Strictly Come Dancing stars hit Blackpool town for night of takeaway and laughs before show

Ahead of Blackpool's Tower Ballroom's 20th anniversary, the Strictly Come Dancing stars have been living in up in the Northern city before Saturday night's live show

Strictly Come Dancing is back at the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom for its dazzling 20th anniversary year - and the celebrities and professional dancers appear to be having a ball already.

For one week only, the BBC show’s magic will be even bigger than ever filling the Tower Ballroom. Blackpool – a legendary landmark in the ballroom dance world – awaits the Strictly Come Dancing celebrities and professional dancers, who are all gearing up to perform on its legendary dance floor.

The stars of the 2024 series have already landed in Blackpool, and on Thursday evening, they enjoyed what looked like a wild night out on the town as they danced in the streets of the Northern city before stocking up on some greasy grub to end the night.

Love Island beauty Tasha Ghouri, 26, was seen beaming from ear-to-ear as she donned a pair of funky sunglasses with 'Blackpool' adorned on them. The blonde bombshell wrapped up against the November cold in a long-lined grey coat as she danced in the streets alongside her Strictly co-stars.

Elsewhere, Strictly professional Gorka Marquez was seen kicking his legs out while dancing after he enjoyed a wild night on the town in Blackpool with his fellow dancers.

The stars of the 2024 series all made sure to keep the cold at bay as they wrapped up in their winter clothes ahead of Saturday night's spectacular show. On Saturday night, the Pet Shop Boys will open the show with a medley of some of their greatest hits, with the Strictly professional dancers joining them for a spectacular opening number.

Then, on Sunday night’s results show, they will perform their brand-new single All The Young Dudes. Meanwhile, the highly anticipated professional dancers’ performance at Blackpool’s prestigious Tower Ballroom will feature a stunning Argentine Tango set in a glamorous 1940s hotel.

Choreographed by Matt Flint, Leandro Palou, and Maria Tsiatsiani, this electrifying routine will showcase the show’s talented professional dancers alongside supporting extra dancers. It will be set to the sound of Tango Jalousie.

Over the years, a total of 99 celebrities and 52 professional dancers have performed in Blackpool’s iconic ballroom, with 9 judges gracing the Tower Ballroom from behind the judges’ desk.

It comes after Pete Wicks laid bare his feelings for his Strictly Come Dancing partner, Jowita Pryzstal. The pair are hoping to impress both the judges and viewers at home this weekend as the BBC dance competition hits Blackpool Tower's Ballroom.

In recent weeks, the reality star, 36, and Jowita, 30, have found themselves surrounded by speculation that they may have romantically fallen for one another.

This is despite Pete who found fame on The Only Way Is Essex dating Love Island royalty, Maura Higgins who is preparing to head to the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! jungle.

However, in a new interview, Pete has revealed the toll the rumours about himself and Jowita are having on the pair and admits he wants to "give back" to Jowita.

"It's a moment I really want to share with Jowita because she's done so much for me, and it means so much for her too," he said. Speaking about performing at the iconic tower, he told The Blackpool Gazette: "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."

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