Why is Blackpool week on Strictly so special?

Making it to through to dance in Blackpool is seen as an exciting milestone on the show

Strictly Come Dancing is set to be broadcast from the hallowed hall of the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool this weekend.

Normally the show is nestled in Elstree Studios, Hertfordshire, but once a year - since 2004 - it packs its bags of sparkles and corn plasters and heads north.

For the celebs and professionals on Strictly, making it through to dance in Blackpool is seen as an exciting milestone on the show.

Seven celebrities have made it to this stage this year but only six will dance after drag artist La Voix sustained an injury.

But why is making it to Blackpool so special?

Blackpool is famous for ballroom dancing

Strictly packs its bags of sparkles and heads north once a year

Blackpool is famous for being the go-to place for ballroom dancing thanks to its iconic venues, including the Tower Ballroom and Empress Ballroom.

The seaside town is also well known for its dance festival and - of course - the Strictly live show.

Blackpool has hosted a number of major dance championships over the years.

They include the Blackpool Dance Festival, an annual ballroom and Latin dance competition, which has taken place for more than 100 years, since 1920.

The eight-day competition sees competitors from around the globe coming to the North West every year to compete in the festival.

Some of Strictly's professional dancers also have a special history with Blackpool's Tower Ballroom, having competed there from a young age - including Katya Jones and Lauren Oakley.

What's so special about the Tower Ballroom?

In 2022 experts spent three weeks breaking down more than 100 layers of lacquer before sanding and resealing the floor

The famous ballroom dates back to 1894 and is made from 30,602 pieces of oak, mahogany and walnut wood.

The present version of the ballroom opened in 1899.

Each of the large crystal chandeliers can be lowered to the floor and take more than a week to clean every year.

They are made of hand-cut crystals from Italy and use LED bulbs.

In 2022 experts spent three weeks breaking down more than 100 layers of lacquer before sanding and resealing the floor of the ballroom.

The dancefloor is also sprung - which means it is supported underneath by springy wooden strips or foam, making the floor slightly bouncy to dance on.

Sprung floors are thought to be the best kind of floor for dancing and indoor sports as they can enhance performance and reduce strain and injury.

The Blackpool dancefloor is also about nine times bigger than the Elstree one.

The ballroom regularly hosts World and all-England dance championships and the Blackpool Junior Dance Festival has been held each year in the ballroom since 1964.

What do the judges say about Blackpool?

Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke love Blackpool

Head judge Shirley Ballas says: "Blackpool is so special to me because I've been going there since I was seven years old. The minute I step into the ballroom I go all fuzzy and warm inside."

Craig Revel Horwood says: "There's an energy, there's a fire, there's a passion in the air - and there's a 600-strong audience cheering everyone on."

Anton Du Beke says because the floor is bigger "there's more crowd as well so the atmosphere is ramped up and everybody is excited. It's like no other experience you'll get".

"Every dancer wants to set their foot on that magical floor," agrees Motsi Mabuse.

Blackpool Week - Strictly Song and Dance List

Drag artist La Voix made it through to Blackpool but sustained an injury so will not be able to dance on the night

Alex and Johannes - Couple's Choice to History Repeating and Look At Me by Propellorheads ft Miss Shirley Bassey and Geri Halliwell

Amber and Nikita - Quickstep to Reach by S Club 7

Balvinder and Julian - Argentine Tango to The Logical Song by Supertramp

George and Alexis - Salsa to Rock This Party (Everybody Dance Now) by Bob Sinclair

Karen and Carlos - Paso Doble to O Fortuna by Carmina Burana

Lewis and Katya - Charleston to I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor by Arctic Monkeys

There will also be group performances from the Strictly professional dancers alongside appearances from Lewis Capaldi, Steps and returning Strictly finalists Ashley Roberts, Danny Mac, Jay McGuiness and Layton Williams.