As television viewers prepare to welcome back the new series of Strictly Come Dancing on Friday evening, an Abbots Langley man will sashay his way onto the dance floor to warm up the studio audience.

Comedian Stuart Holdham, 36, of High Street, will not be donning sequins and glitter but will gee-up the studio audience before the live show.

Warm-up guy Stuart has worked on a number of popular television programmes including X Factor, Ready Steady Cook and Question of Sport.

He has even entertained a 40,000-strong crowd in front of Buckingham Palace for the Olympic Torch handover in August 2008.

Stuart, whose parents claim has a striking resemblance to Dale Winton, said: “It’s my job to prepare the audience for the show. I crack jokes, sing and dance.

“I’m a real people person and love entertaining. I get a real buzz when I’m out there. I can’t sleep after as I’m still on a high.”

Stuart got his first taste of television when he was looking for love on Blind Date, and was picked to holiday in Rome back in 1997.

He explained: “I was a contestant on the show and saw the warm-up guy entertaining the audience and instantly knew that it was my dream job.”

In 1999 he returned to the show to work as researcher and then as an assistant producer.

His moment in the spotlight finally came four years ago when by chance a show he was working on forgot to book a warm-up guy.

The job is not short of its perks either. Stuart has many celebrity friends and socialises with the likes of Ant and Dec, rugby star Matt Dawson, chef Ainsley Harriott and former cricketer Phil Tufnell.

Stuart concluded: “Some people wait two years for show tickets. It really is a family night out.

“The best part is making people laugh. Then if I get a round of applause then I know I’ve done a good job.”