Michael looks back on a remarkable career PICK OF THE WEEK

Every generation gets their own dance sensation, whether it’s Fred Astaire or John Travolta. Those legends may have wowed the masses, but 20 years ago a fleet-footed Irish-American helped breathe new life into Celtic dance.

In Michael Flatley: A Night To Remember (ITV, 8pm), Christine Bleakley welcomes the eponymous star who performs on British television for the first time in over a decade.

Aside from receiving praise from Bruce Forsyth, Michael is accompanied by his troupe of 30 dancers and musicians.

Viewers will see the impressive footwork which earned him a place in the Guinness Book of Records; he performed a staggering 35 taps a second.

“The last 20 years have been an extraordinary journey for me and I am honoured that ITV are celebrating my story along with so many friends and colleagues,” enthuses Michael.

“I’m very much looking forward to performing with my dancers – a hugely talented group of young people and the stars of the future.”

Flatley has come a long way since those humble beginnings in Chicago. He was born in the Windy City in 1958, and aged 12 started taking dance lessons. Later, he went on to achieve success as an award-winning flautist.

By the early 1990s, the thenrelatively unknown dancer, musician and choreographer was asked to fill in some of the airtime during the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest interval. That point where millions of us usually nip to the loo while waiting for the results suddenly turned into must-see television.

All eyes were on Dublin’s Point Theatre as Blighty’s Francis Ruffelle hoped her song We Will Be Free (Lonely Symphony) could take the top spot. Sadly she came 10th, eclipsed by Ireland’s own Rock and Roll Kids (by Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan) who took the top spot.

Two decades later and even Eurovision fans would have a hard time recalling who won that night, but there’s a good chance everyone who saw Flatley’s work will remember Riverdance in April 1994.

From that seven-minute routine, a whole show was formed, and rather aptly it debuted at Dublin’s Point Theatre in 1996. The cash flooded in, and Flatley went onto further success with Feet of Flames and Celtic Tiger. Now he has a new show to plug, Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games.

Michael Flatley takes to the stage.