He’s best known as unlucky-in-love car mechanic Gary Hobbs in EastEnders. But soap star Ricky Groves has swapped his spanner for sequins to embark on the Strictly Come Dancing arena tour.

RICKY GROVES admits he wasn’t the best dancer on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.

But he certainly was one of the most entertaining.

And he’s going to continue to entertain dance fans around the country on the new Strictly Come Dancing 2010 UK tour, kicking off at Manchester’s MEN Arena tonight.

“I think they’ve put me in the tour because I’m a crowd pleaser and a bit of a cheeky chappie,” said the actor, who finished in a respectable sixth place (out of 16 celebrities) in the recent reality TV show.

“And that’s what I’m going to be doing on tour — getting out there and entertaining with the Viennese Waltz and the Paso Doble. I’ve never done any live theatre before, it’s all new territory for me but I’m just going to go out there and do what I do best.”

Ricky will join this year’s winner Chris Hollins as well as celebrity contestants Ali Bastian, Natalie Cassidy, Zoe Lucker, Mark Ramprakash, Kelly Brook, and Austin Healey.

The show will visit 11 different venues in 33 performances taking place over six weeks.

Judges Len Goodman, Bruno Tonlioni, Arlene Phillips and Craig Revel-Horwood will also be on hand with comments and scores for the celebs and their partners, but it will be the live audiences who have the final say each night.

Ricky will partner professional dancer Aliona Vilani as his partner on the show, Erin Boag, has her own dance tour.

“It’ll be a fun challenge with a new partner because you don’t know their strengths and weaknesses and vice versa, said Ricky.

“But I’ll miss Erin. She was a fantastic partner and I was aware right from the beginning that I was very lucky to get her.

“She was strict, but I preferred that. I wanted someone who would push me because you can’t give up when you’re dancing. You’ve got to get through it. Erin was very good at encouraging me and saying ‘Do it again. Do it again.' In the end, out of sheer frustration, you gradually get better.”

Ricky’s hard work paid off and he has never looked in better shape, having lost 2st through dance training.

“I put my heart and soul into it,” he said.

“I took that competition as far as I could. If I went out I didn’t want it to be my fault from lack of trying or lack of effort and I lost about 2st in the process.

“I’d recommend dancing to anyone as a way of keeping fit and losing weight. Gymnasiums can be boring but when you’re training to dance the weight comes off without you noticing.”

Ricky, who recently split from long-term partner Hannah Waterman, can’t wait to get his teeth into the new challenge.

“I can’t wait to start this tour,” he said. “What better way to work off the old mince pies and Christmas pud straight after Christmas?”

And one thing Ricky is definitely promising is plenty of sequins and sparkle.

“Before I started Strictly people were ribbing me about spray tans and sparkly outfits, but I said ‘Bring it on’. You’ve got to go for it in life I reckon. Can you imagine if everyone went out in a dark suit? It’d be rubbish.

“Obviously, it’s not what I’d normally wear on a Friday night out but it goes with the turf. You’ve got to have a few sparkles haven’t you?”

l See Ricky Groves in the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour 2010 at Manchester Arena tonight and until Sunday, January 17. For tickets call 0844 847 8000.