AS she prepares to head out on the road for the next two months, Kristina Rihanoff admits that although she’s excited about her new dance show, it’s going to be a big wrench leaving two-year-old daughter Mila behind.

The former Strictly Come Dancing favourite - she appeared on eight series of the top TV show before leaving in 2015 - will be bringing Dance to the Music to Preston Guild Hall next Saturday, as part of a 40-date UK tour.

As well as starring alongside professional partner Robin Windsor, Kristina has also choreographed the show which will provide a history of dance over the past 100 years.

“It’s going to be hard leaving Mila,” said Kristina, 40. “But it’s no different for me as any other mum going back to work.

“It’s not as though I’m dreading going back to work. The show is such an exciting prospect. And we have planned the tour to allow me to get home as much as possible.

“There will be a lot of driving but it’ll be worth it.”

Mila is Kristina and partner Ben Cohen’s first child together.

The couple met when rugby ace Ben was Kristina’s celebrity partner on Strictly in 2013.

“Ben is an incredible father,” said Kristina. “Without his support and understanding I would never have been able to do the show.

“It was a family decision. I couldn’t be selfish and just do it. It will be very demanding for Ben but he has encouraged me to take the show on tour.

“He has twins - Harriette and Isabelle - who are 10 and they are both very, very helpful with the little one but he will have a lot in his hands. My mum is also going to come and help.

“And once the tour’s over I will be able to spend lots of time with Mila to make up for it.

“It’s something I’m still learning about - being a parent and having a show on the road.”

Dance to the Music also stars another Strictly favourite Oksana Platero and her husband Jonathan Platero and other professional dancers plus singers, X Factor runner-up Chris Maloney and Beth Sherburn.

“It is both exciting and challenging,” said Kristina. “I think what is the unique part of the show. is that we are going to take you through the history of dance and have all those different styles in one show.

“I could have have made it easier on myself but that’s not me,” she laughed. “I’ve always been like that in my life. You have to push yourself and head out of your comfort zone and set yourself goals. It’s really the only way you can evolve.”

Although TV fans know Kristina for her prowess on the dancefloor - she is a former world finalist - she has revelled in being the driving force behind the show’s choreography.

“Some really great dancers aren’t that interested in choreography and others don;t like the performance side and specialise in being great choreographers,” she said. “I’ve always enjoyed both aspects.

“Before there was a main choreographer on Strictly which there has only been for the last four years or so, it was always up to the professionals to choreograph the big group numbers,” she said. “So myself and Robin would put lots of ideas forward to the producers.

“I always knew that there would come a point when Strictly wouldn’t be around for me and I would have to make that transition from just being a performer and I learned so much over the years.

“I had an amazing in eight years on Strictly being able see and work with so many different choreographers and dancers and I just tried to take as much from that experience as I could.”

In her time on Strictly, Kristina had some celebrity partners better than others. For every Simon Webbe, with whom she scored a number of maximum 40s from the judges, there was always a John Sergeant.

“One thing I learned on Strictly was that you have different partner every year and what might work for one might not work as well with another,” she said tactfully. “So you have to always be thinking as a choreographer about what routine to put together for your partner. You try new avenues and new ways to do something and I think that this is very much what this show is about too.

“Although with Strictly, maybe only about 20 per cent of what’s in your head actually makes it into the routine because in your head the celebrities are always way better than they really!

“It’s certainly easier working with professionals, they immediately understand what you are trying to achieve.”

Dance to the Music, Preston Guild Hall, Saturday, January 13. Details from 01772 804444 or www.prestonguildhall,co.uk