HE’S been a dance critic for years – and now he’s putting his money where his mouth is.

David Bellan, dance critic for The Oxford Times and former BBC radio presenter, has taken to the floor for the first time in his life for Strictly Oxford 2014.

Mr Bellan and 15 other Oxford luminaries will be partnered with dancers from Headington’s Step By Step Dance School for the fundraiser at the New Theatre Oxford on April 27.

With the first rehearsal on Saturday, the couples have just six weeks to hone their skills.

Mr Bellan, of Bladon, said: “I have been watching dance for about 30 years, and I have seen practically every company in the world, so I know what I think good dance should look like.

“The question is, can I actually do it?

“It is absolutely not a walk-over and six weeks is not a lot of training.”

The event, inspired by BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing, will raise money for Vale House, a 40-bed nursing home in Sandford-on-Thames that provides specialist end-of-life care to adults who suffer from dementia.

Mr Bellan refused to put odds on a favourite to win, adding: “I’m definitely the oldest, I don’t know if that makes me the most experienced.”