Happy families

It was just another night at the ballet, but it turned into an entertaining family lookalike show. The young audience at the new production of The Nutcracker by the English National Ballet - described as having more sauce than a Heinz factory - looked remarkably familiar.

Closer inspection provided the explanation: Jonathan Ross was there with his son Harvey, Colin Montgomerie with his three children and David Seaman with his.

Accompanying Richard and Judy to the Coliseum were their son and daughter, who also bear a strong resemblance to their parents. Actor John Thompson was also in the audience with his wife and daughter.

Before the ballet the audience met the dancers at a lavish launch party at the next door St Martin's Lane Hotel.

Former Arsenal and England goalkeeper Seaman said: "I've come along as my five-year-old daughter Georgina is very keen on ballet and has started going to classes. They say that football is working class ballet but I've never seen the connection."

Last year the ENB was relegated to the Hammersmith Carling Apollo. This year, with the Coliseumrenovated, the company returned home like a new troupe.

The production, designed by Gerald Scarfe, is weird and wacky, and according to some, the design tail is wagging the ballet dog.

However, what makes this production worth seeing is the quality of the dancing.