Stars' banter gives A Question of Sport Live a surprise edge

Strictly Come Dancing star Robbie Savage took time out from rehearsals to reveal his next routine and stoke up some old rivalries as A Question of Sport Live came to Birmingham.

The former Birmingham City midfielder lined up against old foe Dion Dublin, who got sent off for butting him while playing for Aston Villa in a second city derby eight years ago.

Savage took the teasing about his performance in the reality show in good spirits last night at the NIA and said he was looking forward to tackling the American Smooth this Saturday.

He joked that the routine would see him lift his dance partner Ola Jordan, giving him "the best view ever". There was plenty of Strictly experience on the panels, with Wolverhampton athlete Denise Lewis and team captains Phil Tufnell and Matt Dawson all having taken part in previous years.

Although Dublin and any Villa fans present did not take kindly to Savage's boasts about his time at Blues, his witty banter showed he is shedding his reputation as one of the game's most hated footballers.

The show was an entertaining mix of familiar rounds such as Guess Who from the TV version and participation from the 5,000-strong audience. A highlight was a 20-minute segment after the interval where Dawson and fellow captain Phil Tufnell answered questions submitted by the audience, with Dawson revealing that Clive

Woodward was a "great manager" of the England rugby team but a "terrible coach".

The pair tried to outdo each other with ever-more outrageous anecdotes that would never had made it past the TV censors, and gave the live show an edge that is often missing on the small screen.