One Strictly star is hoping their upcoming visit to an iconic British coastal town goes a little better than a previous trip which left them "traumatised". The Strictly Come Dancing contestants have reached a stage of the competition in which one professional dancer claims performances are going to be "cranking up another gear". Actress Sarah Hadland said her partner Vito Coppola warned her that going to perform at Blackpool means things get serious.
The eight stars who have made it through will leave the confines of the Elstree studios where the live shows are normally filmed to show off their moves on the famous sprung floor of the Blackpool Tower Ballroom. The venue is seen as an iconic space and has held many respected dance competitions over the years.
Sarah Hadland revealed that Vito has been discussing the importance of the venue and what it means for them: "Vito has started talking a lot about being at the stage of the competition where you’re now in the world of real ballroom dancing," she told the Blackpool Gazette. "You have to start dancing like a pro now, because you are in a pro arena. He talks about the level of performance cranking up another gear, which is very exciting."
Some of the other celebrities who are heading to Blackpool shared their memories and love of the seaside town. Comedian Chris McCausland revealed that he would never brave the rides because he could see them before he went totally blind: "We used to go to Blackpool a lot when I was a kid. I’ve got loads of memories of the seafront, the beach and the fairgrounds," he said. "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."
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PA)Reality TV star Pete Wicks, like many of us, was taken there as a child because it was a cheap holiday. "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," he said. He also revealed that he can’t wait to share the experience with his pro partner Jowita Przystal, who he has struck up an incredibly close relationship with: "It’s a moment I really want to share with Jowita because she’s done so much for me, and it means so much to her too. I love that I have the opportunity to give that back and we have the chance to dance there together after everything we’ve been through," he shared.
For Welsh opera star Wynne Evans, the time in Blackpool will bring back cherished childhood memories with his late parents. They would take the family there to watch shows by the likes of Sir Lenny Henry and Ken Dodd at the end of the pier. They would also go to the Tower Ballroom and watch the Wurlitzer organ going up and down, so performing there is going to be extra special for him. "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," he said.
But it’s Sarah who is hoping her time at the famous resort goes a lot better than her last visit as a little girl, which left her "traumatised" after a couple of scary rides. The first was on a rollercoaster and the second was on a donkey. "When our photograph came through [from the rollercoaster] everyone had their arms in the air but I'm nowhere to be seen. I’m in the brace position, probably screaming, brace, brace," she said. "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."
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