Fans of Strictly Come Dancing got a behind the scenes peek with ‘Behind the Seams’ show put on by Dance Sport International and brought to Brockenhurst by the Probus Club

STRICTLY Come Dancing fans got a very special taste of the show at a New Forest village – and it was all thanks to a member of the local Probus.

Strictly Behind the Seams provided a glimpse into the world of feathers, frills and fancy footsteps in a show of the dancers’ outfits.

The Strictly touring show is presented by Dance Sport International (DSI) which makes the costumes. Brockenhurst Probus chair Keith Hoyle worked at the company for many years and thought it would make a great fundraising event for local charities Honeypot and Oakhaven.

Talking about his time at DSI, Keith said: "We were more confident than the BBC were that the show would be a huge hit. I think they were surprised by how popular it became.

"I loved it from the off and didn't realise how much I actually miss working with Strictly until I watched the show here.”

Showing off some of the dresses on display at the event, he said: "Anyone who talks about Strictly and sequins is talking rubbish!

"There isn't a sequin in sight – they are so ’50s. Only diamantes are used, and every single one of them is put on by hand.

"It can be tedious and boring but on the other hand what you're producing is like being an artist. It's like painting in rhinestones."

Someone who knows that only too well is Carole Williams from DSI. "The diamantes can make a dress," she says, revealing that each one is picked up using a stick with a piece of bees’ wax on the end.

One of the show’s top costume makers, Carole was on hand at Strictly Behind the Seams to answer questions about the programme.

She said the most popular ones are ’How long does it take to make one?’; ‘What are the contestants like?’; and especially on what Ann Widdecombe was like to dress.

“She is a very respectable lady and of a certain age, and she didn't want to show her pants on TV on a Saturday night. So we made sure she didn't!"

Carole reveals that stars have no say in what they wear. The costumes are designed by Strictly’s Vicky Gill, with Carole revealing: "We are always careful to make sure that the celebs feel comfortable and happy in their costumes, otherwise they won't be able to dance their best."

She never danced herself but says she “loves the whole dance industry”, adding: “My mum was a dressmaker, and when my girls began dancing I made their costumes, that's how I started."

Strictly dresses can take as little as four hours to make or as much as two days, sometimes even longer if they have feathers on. After a performance they are stuffed into the washing machine in a duvet cover, Carole reveals.

At the Brockenhurst show, which was produced by Keith's daughter Lindsay Hoyle, four lucky ladies from the audience got to try on Strictly dresses worn by Darcey Bussell, Gemma Atkinson and Ravia Singh.

Marie Dennett, from Brockenhurst, said: "I am a massive fan of the show so this is so exciting for me.”

Kristie Dobson, who works for Oakhaven, said she was "surprised" by how comfortable they were, adding: "It makes me feel fantastic."

The Brockenhurst event was put on with the help of Lymington-based Shining Lights Performing Arts Academy. Nick Legg and Jazz Miner, who run it, said: “This has been an absolutely wonderful opportunity for our students who have been a credit to us with their professional behaviour.”