Whoever qualifies to advance to the next episode of Strictly Come Dancing won’t just be able to dance again, they will also get the chance to wow the judges and TV viewers by performing in Blackpool

The long-running BBC dance competition is currently in it’s 22nd season after being on air for the last 20 years – and as long-serving viewers will know, every year the show ditches London for a glitzy night in Blackpool. The northern town is regarded as the birthplace of British ballroom and for one night only, the contestants and their dance partners are allowed to wow from inside the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom. 

Next weekend is when the show will decamp to the seaside town for the extravagant live show – meaning whoever fails to keep a place in the competition this weekend will not be able to make it there to dance in the iconic hall. And thus, the pressure was on for the remaining celebrities and their professional dance partners to qualify.

But as hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman kept repeatedly mentioning Blackpool, viewers began to get distracted. Taking to social media, many mocked the show for going overboard with the references. One fan wrote on X: “How many times will they mention Blackpool tonight? #Strictly” along with a rolling eye face emoji.

Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu have begged fans to help them get to Blackpool ( 
Image:
PA)

Another wrote: “Shut up about Blackpool…#strictly.” Another mockingly typed: “Is it Blackpool next week? They haven’t mentioned it #StrictlyComeDancing #Strictly.” With another writing: “Guys can someone remind me when Blackpool is they haven’t really mentioned it much #Strictly.”

One fan claimed to count the number of times it was mentioned, writing: “here is the tally of how many times Blackpool was mentioned in tonight’s show. 21. we will continue it tomorrow for a total number of mentions,” and sharing a drawing of their tally marks. And another joked: “If I had a drink for every time they said Blackpool I’d be having my stomach pumped right now #StrictlyComeDancing.”

After competing during the live show – and winning 30 points from the judges, which was one of the lower scores of the night – Shayne Ward and his dance partner Nancy Xu took to social media to drum up support. Begging for votes, Shayne said in a video message to fans: “So we’re finished now and voting is open.”

Nancy then declared: “I genuinely wanted to say I know they have given him a professional squad, but I genuinely say, this guy has done amazing and I really, really want to bring it to Blackpool.” Shayne then gushed: “Oh I hope so. That’s down to you guys. So if you want to see us in Blackpool, please pick up the phone now or you can go online and vote to get us to Blackpool. Please.”

Nancy then said: “Please. We need you! Just for your mum to come.” And this prompted Shayne to lay it on thick, begging: “Yeah, my mum’s coming to see me dance. She Hasn’t been down to see me in the show, she hasn’t been able to. So if you can get me to Blackpool that will mean that my mum can come and see me and that would mean everything. So let’s get there.”