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‘Rip It Up the 70s’ UK Tour Starring Louis Smith, Rachel Stevens, Melody Thornton and Lee Ryan

Join Olympic champion Louis Smith, Rachel Stevens (S Club 7), Melody Thornton (Pussycat Dolls) and Lee Ryan (Blue) for a groovy evening of singing & dancing at St George’s Hall, Bradford on Tuesday 17 September.  

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With 2017’s Rip it Up The 50s and 2018’s Rip It Up The 60s having sold over 100,000 tickets and received 5 star reviews across the UK (with the latter enjoying a sell-out four-month run at the Garrick Theatre in London’s West End in 2019), Lee, Louis, Rachel and Melody will sing and dance to all-time classics from the era that brought the sounds of disco, glam rock, punk, funk, new wave and reggae into the mainstream alongside bold fashion statements such as hot pants, flares, crop tops, jumpsuits, platform shoes, maxi-dresses and tartan suits!

Having starred in the UK tours for both Rip it Up The 50s and Rip It Up The 60s, Louis Smith MBE is one of Britain’s sporting superstars, having shot to fame at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 by winning a bronze medal in the pommel horse, and silver medals at both the London 2012 and Rio De Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games.

After the London 2012 Olympics, Louis took part in and won that year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing, lifting the coveted Glitterball trophy with his professional dance partner Flavia Cacace. He also won the Strictly Christmas Special in 2014 with his professional dance partner Aliona Vilani.

Louis said: “Every night during the Rip It Up tours I tell people these shows are the hardest thing I have ever done – even harder than competing at the Olympics and Strictly. I’m not sure everyone believes me, but I’m telling the truth. But I love dancing and relish a challenge, so I am so happy to be part of the new Rip It Up The 70s show. I look forward to seeing everybody on the dance floor.”

Former S Club 7 star Rachel Stevens joins the Rip It Up team having also enjoyed success on Strictly Come Dancing. Rachel and her professional dance partner Vincent Simone narrowly missed out on lifting the Glitterball Trophy during the 8th series of Strictly, finishing as runners-up in the final. Rachel and Vincent also achieved a then-record of twenty-five perfect 10s during the series. 

Rachel said; “I am so excited to be joining the cast for Rip It Up The 70s. Dancing has played such an important role in my life. Like Louis, Strictly was one of the best experiences of my life, so I’m really looking forward to being involved in such an amazing production. And what’s not to love about the music and fashion of the ‘70s? It’s going to be so much fun.”

Also making her Rip It Up debut alongside Rachel is Melody Thornton, key member of multi-platinum-selling pop juggernaut Pussycat Dolls, who sold an astonishing 70 million records worldwide.

Melody hit the UK in January 2017 to take part in E4’s smash hit Celebs Go Dating, before appearing on other shows, including Celebrity Juice, In Bed With Jamie and The Celebrity Island With Bear Grylls. Melody then landed the lead role in the stage version of The Bodyguard to rave reviews, before joining the cast of the ITV1 flagship show Dancing on Ice in 2019, reaching the final three.

Looking forward to starring in Rip It Up The 70s, Melody said; “Singing, dancing, ‘70s pop culture and fashions are lifelong passions of mine, so I jumped at the chance to appear in Rip It Up The 70s. I’m excited to show UK audiences exactly what I can do. I can’t wait to be part of what is going to be the most exhilarating show and an amazing tour with such a mind-blowing soundtrack.”

Lee Ryan first made his name as a member of the multi-platinum-selling British boy band Blue, before enjoying Top 10 success as a solo artist. His credits also include representing the United Kingdom with Blue at the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest, and joining the cast of EastEnders in 2017. Lee is also no stranger to the dance floor, having partnered professional dancer Nadyaa Bychkova during the 2018 series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Looking ahead to the tour, Lee said; “I am truly delighted and excited to be joining this new cast for Rip It Up The 70s. I heard so much about the previous Rip It Up tours, as well as the show’s sell-out West End run, that the chance to sing so many classic ‘70s songs in this amazing new production is a something I’m very much looking forward to.”

Louis Smith, Rachel Stevens, Melody Thornton and Lee Ryan will be dancing and singing through the greatest musical decade ever in Rip It Up! The 70s.