Diane Parkes hears how two of the stars of Strictly aim to set feet tapping at Birmingham Hippodrome.

Vincent Simone has one piece of advice for guys looking to find their ideal woman – put on your dancing shoes.

Vincent, who together with dance partner Flavia Cacace, has formed part of the Strictly Come Dancing professional team since 2006, says guys should not be shy of stepping out.

“I was born into a family of dancers and it has always been part of my background,” he says. “My parents set up a school in Italy when I was young and when I was 12 I was teaching.

“It was different growing up in Italy than it was here before Strictly Come Dancing. There if you told people you did ballroom and Latin, everyone knew what you were talking about. Now it has become cool here because of shows like Strictly.

“But boys who were clever knew that dancing helps you to keep the girls. It is stupid for boys not to be involved. They should go to any dance school and they will have the pick of the girls.”

Vincent, aged 32, is well known for his flirty jokes on the BBC TV show where he has partnered celebrities including Rachel Stevens, Felicity Kendal, Louisa Lytton, Stephanie Beacham and Natalie Cassidy. But he has yet to get his hands on the winners’ glitter ball.

“I have had some very good partners,” he says tactfully. “Felicity was amazing. But I was also clever. I saw her warming up and she was so flexible and I decided to play with that in the show.”

Vincent even admits to a sneaking admiration of politician Ann Widdecombe whose dancing with Anton Du Beke provided the comedy moments in the last series.

“I wish I could have partnered Ann, why not?” he says.

But his ideal partner would be someone with a sense for music.

“If I had to choose I would like someone like Rachel Stevens,” he says. “Because of her size and because she was a singer and was used to performing and dancing.”

Vincent and Flavia are hoping to make the Strictly line-up again this year but it is always a waiting game.

“We are very happy to have been involved and really hope we will be asked to take part again,” he says. “I feel like we are part of the family now.”

In the mean time the couple, who competed across the globe before joining Strictly, are touring the country with their own production Midnight Tango, presented by former SCD judge Arlene Phillips and Adam Spiegel.

Although both can do a range of ballroom and Latin pieces, they have become closely linked with the dance made famous in the clubs of Buenos Aires.