When she’s not acting, Line Of Duty star Vicky McClure wears another, surprisingly different hat - as the host of a daytime clubbing party visiting venues up and down the country! Together with husband Jonny and pals including Jon McClure of Reverend & The Makers fame, Vicky’s devised an innovative event that’s bringing people together to dance and have fun - as she recently explained to What’s On...

If you ever thought clubbing was just about under-25s stumbling home at 3am, think again. Day Fever - the unstoppable daytime disco dreamt up by Line Of Duty star Vicky McClure, her husband Jonny Owen, and pals including Jon McClure of Reverend & The Makers - is flipping the nightlife script, one sunlit dancefloor at a time.

Born from a WhatsApp chat and now heading to 24 towns and cities in September, Day Fever brings affordable, joy-filled clubbing into the daylight hours. “The first one sold out in two seconds,” Vicky beams.

“We did Nottingham, then Sheffield, then Merthyr and Cardiff, and it just flew from there.”

It all started with a simple idea - as Jon explains. “Jonny just said, ‘Have you ever seen those bars in town during the day? They’re rammed!’ We were like, come on then, let’s do it, and it went nuts.”

This new feelgood phenomenon sees people of all ages, literally from their 20s to their 70s, letting loose on packed dancefloors. “We’ve had Jonny’s mum sneak in a bottle of gin and stash it in a bush outside in Cardiff,” Jon jokes. “That’s the vibe! Bit of mischief, loads of laughs, and not a bit of trouble.”

And it’s that warmth, spontaneity and inclusiveness that keeps people coming back.

Vicky’s voice lifts when she talks about the kind of people turning up to dance: “It’s mothers and daughters, friends reconnecting, people on chemo, people grieving. These are your nurses, your cleaners, your teachers. These are the people keeping the world spinning, and now they’ve got somewhere to let go and feel joy.”

One story that’s stayed with her is a woman who had barely seen her friends or family unless it was for a wedding or a funeral. “Now she’s got a new frock every month, and she’s out at Day Fever. She goes shopping Friday night, gets her hair done, and makes a proper event of it. That’s magic, isn’t it?”

Inclusivity isn’t just a buzzword here; it’s baked into the experience. “We’ve had people in wheelchairs come up on stage, and the crowd goes wild,” says Vicky, visibly moved. “It’s electric. We want it to be accessible to everyone. It makes your hairs stand on end.”

While you might catch a familiar face on the decks - Jonny, Vicky, or even Jon’s wife and fellow Reverend & The Makers band member Laura - most Day Fever events are led by local DJs. “We’ve been really selective,” Vicky explains. “They know their crowd; they know what their people want to hear. And they’re smashing it.”

And yes, music is taken very seriously. “There’s a loose structure,” says Jon. “Bit of Northern Soul to kick off, disco, 80s bangers, 90s dance, a singalong, maybe some indie... but we always have Whitney. If Vicky’s there, it’s the law.”

Vicky grins. “Hits across the generations, that’s the key. We’ve done themed nights, even Christmas clubs. And we’ll ask, ‘Do you want more Christmas songs?’ and they’re like ‘Nah, just give us the hits!’ You just get a feel for it.”

Regional pride plays a part, too. “Manchester goes mad for Oasis,” says Vicky, “Nottingham’s got its favourites, and we make sure to tap into that local energy. It’s about community, about people being together.”

With so many entertainment options pricing people out, Day Fever deliberately keeps things cheap. Vicky says. “We’ve always wanted it to be affordable. A night out can be £100 easy. We didn’t want this to be that.”

“Jonny said from day one it’s for ordinary people,” adds Jon. “Families, people with kids. We’re not here to rip people off.”

Venues love it, too. “We shut up shop at 8pm,” Vicky explains, “They do a quick turnaround and run their usual night from 10. They’re making great takings and reaching a new crowd. It’s been a game changer for loads of clubs.”

If Day Fever feels like a family party, that’s because it kind of is. “Jonny and I are married,” says Vicky. “Jon’s wife DJs, his brother Chris and childhood friend Jamie are involved. Even Jonny’s daughter Katie’s behind the decks! It’s one big gang, and when people come through the doors, they’re part of it, too.”

It’s not uncommon to see Vicky herself dancing on stage with partygoers, selfies flying and smiles everywhere. “When people realise we’re just there to have fun too - that we’re not up on a pedestal - they really get into it,” she says. “And I mean, come on, when else do you get to go clubbing with your mum?!
“We’ve had offers to take it abroad, but we’re being really careful. It’s only 18 months old -  it feels like a decade! - but we want to make sure we look after what we’ve built.”

The gang have even announced their own Day Fever festival at Nottingham’s Arboretum on the 23rd of August. “We’ve got loads of ideas,” she teases. “But for now, we’re just enjoying this moment. It’s simple, and it works.”

Vicky is filming Trigger Point and Jon’s touring Australia - and both say they miss Day Fever when they’re away. “Sounds a bit daft,” Jon chuckles, “but it cheers me up. You leave feeling lighter.”

And that’s the magic, really. Day Fever isn’t just a disco; it’s a dose of pure happiness.

Day Fever comes to the O2 Institute, Birmingham, on Saturday 6 September and Kasbah, Coventry, on Saturday 27 September.