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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Dianne Bourne

The Stockport village that's gone Strictly crazy for Will Mellor

Every Saturday, inside the busy Mellors Cafe in Romiley, an unlikely scene unfolds. Diners will pause from eating their full English breakfasts and supping a cuppa, and suddenly break into a little dance.

"It's become a bit of a custom," laughs Mellors Cafe owner Cheryl Taylor. "Every Saturday I wait until a few are in, we stop what we're doing, I turn the Strictly music on and they all start dancing with their coffees."

The reason? Well everybody in this bustling Stockport village has gone Strictly Come Dancing crazy. And that's thanks to Romiley's most famous son, actor Will Mellor, dancing up a storm on the hit BBC celebrity dance show.

Read more : My night at the Stockport pub that's gone viral as the "best pub on Earth"

TV star Will grew up in this part of Stockport, and Mellors Cafe in the village is owned by Will's older sisters Cheryl and Sarah. Although it feels like pretty much everyone knows Will here as I walk up and down Romiley high street chatting to locals in the quirky independent shops and cafes.

Will Mellor with sister Cheryl at Mellors Cafe in Romiley (Mellor's Cafe)

When I stick my head into the shops, everyone I speak to seems to have a story about Will. Some say they went to school with him at Werneth High, others know his sisters, many say he always pops in to say hello whenever he's in the village.

It goes some way to explaining why everyone is going 'Team Will' bonkers here. Sister Cheryl had the Strictly-emblazoned T-shirts printed for all her shop staff as soon as he started his dance journey, and all of a sudden everyone was popping in asking if they could buy one too.

She has had that many requests that a local printing shop in Woodley, The Trophy Store, is now making them for Will fans - with £1 from every T-shirt sold going to Will's local charity, the Cherry Tree Project in Romiley.

The support hasn't gone unnoticed from Will himself - who gave a massive shout out to Romiley in the most primetime way possible - on the Strictly Come Dancing results show. Will has been tearing up the dancefloor with his performances - alongside professional dancer Nancy Xiu - and is tipped as a favourite to win this year.

Will Mellor thanked Romiley on Strictly Come Dancing for all the support they've been showing (BBC)

Strictly co-host Claudia said to Will: "Can we talk about how your community is completely behind you? To which Will replied: "Yeah it's amazing, my sister has a café in Romiley where I grew up and the staff have all got Team Will t-shirts, it's just lovely to see.

He added: "It's overwhelming when people get behind you, I do appreciate it, thank you very much."

Cheryl, 56, says the tight-knit community are loving getting behind her brother Will, 46. She said: "I think people here are just dead, dead proud of Will.

"He was born in Bredbury and he loves his local community. Before Strictly he was always popping in to the café and the village shops here.

Mellors Cafe in Romiley is owned by Will's sister Cheryl (second right), and niece Georgia Thorley is the manager (left). Will's mum Shirley is pictured next to Cheryl and daughter Sarah Thorley (Mellors Cafe)

"Because Strictly is such a big show and they see him on it they really want to watch it and support him now.

"And in return he’s really put Romiley on the map - it’s really good of him to remember that and give us a shoutout on TV. Will has said to me that as soon as he's able to come over he's going to be coming back to Romiley and thanking everyone for their support."

And if you wonder what impact Will's Romiley comment on prime-time TV might have had, well, listen to this. As I chat to the staff at Mellors Cafe, a woman buying a coffee reveals she's come here from Northamptonshire after hearing him mentioning it on Strictly!

Romiley is getting its moment in the spotlight thanks to Will Mellor being on Strictly (Vincent Cole - Manchester Evening News)

Now, admittedly, Annie Kilgour admits she's also here to have her Scottish Terrier clipped at the apparently excellent Elite Dog Grooming shop in Romiley. But the 65-year-old said: "He mentioned the café on Strictly so I thought, 'oo I must go there when we take our dog to be clipped'."

Cheryl is now hoping he gets through to Blackpool Week on Strictly, which is due to air on November 19 this year, as it will mean he'll be heading back up north. But, naturally, she and all of Team Will are hoping he goes all the way in the dance contest.

If he makes it as far as the semi-finals, Cheryl says she's already in talks with the NK Theatre Arts Centre, which is above the shop, to host a special screening for fans to go along and cheer him on. It would be particularly fitting as Will remains a patron of the theatre.

Will Mellor pictured with sister Cheryl outside Mellors Cafe when it first opened in Romiley 15 years ago (Mellors Cafe)

She also has plans to put banners outside the café which is on the main Compstall Road through the village if he continues to do well in the competition, although is wary not to 'tempt fate' too much. Needless to say, when anyone mentions Will in the café, Cheryl takes the opportunity to remind them he still needs their votes each weekend.

She laughs: "Every day people come in and say 'oo isn't your Will doing well I think he’s going to win it'. And I keep saying back 'thank you, but make sure you use your three votes!'"

Among those proudly displaying their Team Will colours is the Debra Charity shop in Romiley precinct - with a Strictly display in its shop window complete with Glitterball, feather boas and cowboy hats along with the obligatory Team Will t-shirts. The managers there are full of praise for Will - who they reveal has supported the charity in the past.

Debra charity shop staff Ally Taylor and Sarah Husband are both 'Team Will' (Vincent Cole - Manchester Evening News)

Shop manager Sarah Husband, 45, said: "We've been following his journey and he frequents the shop here and so we've always had a good rapport with him. He’s from the local community and he supports the local community.

"Because he’s supported us, the least we can do is support him back - he’s a lovely guy."

At the village hardware shop, manager Joanne Tracey grew up next to the Mellor family in Bredbury, and says Will has 'never changed' despite his TV fame.

Joanne Tracey, owner of the local hardware store, is supporting Will Mellor on Strictly (Vincent Cole - Manchester Evening News)

Joanne, 53, said: "He was our neighbour growing up and he's a lovely guy. He’s got amazing support here, everyone you speak to is talking about him.

"Whenever he comes down to the café, he always bobs in to see me and say hello. It’s never gone to his head despite getting famous with the acting, he’s never had that edge on him, it's not him at all."

Joanne added: "A young kid came in the other day and he was so excited because Will had sent him a little video to thank him for his support. He was buzzing, he had a big smile on his face, but that's Will really, always thinking about others."

Romiley Town Centre (Vincent Cole - Manchester Evening News)

It's clear that ethos of thinking about others can be said of many of Romiley's residents though. Walking through the village, with it's free roadside library boxes and community centres, with the slogan 'caring together' along the high street, gives that sense of a really tight-knit community.

At the Life Centre, the local church café, volunteers are also cheering on Will. Vicky Reedy, 44, from Marple said: "I’ve never watched Strictly before but now I am. Will went to the same school as me, he was two years older, so it's great to see him do well."

Will as a little lad (Mellor's Cafe)

Back at Mellors Café, I ask Cheryl about what it was like growing up with Will, and if his dance skills were spotted from a young age. She recalls, in particular, Will's love for Michael Jackson, wowing family and friends.

She says: "He used to love Michael Jackson and would copy all his moves when we were young.

"We've got a video of him with a circle of people around him at a wedding, doing the moonwalk and he could only have been 7 or 8 - I have no idea how he learned those dance moves."

She laughingly adds: "I did ask Will if he can still do the moonwalk and he said: 'I can only do it if I wear socks'."

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