kevin is back with a bang, and in the company of not just the community, but also his fellow co-stars of the Burn The Floor dance show extravaganza! Listen as Kevin and three of his extraordinary his co-stars answer the burning questions about Burn The Floor itself, and discuss the incredible success of theatre itself as it rebounds into prominence once more. KEY TAKEAWAYS There has been much doubt since COVID, about what the state of theatre and live entertainment would look like. Therefore, it has been gratifying to see that so many people have flown back to venues in order to enjoy live shows and help support the industry. Burn The Floor's motto is "Be brave, be bold with no boundaries". This sums up the general feeling about the show. It has become a comfortable space in which creatives can express themselves completely. The performing community have pulled together across the last two years, collectively inspiring and motivating each other, and keeping the spirit of theatre alive. BEST MOMENTS  'I wasn't sure how we were going to top the 2019 tour, but it feels like we are' - 1:21 'My three words to describe Burn The Floor would be Best Experience Ever' - 5:50 'The thing that kept me going was knowing how hard people were trying to get the show up and running again' - 15:56 'Burn The Floor is such a good training ground for all of these dance legends!' - 17:32 VALUABLE RESOURCES The All New Kevin Clifton Show Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/TheKevinCliftonShow ABOUT THE HOST Kevin Clifton is a professional dancer who has been performing & competing at the highest level for over a decade. Kevin has worked on shows like 'Burn the floor' & 'Rock of Ages' to 'Strictly Come Dancing' one of the biggest TV shows in the UK which Kevin won in 2018.  CONTACT METHOD Kevin Clifton Instagram Kevin Clifton Facebook Kevin Clifton YouTube

It's a very festive special this time round, as Kevin and his father, Keith, along with the community, celebrate the coming of the yuletide season by taking a deep dive into the thrills, spills, drama and splendour of the Strictly Come Dancing Grand Final, as well as the annual Strictly Christmas Special! KEY TAKEAWAYS Britain has been in need of a little brightening up. Regardless of the eventual outcome of the competition itself, no one can deny that Strictly has had a rejuvenating effect upon the nation's spirits. When professionals have acted as judges, the perspective they take as an audience member becomes drastically different to that of a regular viewer. It focusses upon technique rather than entertainment value. The magic of Strictly Come Dancing is amplified at Christmas time, but because it is a one-off special, the scores tend to be slightly skewed and more generous because of its annual nature. COVID has done its best to derail the Strictly season, but through the hard work and determination of those taking part, the series became a beacon of resilience and hope. BEST MOMENTS 'It was a great feel-good factor. Britain wanted a good Strictly final and they got it' - 5:00 'The judges are looking for technique as well as emotional connection' - 13:16 'He has a very annoying habit of being right, my son...' - 24:52 'I always love having a bit of Strictly magic at Christmas' - 28:23 VALUABLE RESOURCES The All New Kevin Clifton Show Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/TheKevinCliftonShow ABOUT THE HOST Kevin Clifton is a professional dancer who has been performing & competing at the highest level for over a decade. Kevin has worked on shows like 'Burn the floor' & 'Rock of Ages' to 'Strictly Come Dancing' one of the biggest TV shows in the UK which Kevin won in 2018.  CONTACT METHOD Kevin Clifton Instagram Kevin Clifton Facebook Kevin Clifton YouTube

This week, Kevin and Joanne are joined again by their fabulous community members to discuss the highs and lows of the incredible fourth week of Strictly Come Dancing - everything from the live show itself, to the results show, from the dancers to the judges, and everything in between! KEY TAKEAWAYS Sometimes costumes are not just applied with the routine in mind. They can often be used to mask certain areas of the performance that may need work, such as tassels to hid hip action. Strictly Come Dancing employ the use of standby contestants, there to fill in for a celebrity if they have to drop out of the competition. But there is a cutoff point. Once the show is past its first few weeks, this can no longer be done. Professionals have a lot to do when they create a routine. They are not just imagining and designing steps, but creating characters and a narrative that must fit with the music, the partner and the ambience. BEST MOMENTS 'I did have to laugh at the tassels on Rose's trousers' - 3:02 'You guys put us properly to shame with all your knowledge' - 6:00 'They create such beautiful characters with their dances' - 29:38 'You expect wham, bam, thank you ma'am!' - 38:12 VALUABLE RESOURCES The All New Kevin Clifton Show Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/TheKevinCliftonShow ABOUT THE HOST Kevin Clifton is a professional dancer who has been performing & competing at the highest level for over a decade. Kevin has worked on shows like 'Burn the floor' & 'Rock of Ages' to 'Strictly Come Dancing' one of the biggest TV shows in the UK which Kevin won in 2018.  CONTACT METHOD Kevin Clifton Instagram Kevin Clifton Facebook Kevin Clifton YouTube

In this episode of The Kevin Clifton Show, Kevin chats with Lucas Rush, the actor who played Lonny in the UK tour of the musical Rock of Ages. Discover today some of Lucas’ theatre stories (especially his Rock of Ages experience), the nature of performing arts, the training that happens before any performance, and many more.   Not everyone would notice, but being a theatre actor demands a lot of dedication—you need the consistent effort to rehearse and improve, you need the bulletproof mindset to not get influenced by negative feedbacks, and anything, really, that would help you give a top-notch performance every single time.   There will be uncomfortable situations. But there will also be no pauses. No halts. No excuses. The show must go on, as they say.  Listen to Lucas’ experience and learn more about the performing arts.  KEY TAKEAWAYS  Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was the beginning for Lucas. It was the first cassette he bought;It was the first musical he ever watched. This musical opened him to the beauty of theatre and the performing arts.  No one can ever downplay what live performers and theatre actors do. They provide entertainment, escape, and happiness to the viewers, aside from the fact that they portray ideas, concepts, stories, and experiences in this world that the viewer might relate to.  Just like any professionals, they have some good days and some bad days. But it’s more difficult for theatre actors to deliver when they’re being influenced by some sudden negative pull. The audience can see through the performers, and as much as possible, it’s a 100% performance they want to give every time.  Lucas also admits that, on some days, he thrives on the energy the audience gives off. He can be put off when he sees that they are disinterested and unsatisfied, but he’s known long enough not to let others’ perception crash his fearlessness and boldness on stage.  BEST MOMENTS  “The more you remind yourself that ‘you can’t hear a smile’, the better.”  “Don’t stop yourself from thinking certain things or feeling certain ways. They’re going to happen and you’re just going to learn how to deal with them.”  “Accept what you have in that moment.”  “I love feeling things… I want to feel strong emotions.”  VALUABLE RESOURCES  Happiness Podcast - www.happinesspodcast.org  Rock of Ages Musical - www.rockofagesmusical.co.uk  ABOUT THE GUEST Lucas Rush  Lucas stepped onstage at The Hackney Empire at the age of 7, receiving his very first acting lessons from Brian Blessed.  He was introduced to Shakespeare at the age of 9 and by the time he was 13 was playing Robin in The RSC’s production of "The Merry Wives of Windsor" alongside Leslie Phillips. His West End debut soon followed, as he performed as "Gavroche" in Les Misérables at The Palace Theatre.  At the age of 14, he landed the role of Rowan Neville in ITV Drama Walking on The Moon, a hard-hitting gritty drama about bullying directed by Bafta Award winning Director Peter Kosminsky.   Since those early days Lucas has enjoyed a very successful career, experiencing all corners of the Entertainment industry.   In his 25 years as a professional actor Lucas has found that the thing, he loves more than anything is simply to immerse himself in any character he is playing, regardless of the genre.  (Source: https://www.lucasrush.com/about)   Lucas Rush Official Website - https://www.lucasrush.com   Lucas Rush Twitter - https://twitter.com/lucasrush    ABOUT THE HOST  Kevin Clifton is a professional dancer who has been performing & competing at the highest level for over a decade. Kevin has worked on shows like 'Burn the floor' & 'Rock of Ages' to 'Strictly Come Dancing' one of the biggest TV shows in the UK which Kevin won in 2018.   CONTACT METHOD  Kevin Clifton Instagram  Kevin Clifton Facebook  Kevin Clifton YouTube           

‘When I started on Strictly ‘the pasty kid from Grimsby’ everyone was behind me.  As I gained more success and a higher profile on the show the trolls came out’ In this insightful episode, Kevin explores why people and the media are unkind to those who achieve any success. Why are people so unkind to others online and what makes them do it? The questions and answers are all explored in this candid podcast. Kevin shares with searing honesty his own experiences and explores the reasons why we can all be insecure and how we can all chose to communicate with kindness.   KEY TAKEAWAYS The underdog achieving success When people are being unkind, being trolls on social media or just having a go it’s not just the person you are talking about who is affected by it. The people around the person their family and friends are also affected. In this country, we have a very difficult relationship with success We like to champion the underdog, we want to be on their side, we want to help them and be part of their journey. As soon as someone is successful people take up against them. Comments focus on them having forgotten where they’ve come from and getting  ‘too big for their boots’ There is a link between being successful and others need to knock them down. People feel insecure when they see other people doing well. It stirs our own insecurities because we want success for ourselves. When you are feeling insecure you can either see the successful individual as an idol, a  role model, someone to aspire to or someone to knock down to your level so you don’t feel as bad about yourself.  Significance People often make decisions based on achieving significance It's not a bad thing to want to be significant but sometimes it’s a dangerous thing because it is this that can lead to the insecurity and jealousy of ego, which can lead people into trolling People can feel significant when they have a negative opinion, one that makes them stand out. The media   Competition is fierce and it’s about grabbing attention through ‘clickbait’ The newspapers don’t really care what side you’re on they just want you to be angry, indignant or interested enough to  click through and follow their story. The media drives involvement through negative emotions and the ensuing comments are rooted in anger and lead to trolling. If you are someone who’s decided to say something unkind to someone stop and think about how necessary it is for you to say it. Who’s talking Consider who’s writing – is it a faceless entity or someone you respect? When a random person writes something about you they are reflecting themselves and their insecurities onto you. Social media platforms provide no context, you can’t gain any context about the person who is writing about you. We are all human and we don’t like people saying nasty things about us, but these people are reflecting their own insecurities and you can respond with kindness you never know what they may be going through.   BEST MOMENTS ‘Jesy talking about it creates the opportunity  for discussion and hopefully a rethink about how we conduct ourselves online and she should be seen as a real hero for what she’s done’ ‘When she got better there was a mix of those who were  pleased she had improved so much and those who started to turn on her as she achieved success’   ‘There have been times in my life when I’ve been the person searching for significance because of my own insecurities’ ‘People who know me, know my exuberance is not attention-seeking but a way of dealing with my extreme nerves’   VALUABLE RESOURCES The Kevin Clifton Show podcast Odd One Out Jesy Nelson documentary    ABOUT THE HOST Kevin Clifton is a professional dancer who has been performing & competing at the highest level for over a decade. Kevin has worked on shows like 'Burn the floor' & 'Rock of Ages' to 'Strictly Come Dancing' one of the biggest TV shows in the UK which Kevin won in 2018.    CONTACT METHOD Kevin Clifton Instagram Kevin Clifton Facebook Kevin Clifton YouTube

Part Two of Kevin's interview with Kevin Kennedy, one of the stars of the show ‘Rock of Ages’.  Kevin is most recognisable from TV as ‘Curly’ in Coronation Street but now pursues a successful career in musical theatre. He shares his journey and experiences as a successful performer and some amazing insights into the craft of the actor. In this episode, Kevin discusses the influence of Coronation Street, the challenges of addiction, the rise of his career in music and the fascinating story of his transition into musical theatre. KEY TAKEAWAYS Curly Watts, who proved to be a huge hit with audiences in Coronation Street, wasn’t meant to be a character with any longevity. But after proving a hit, the producers were keen to put Kevin under contract. At the height of his success, Kevin fell into an addiction spiral, and was forced to go to rehab. Upon repairing himself, Kevin needed to start again. Kevin credits Coronation Street with taking good care of him and saving his life during this period. Using a pseudonym, Kevin submitted his music to Simon Cowell at Sony BMG, who was on the lookout for TV-led musical talent, and was signed immediately. From here, Kevin embarked on a successful career as a musician, especially in the United States. Having been let go from Coronation Street, Kevin had to make a choice about the future of his career. As he liked acting and music, he decided to marry the two and go into musical theatre. His first role was in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Musical theatre can be daunting, but each experience is there to be relished and enjoyed. Even auditions, which Kevin enjoys. Many consider soap opera actors to be somehow inferior, but Kevin doesn’t see it that way. In fact he credits them with a set of unique talents, such as carrying a story for months or sometimes years, and the ability to learn and memorise scripts at speed. Fame was never important for Kevin. The important thing was to enjoy his work, and to develop as an actor. His subsequent fame opened many doors, which is far more valuable. When things are going wrong, there’s often a mindset that says “I have to be something different”, but the real lesson is to focus upon who you are. To do the things you want to do.  Acting can be a struggle sometimes. It’s not always glamorous. But if you love what you do, then each struggle becomes a lesson, and as Kevin says, “If you’re doing something you love, then you never have to work a day in your life" No problem is insurmountable. Facing challenges down and defeating them makes you a better person, and you can’t run away forever.   BEST MOMENTS ’The great thing about that was that it was a home gig’ ’That was the first time I ever saw the power of Coronation Street. Her attitude completely changed’ ‘Coronation Street were like a family’ ’There’s always a positive to look for. Always’ ‘Mistakes make you a better actor’ ‘You need to get back in touch with the things that you want’ ’This business is great if you’re at, or near, the top' ‘No problem is insurmountable’   ABOUT THE HOST Kevin Clifton is a professional dancer who has been performing & competing at the highest level for over a decade. Kevin has worked on shows like 'Burn the floor' & 'Rock of Ages' to 'Strictly Come Dancing' one of the biggest TV shows in the UK which Kevin won in 2018.    CONTACT METHOD Kevin Clifton Instagram Kevin Clifton Facebook Kevin Clifton YouTube

Kevin is speaking with Jake Wood previous competitor on Strictly and known on TV  to everyone as Max Branning in East Enders. His acting career began at 10 and spans 37 years, in this podcast he shares stories and the reality of taking part in Strictly and being in a high profile long-running soap series. Life is all about trial and error and Jake shares the great highs and the lows that he has experienced in a career that spans decades. This is a highly entertaining episode, listen in now and enjoy.   KEY TAKEAWAYS The best actors take something from all the different techniques, it all takes time. As an actor, you are always trying to do your best. The only way to learn it is to do it but this is the same for professional dancers. Being on Strictly The celebrities on Strictly  are only doing an impression of the dance. There are skill sets that are similar between what dancers and actors do. There are transferable skills such as self-discipline, work ethic and being able to perform on a stage in front of an audience Being an actor meant I was confident about doing a performance. Having previously completed work at the National theatre I had a skill set that helped me on Strictly being in front of a live audience. When I sat in the recording studio I realised this was going to be no fun, it was going to be high pressured scary stuff and I’d better be prepared. Before I came out and danced for the first time I didn’t know what I was going to be in  the series – the clown , the serious contender. If I didn’t have the skills that I had as an actor it would have been much more difficult. My approach was to do my best, regroup and then get ready for the next battle. Being an actor I was involved in acting from a young age and enjoyed improvisation classes very early on. I started at 10 and have been acting for 37 years, It’s about understanding emotions and learning about people. You need to understand a character to be able to be authentic and the best actors draw from themselves. You have to want to understand people and what drives their behaviour. Acting is a bubble and the important part is what you do when you come out at the other end. I love what I do but you have to get a balance because it can be a crazy life. It plays into all your insecurities and everyone makes mistakes. The most important is the dedication to be an actor, the process and loving it.   BEST MOMENTS ‘He’s announcing me dancing the Samba and I’m thinking is it the left foot or the right foot?’ ‘I’m playing a rock star which is very far removed from me as a person’ ‘I’ll give you 100% and do whatever you tell me but I haven’t got a fucking clue’ ‘It’s a funny show because you are not really on a level playing field’   ABOUT THE HOST Kevin Clifton is a professional dancer who has been performing & competing at the highest level for over a decade. Kevin has worked on shows like 'Burn the floor' & 'Rock of Ages' to 'Strictly Come Dancing' one of the biggest TV shows in the UK which Kevin won in 2018.    CONTACT METHOD Kevin Clifton Instagram Kevin Clifton Facebook Kevin Clifton YouTube    

Kevin is talking with one of the stars of the show ‘Rock of Ages’- Kevin Kennedy, they are ready to rock and roll the back to back shows and take the opportunity to catch up about all things from the explosion of the punk movement to being in the West End and on TV. Kevin is most recognisable from TV as ‘Curly’ in Coronation Street but now pursues a successful career in musical theatre. He shares his journey and experiences as a successful performer and some amazing insights into the craft of the actor.   KEY TAKEAWAYS I grew up in Manchester and never wanted to be anything other than be a performer and entertain. Across the Arts, the punk movement changed everything it was about people doing what they wanted to do. It was a massive movement, it wasn’t about the quality it was the involvement, the fact you could stand up and do it. I didn’t know what I wanted to do until I went to drama school. I chose The Manchester Poly School of Theatre,  it was down to earth, gritty and vocational they wanted to produce intelligent, thinking actors. You were always being pushed out of your comfort zone playing roles you would not be expected to play. I started out as a jobbing actor and got my break in a play which made it into the West End. With comedy, you must be tuned into the audience so you can get the timing right. When it works there is no better feeling in the world. You must never chase the laugh because the audience will know that’s what you are doing Every audience is different they catch you by surprise Being funny is about being honest with an audience. Truth is the key. Straight acting is more intense but you are telling a story. It can be exhausting telling a story to an audience. With musicals, the scenes are shorter with bigger set dance  pieces. The art is in conveying the story through the shorter scenes.   BEST MOMENTS ‘I’ve been all over the world and the power of Coronation Street is truly global’ ‘It was a brilliant grounding; I have enormous respect for the crew because I’ve done what they do’ ‘By the age of 21 I’d been in 2 West Ends, on TV and in a rock band’ ‘The more truthful it is the funnier it is’   ABOUT THE HOST Kevin Clifton is a professional dancer who has been performing & competing at the highest level for over a decade. Kevin has worked on shows like 'Burn the floor' & 'Rock of Ages' to 'Strictly Come Dancing' one of the biggest TV shows in the UK which Kevin won in 2018.    CONTACT METHOD Kevin Clifton Instagram Kevin Clifton Facebook Kevin Clifton YouTube    

‘It’s all about the work ethic’   Zoe and Kevin are currently both appearing in Rock of Ages and they take the opportunity to sit down together and discuss what it's like to be a performer and manage life in between. Zoe Burkett, singer, actor and dancer was part of the first Pop Idol series and has continued to develop a successful career working as both as singer and actor and has appeared many musical theatre shows both touring and in the West End. Zoe has a passion for life and a positive approach,  there is something for everyone in this episode, listen in now   KEY TAKEAWAYS Dancing was my early passion but  an injury at 14 resulted in me changing my focus to singing. It wasn’t until others recognised and were positive about my singing that I started to think  I could be a singer Being rejected at auditions was a devastating experience but my mum and dad were always there encouraging me to get back up and get on. People from the outside may perceive it as an overnight success but most people have been working and being rejected repeatedly before they find any success. When I made it through to pop idol I started to think I might be able to make singing a career When I was in the big brother house I stopped for the first time and thought about what I had achieved and had time to think about what my legacy would be It was life-changing,  for the first time I thought about family and after leaving the house my life changed, I got married and am now mum to a little girl What I’ve learnt as a singer and actor is you get better with experience When I sang as a teenager I wasn’t thinking about the emotion and telling a story because I hadn’t experienced it. Now I’m able to connect with a song emotionally because I have experienced life and I’m a better singer because of it. The best performers in the world can change how you feel, and it’s because  they are invested. Our job as performers is to deliver a truth to the audience so they believe it, in order for them to believe we also have to be invested. Luck is when hard work and determination meet an opportunity, It is about preparing for an unknown opportunity. I feel I am successful; money does not define success for me it’s about how I feel.   BEST MOMENTS ‘I do a lot of my work late at night, I come alive at this time’ ‘Often creativity comes when you create space for it’  ‘As performers saying ‘no’ to something is quite scary and we worry about losing momentum’  ‘Getting knocked back is part of the game’  ‘The support I have in the North is phenomenal’    ABOUT THE HOST Kevin Clifton is a professional dancer who has been performing & competing at the highest level for over a decade. Kevin has worked on shows like 'Burn the floor' & 'Rock of Ages' to 'Strictly Come Dancing' one of the biggest TV shows in the UK which Kevin won in 2018.    CONTACT METHOD Kevin Clifton Instagram Kevin Clifton Facebook Kevin Clifton YouTube  

Kevin is best known as a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing and in this first episode of the Kevin Clifton Show, he sits down with his mentor, Rob Moore and they talk all things from performing, dancing and Strictly to understanding yourself and why being in the spotlight has more than one side. This very personal podcast is an insight into the man who is the current glitterball champion and the journey he is on. He is someone who wants to entertain and has achieved this through Strictly  but if you want to get to know the real Kevin Clifton then this podcast is a must.   KEY TAKEAWAYS My vision for the podcast is to bring people from all areas of performing life to talk about what it is really like. When you have the chance to listen to successful people and hear about their journeys and vulnerabilities then you are able to identify more closely with them and imagine it is possible for you to do it as well. As a performer, your worth in your career is entirely based on the opinion of the judges or an audience. I have always worried about other’s opinions, have constant imposter syndrome and suffer from anxiety across all areas of my life. Instead of thinking  I love entertaining and I'm going out to entertain my thought process is focused on feeling I am not good enough, It’s the paradox of being successful. If there is no void there is no drive. My demeanour is co-dependant on how an audience reacts, in relationships, it’s  based on what my partner thinks. You can’t help but notice how the crowd are performing and I can be very reliant on the energy of the audience Winning Strictly was an amazing moment that I’ll never forget but there was that thought about this success being a result of the people voting and so you are dependent on the approval of others. I've always had this need to prove myself and it has resulted in me having an incredible drive  for work and to achieve. I went through a stage of total self-hatred  and I didn’t know how to deal with it I didn’t know how to function as a person, and I don’t know how to label it. I was constantly a ball of stress and emotion. I had been convinced I needed to change but it was about not becoming something different but getting back to who you are. As a kid, you live to your best values but as you grow up you put labels on yourself and then fight for the labels because they have become your identity. It’s vital to get rid of all the stuff and get back to what makes you feel happy and your values. Getting back in touch with who I am as a person and concentrating on what I really want to do in life and being clear about my values has moved my life from darkness and self-hatred to a much better place. You must be true to yourself and not be ruled by the expectation of others. You must be the person you are not the person you think others want you to be.     BEST MOMENTS ‘I’ve just never been that confident and worry about whether people like me all the time’ ‘I was constantly this ball of stress and emotion, constantly sad and emotional’ My mum and dad invested in me and my sister they did anything to help us along in our careers ‘I am starting to understand it doesn’t matter and most people don’t care’    ABOUT THE HOST Kevin Clifton is a professional dancer who has been performing & competing at the highest level for over a decade. Kevin has worked on shows like 'Burn the floor' & 'Rock of Ages' to 'Strictly Come Dancing' one of the biggest TV shows in the UK which Kevin won in 2018.    CONTACT METHOD Kevin Clifton Instagram Kevin Clifton Facebook Kevin Clifton YouTube