Zip goes a million! Actually it was the equivalent of £5m in today’s money that Viv Nicholson and her husband Keith ripped through in high living after their legendary football pools win in 1961.

Their story is told in Steve Brown and Justin Green’s brilliant musical Spend Spend Spend! on this week at the Oxford Playhouse, Staged by the innovative director and choreographer Craig Revel Horwood — famous for putting contestants through their paces in Strictly Come Dancing — the show follows his trademark pattern in having the actors doubling up as musicians, carrying their instruments on stage.

Oddly, you cease to notice this almost at once. So you can just sit back and let this superb show — packed with glorious melodies — hold you in its grip for two-and-a-half fun-packed hours.

All 12 performers shine — none brighter than Kirsty Hoiles (pictured), who plays the young Viv, unless perhaps Karen Mann who plays the feisty woman in later life. Don’t miss.