TV personality and dancer Louie Spence is embarking on a heartfelt new digital venture, calling upon his extensive roster of showbiz friends for a unique project set within a care home.
A Sparkling New Venture for Social Media
The 56-year-old star, famed for Pineapple Dance Studios, is fronting a weekly YouTube series titled Louie Spence in Care. Episodes will be crafted specifically for social media platforms, running for approximately eight minutes each. Spence has described the project as "an authentic passion project smothered fully in glitter".
His ambitious plan involves recruiting "everyone I know" from the entertainment world to visit and perform for the residents. "Some of these people will never leave that home," Spence explained, highlighting the motivation behind his unusual request for help.
West End Stars Answer the Call
Spence has already secured commitments from a host of theatrical luminaries. He first approached friends from the West End, believing music to be a powerful tool, especially for elderly residents or those living with dementia.
"So people like Ruthie Henshall, Alfie Boe, Kerry Ellis, Anna-Jane Casey - and they all said yes, no problem," he revealed. The aim is to feature a different performer each week, alongside Spence's own inimitable brand of entertainment. He also mentioned dear friends like Emma Bunton and icons such as Kylie Minogue and Lulu as potential future guests.
Personal Inspiration and Digital Ambition
The concept is deeply personal for Spence. Much of his family works in the care sector, and he has spent years supporting elderly relatives. "A lot of my family work in care; my sisters, my nephews, my nieces," he said. Their requests for him to visit homes and bring joy to residents planted the seed for the series.
He decided to bypass traditional television channels and launch directly on YouTube for speed and creative control. "Everyone seems to be doing things on their own and I thought that there was no time to waste. Some of these residents don’t have long," he stated.
In the show, Spence takes on the self-appointed role of CEO of Entertainment at the Country Care Group, which operates 49 residences, primarily across Essex. He is reuniting with director Hannah Springham, who helmed the original Pineapple Studios series. Springham, who has a personal connection through her mother's experience with dementia, praised the digital-first approach, saying "YouTube was the obvious home. It allows us to be reactive, bold and direct with our audience."
The first episode has already received approval from social media influencer GK Barry. Spence also hopes the series will support care staff and has ambitions to one day take residents on a trip to a real West End theatre. Louie Spence in Care will be available on a dedicated YouTube channel, with supporting content on TikTok and Instagram.
