Strictly Come Dancing returned to Blackpool's prestigious Tower Ballroom tonight (Saturday, November 19) for the first time since 2019 - and it came with the highest score of the series. The BBC One programme opened with a special dedication to the area by local people who reflected on the importance of their town’s relationship with the show.
The professional dancers and judges then burst out with a vibrant performance to You Get What You Give by New Radicals. Introducing the live show, Tess Daly said: “Hello and welcome to Strictly Come Dancing, it has been three long years and we are finally back in the home of ballroom.”
Fleur East and Vito Coppola secured the first perfect 40 of the series after delivering an energetic routine for their couple’s choice dance. Dressed in matching silver sequined outfits the singer and radio DJ brought out her inner Destiny’s Child as they danced to a megamix by the pop group.
East described it as a full-circle moment as she said she grew up listening to Destiny’s Child and they inspired her to become a singer. Craig Revel Horwood simply described it as “fab-u-lous”. Shirley Ballas said it was “an iconic routine that will go down in history” and praised her confidence to do a dramatic lean during the routine.
Meanwhile, Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal opened the Blackpool special in sophisticated style by performing an elegant American smooth to New York, New York by Frank Sinatra. Dressed in a tail suit, the wildlife cameraman performed dizzying lifts and spins to secure a score of 38.
Head judge Shirley Ballas tipped him as the one to beat. She said: “Hamza shone brighter than all the baubles and beads and bangles in the world.”
Ballroom specialist Anton Du Beke added: “That was beautiful. Tail suit, feathers, extra dancers, American smooth, Blackpool, gorgeous footwork. Welcome to Blackpool everybody.”
Molly Rainford delivered a vibrant, upbeat jive to Bandstand Boogie by Barry Manilow for her Blackpool special dance. Accompanied by a big band, the singer and actress bounced across the stage alongside her partner Carlos Gu to achieve a score of 35.
New professional Gu said it was a “highlight of his life” to perform at the prestigious Tower Ballroom. Anton Du Beke described their dance as “tremendous” and said he felt he was getting to see more of Rainford’s personality during the routines.
Craig Revel Horwood felt it needed to be “lighter” and “more precise”. But he praised her for selling the number.
Kym Marsh brought drama to the Blackpool stage as she performed a powerful paso doble to We Found Love by Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris. Accompanied by supporting dancers, the actress and presenter moved fiercely across the dancefloor alongside her partner Graziano Di Prima to land a score of 33.
Motsi Mabuse said Marsh looked “amazing” and praised her control and energy. Shirley Ballas added: “I feel like you are in warrior mode. You are here and you are fighting. What I loved, it was so powerful but yet you still kept the femininity.”
Tyler West paid tribute to eras gone by as he danced the salsa to Megamix by KC and The Sunshine Band while donning an afro wig and flared trousers. The Kiss FM DJ grooved and performed challenging lifts with his partner Dianne Buswell to achieve a score of 35.
Shirley Ballas praised the DJ for attempting the difficult lifts and for his fluidity, adding: “You are a star” - while Craig Revel Horwood said he would have liked to have seen more hip rotation but felt his last lift was “amazing”.
Ellie Taylor and Johannes Radebe gave an elegant rendition of the American smooth to You’re My World by Cilla Black for their Blackpool number. The Ted Lasso star wore a long flowing peach ballgown and was lifted from the stage to finish off the performance to secure a score of 31.
Anton Du Beke described her as the “Belle of the ballroom floor”. Craig Revel Horwood said her dance was “elegant and sophisticated” but said she needed to work on her arm placement.
Helen Skelton and her partner Gorka Marquez made a nod to Grease during their quickstep as the presenter dressed in a pink and black petticoat dress and the professional dancer donned a leather jacket. Dancing to Valerie by Amy Winehouse, the couple bounded across the stage and received a standing ovation from members of the audience and judges Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse, receiving a top score of 39.
Ballas praised how Skelton has grown, saying she had been left speechless by the performance. Anton Du Beke said the reaction to her dance is the reason the show comes to Blackpool, adding: “You were amazing.
“You have been brilliant from the neck down throughout this whole competition. Tonight you were great from the neck up.”
Will Mellor and Nancy Xu delivered a vibrant samba in homage to the Rio Carnival to close the Blackpool special. Accompanied by a host of backing dancers, feathers and sparkles, the Coronation Street star performed to I Go To Rio by Hugh Jackman to secure a score of 35.
Shirley Ballas added: “You are one very well-oiled machine. Every single part of you was pulsating, beautiful samba rhythms from Rio. Well done!”
Motsi Mabuse even wondered if the dance competition should stay in Blackpool. She said she felt everyone had brought their A-game, including Mellor.
