JOY AT MAKING IT TO BLACKPOOL

TV presenter Helen Skelton has said making it to Blackpool on Strictly Come Dancing is a personal milestone. The BBC One dancing series is to return to the seaside resort this weekend after a two-year absence due to the pandemic, with the remaining eight couples hoping to impress the judging panel at the prestigious Tower Ballroom.

Blue Peter and Countryfile presenter Skelton, 39, and her professional Strictly partner, Gorka Marquez, received a score of 32 on Saturday night for their energetic and sultry salsa.

Skelton told the PA news agency: “Blackpool has always been a milestone. Every year my family went to Blackpool for a long weekend for the illuminations.”

Marquez added: “Blackpool is a very remarkable place for dancing. Blackpool is in the DNA of Strictly.”

Memorable Strictly moments from the Tower Ballroom over the years include 2016’s entrance by former shadow chancellor Ed Balls, who was lowered from the ceiling playing a piano before taking to the dancefloor to jive with Katya Jones to the Jerry Lee Lewis hit Great Balls Of Fire.

Another moment saw Ann Widdecombe do the samba alongside professional partner Anton Du Beke in 2010, with the former Tory MP earning the night’s lowest score of 13 out of 40.

Speaking about making it this far in the competition, Marquez said: “We are just very grateful that the audience support us and help us get through.” Skelton added: “You just have to take it week by week, because everybody is so good.

Sunday night’s results show saw former England footballer Tony Adams, 56, become the seventh celebrity to exit the show after he was forced to withdraw due to injury. The remaining eight couples will take to the dancefloor at Blackpool Tower on Saturday, November 19 at 7.45pm, with the results show on Sunday, November 20 at 7.20pm on BBC One.