‘It’s what the world needs more of right now, isn’t it?’
09:35, 21 Nov 2025Updated 10:20, 21 Nov 2025
Katya Jones and Lewis Cope posing for photographs with fans in Blackpool
It’s sea and sequins as Strictly Come Dancing returns to Blackpool this weekend – and fans of the show have already flocked to the seaside town to catch a glimpse of the stars taking part this year.
Now a Strictly staple, this Saturday and Sunday will see the remaining contestants perform in the legendary Blackpool Tower Ballroom. Dating back to 1899, the venue has a rich dance history and is where many of the professionals on the BBC series have competed over the years. But it’s not just highly regarded by the stars on the screen, but it’s also loved by fans of the show who head to Blackpool days earlier to try and meet this year’s contestants and professionals.
Early doors on Thursday, two men emerge out of the Blackpool Tower entrance with walkie-talkies in tow. “On their way,” one reports as a small flutter of passers by linger to see what’s unfolding. But as a woman walks up with a trolley of goods, the two inquisitive fans wander away. Moments later, a truck load of staging emerges in what is yet another false alarm for Strictly devotees.
But then there’s a sign of hope as a film crew emerge and set up across the way – a sure sign of something exciting as people in scarves, gloves and woolly hats all gather in unison with phones in their clutches. Vicky Leland, one of the fans watching, travelled up from Knaresborough in Yorkshire with two friends and said she’s ‘obsessed’ with Strictly Come Dancing. She even has a fan group, which has around 95,000 followers on Facebook.
Vicky Leland said she is ‘obsessed’ with Strictly Come Dancing – and even runs a fan group online on the show
“I’ve been a fan of Strictly ever since the beginning,” she says. “It’s magical, it’s sparkly and I wait all year for it to come back.” In fact, Vicky and her friends travel up to Blackpool every year to try and catch the stars in-between rehearsals and filming.
“We watch out online for things that are happening,” Vicky says when asked for tips on how to spot the stars. “We’ve learnt certain things over the years which are pretty routine so we know where to look. We’ve already seen all the couples this morning and got photos with them.”
‘I was walking the dog and a Strictly star was just in front of me’
Former Emmerdale star Lewis Cope and professional dancer Katya Jones walk out the Ballroom Tower and head towards the TV cameras to film segments for this weekends show – showcasing their excitement for being in Blackpool. In-between takes, the pair wave at the fans and, at the end, pose for a few photos with the excited viewers before being guided away.
It’s that time of year again – Strictly Come Dancing is heading to the Blackpool Tower Ballroom
One of those lucky enough to get a photo with the pair is Cathy Lord, from Preston. She’s up with her daughter, Helen, for a trip to Blackpool and the pair took their chances on trying to find some stars. “I was walking the dog this morning and I didn’t realise it straight away but Carlos was right in front of me,” Helen laughs. “I sent a photo to my mum and said we’ll try and find some more of the stars.”
As luck would have it, Cathy is rooting for Lewis and Katya this year. “He was so lovely,” she said. “They were both really taking the time to talk to as many people as they could.”
Asked what she loves about Strictly, she said: “I danced from the age of two-and-a-half until I was 11. I’ve always loved to dance, and my granddaughter is now into dancing and performed at the Winter Gardens here. It’s just a fun show to watch, and Lewis and Katya have been so good this year.”
In-between production setting up stages and the celebrities filming out on the pier, the staff at the Fizzy Ducks sweet shop are preparing for what is set to be a busy weekend – what with both Strictly taking over, but also the return of the family-friendly and popular Christmas By The Sea event.
Anita Pawlik and Brione Graham both work at the Fizzy Ducks sweet shop on Blackpool’s Central Promenade
“It’s always rammed when Strictly is on,” shop worker Anita Pawlik says. “We will often have queues outside the door. There’s always a big crowd, it’s good fun.”
‘It’s great for Blackpool’
Whilst colleague Brione Graham says she doesn’t watch the show, she can appreciate that it’s good for Blackpool. It’s featured a week at the seaside resort every year since 2009 – except for during the pandemic. “Blackpool doesn’t often always get a good reputation,” she explains. “So, it’s great to have something like this that’s so positive and that people look forward to.”
Strictly stars Alexis Warr and George Clarke were seen filming in Blackpool on Thursday
Back towards the pier, the film crew emerge once again and begin setting up shop by the pier. This time, it’s content creator George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr who emerge from a taxi ready to film their scenes outside the Tower. Laughing with one another in-between takes, the pair also make the time to interact with the fans forming around them.
Over on the pier itself, Angela Reece and her husband are waiting with their phones ready to catch the action. Angela, from Lincoln, said her husband surprised her with a trip to Blackpool today. They don’t have tickets for the show and are specifically here to catch as many stars as they can. It’s something they’ve done a few times in the past.
“When I was younger, I used to do ballroom and Latin dancing myself,” explained. “When I was 14, the dance school closed and I stopped it all.” Having managed to get a photo with Louis and Katya earlier, Angela says she next wants to bump into reality TV star Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin.
“It’s been an excellent year so far,” she says. “Louis and Katya, and Amber and Nikita are my favourites and they both weren’t originally supposed to be on the show.”
Angela Reece and her husband were in Blackpool on the hunt to find this year’s Strictly stars
Both Louis and Amber were last minute replacements when originally cast stars Kristian Nairn and Dani Dyer were forced to pull out for separate health reasons and injuries. The two stars were brought onto the show with short notice, but have both topped the scoreboard on separate occasions.
Asked why she thinks Blackpool week is so well regarded amongst the fans and celebrities, Angela says: “The professionals just love the Ballroom. I think with the spring floor, it’s completely a different performance to what they’re used to in the studio.”
Sadness at La Voix
One person who sadly won’t be taking part in Blackpool week will be drag queen La Voix, and partner Aljaž Škorjanec. Having sustained an injury earlier this week, they have received a bye and will hopefully return to the competition next week. But the star has previously spoken about how Blackpool was special to them, being a regular performance spot throughout their career.
Cathy Lord, from Preston, is rooting for Lewis Cope and Katya Jones this year
“It’s so sad La Voix isn’t able to perform,” fan club owner Vicky says. “I was so happy for her when she got through last week because Blackpool meant so much to her. I just hope she can come back next week.”
Over on the North Shore of Blackpool is Funny Girls – an institution now almost 32 years into the game that has helped continue the area’s history of dance and cabaret alive and relevant. The team at the venue share in the sadness that La Voix cannot perform this week.
“We’re devastated that she can’t perform in Blackpool,” drag performer Phoenix Knightz said. “She is beloved here and has been doing so much for the LGBTQ+ community by being on Strictly. We’re all just really hoping she can make it back on the show next week.”
Performer Phoenix said Strictly always brings the glitz and glamour to town – and it has a knock-on effect throughout and not just at the Ballroom. “It’s always manic,” Phoenix says. “The atmosphere in Blackpool because of Strictly right now is absolutely buzzing. There’s so much glitz and glamour, and that’s something we’re all about at Funny Girls too. We are essentially all of the themed weeks on Strictly rolled into one night!”
Drag performer Phoenix Knightz(Image: Funny Girls)
Phoenix says that many of the Strictly cast and production will visit Funny Girls during their time in Blackpool, and it also attracts in a crowd of people wanting to soak up the spirit of the show with its arrangement of dancers, cabaret performers and drag. “We’ve got a very loud audience five nights a week but when Strictly comes around, it just gets filled to the brim,” she explains.
In the 16 years Strictly has been coming to Blackpool regularly, Phoenix also says there are some important aspects of its spotlight on the seaside resort – it pays homage to its legacy, whilst also inspiring both current and the next generation of performers to keep at the top of their game.
“It puts Blackpool in the public eye,” Phoenix says. “Blackpool in the past, present and future has always been an iconic place for tourists, the locals and anyone just passing by so to get the attention from the show, just takes that to the next level – especially the Ballroom. Here in Blackpool, dancing is sort of in our soul. They call it the Vegas of the North, it’s also the dance capital of the UK. So, when Strictly comes around, it means we have to match the energy because so many people come here already with a big expectation.
“When you step into a place like Funny Girls, it’s escapism. It’s into a world of glitz and glamour. And that’s what Strictly is for many people too. It’s energetic, it’s fun, and I think it’s just what the world needs more of right now, isn’t it?”
Strictly Come Dancing airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.