The Strictly Come Dancing stars are preparing to perform at the world famous Blackpool Tower Ballroom – or the “Wembley of ballroom dancing”, as they have dubbed it this year.
The professional dancers get “misty-eyed” at the mere mention of the elegant 19th century room with its iconic sprung dancefloor beneath stunning chandeliers.
The professional dancers’ performance will be set in a 1940s hotel, and see them perform an Argentine tango to Tango Jalousie.
The show will also feature a performance from Pet Shop Boys, who will open it with a medley of hits as the Strictly professional dancers perform a routine, before performing their latest single, a cover of Mott The Hoople’s All The Young Dudes, which was written by David Bowie, on Sunday’s show.
Strictly Come Dancing : Blackpool Special airs at 6.45pm on Saturday on BBC One and iPlayer, with the results show on Sunday at 7.20pm on the same channel.
Comic Chris McCausland is looking forward to performing in “Wembley for ballroom dancers” in Blackpool this week – as well as visiting the Pleasure Beach, now he feels confident enough to ride rollercoasters.
“We used to go to Blackpool a lot when I was a kid,” says Chris, 47. “I’ve got loads of memories of the seafront, the beach and the fairgrounds. I’d never go on rollercoasters when I was that age. I think because I could see them, they terrified me, whereas now I can’t see them, I’m not bothered so I’ll go on anything.” He jokes he prefers the Carousel to a Ferris wheel as “I’m not in it for the view am I?”
His partner Dianne Buswell, 35, says she “dreamed of performing in Blackpool” while growing up in Australia, and Chris adds: “It’s something that means a lot to the professional dancers. Strictly is a two way relationship and they don’t get to dance there every year with a partner because they leave at different points of the competition each year. To be able to get to Blackpool with Dianne and give her that opportunity to dance there again means more to me than me being able to go there myself.” The pair will perform the American smooth to Paul Anka’s Jump.
Miranda star Sarah Hadland has mixed feelings about returning to Blackpool having been left “traumatised” there by a donkey ride as a child. “My mum took me to Blackpool when I was little,” says the 53-year-old actress. “We got there and we did the rollercoaster, when our photograph came through everyone had their arms in the air but I’m nowhere to be seen. I’m in the brace position, probably screaming, brace, brace.
“After that, my mum took us to go on a little donkey ride on the beach. I got on a donkey but it got spooked. I swung under the donkey and was dragged with my face in the sand. This donkey was called something like Brenda. It’s like something in a horror film. After that, I think I was a bit traumatised and just came home.”
Sarah says partner Vito Coppola, 32, gets “misty-eyed” at the mere mention of Blackpool, and he coos that he feels like he is performing “in the centre of the world” when he is there. “Every time I’m in Blackpool, I can feel the energy of years and years of dancing and all the big legends that have danced there,” he says.
Go Compare opera singer Wynne Evans is grateful for the ballroom’s unique sprung floor, joking: “Anything to help with elevation and bounce is most welcome.” The 52-year-old recalls seeing end of the pier shows starring Ken Dodd, Mike Yarwood and Sir Lenny Henry, and says: “I know if my late parents were still alive they would’ve loved to be there to relive old memories with me and they would not have been able to believe that I’m dancing on the dancefloor.”
Partner Katya Jones, 35, says she feels like she is “coming home” when she visits the seaside town, where she feels compelled to bring “energy and spark” to the iconic location. “It means a lot,” she says. “Bringing dancing back to where it belongs with Strictly as a dancer is a big deal. It means ballroom dancing is still relevant . Knowing that Strictly has been on for 20 years and there’s still so much love for it, it’s a big deal. It’s bringing dancing back to where it belongs.” The pair will perform a Charleston to Carmen Suite No 1: 5 Les Toreadors by Georges Bizet.
TOWIE star Pete Wicks says he will be filled with nostalgic memories, having visited the seaside town as a child.
The reality star, 37, paid tribute to his “soul mate” nan during last week’s performance, and now recalls of his childhood: “We didn’t have much money when I was younger, so we always went to the seaside. I really enjoyed the arcades and the lovely vibe there.” Partner Jowita Przystat, 30, has been impressed by the “massive portion of doughnuts” the dancers bought at the Pleasure Beach. The pair will cha cha to I’m Too Sexy by Right Said Fred.
Love Islander Tasha Ghouri remembers driving along the promenade as a child. “I remember driving down the promenade in my family’s convertible car, looking at the illuminations at night with a blanket wrapped round me.” The 26-year-old will be bringing her soft toy Flat Ted along with her. “I can’t go anywhere without him,” she says. “He has to be there with me – he’s my good luck charm.
Partner Aljaz Skorjanec, 34, says the ballroom gives everyone “an extra spark”, which the couple will be hoping for as they perform a paso doble to Torn by Nathan Lanier. JLS star JB Gill is hoping the sprung dancefloor aids his “bouncy” Quickstep to Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley.
The 37-year-old says he is excited to return to the “electrifying” ballroom as a dancer, rather than a singer, as he recalls of his childhood: “I remember going to lots of different seaside towns with my Great Aunt, she was always doing camps and summer excursions and we always used to get a stick of rock wherever we went to, like Skegness and Grimsby, I used to try and convince my Great Aunt that I was allowed to eat the whole stick of rock in one go.”
JB is now paired with partner Lauren Oakley, after Amy Dowden was forced to pull out on medical grounds, and Lauren, 33, says she is bringing her teddy bear Fred with her for good luck as it is the first time she has competed at the venue. Gladiator and Team GB star Montell Douglas compares the Blackpool dancefloor to an athletics track, thanks to its special springiness.
“I’m excited about trying out something completely new, and hearing the dancers talk about sprung floors,” says the 38-year-old. “In athletics, we talk about running on a Tartan track or on a Mondo track. You have no idea what that means, but Mondo track is faster and nicer and harder, and it feels different. And I imagine it’s going to be just like that dancing at Blackpool. It’s probably going to feel amazing.” While partner Johannes Radebe, 37, says the weekend is always like a “school trip”. “Everyone wants to get to Blackpool so the excitement is off the scale,” he says. The pair will perform a salsa to Don’t Leave Me This Way by Thelma Houston.
Eastenders actor Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas vow to “leave our hearts on the dance floor” – while jiving to The Ketchup Song (Asereje) by Las Ketchup. Jamie says he is a “frequent visitor” to the seaside town, but says the excitement is palpable. “Getting to Blackpool is a personal target I set myself when joining the show, so it’s be a real sense of personal achievement that we’re performing there,” says the 30-year-old actor.
Michelle, 29, adds: “I think that Blackpool is the week that everyone wants to get to, it’s that milestone that we strive towards from the beginning of the show so maybe there’s a little bit more pressure to get through to that week I think that it’s an achievement in itself to get to Blackpool, and I think we are just going to bring that extra spark by just adding extra fun to our routine really going for it and having a good time I mean we’re in Blackpool so that’s the place to have fun and just leave our hearts on the dance floor.”
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