Strictly Come Dancing: Why is the Blackpool ballroom such a big deal?

The famous Blackpool Ballroom

Strictly Come Dancing will be back in Blackpool this weekend.

The show is usually filmed at Elstree studios in Hertfordshire, but for one week each year the show moves up north to the Tower Ballroom located in the seaside town.

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

But why is the competition held there and why is it a big deal?

Keep reading to find out...

Why is Blackpool famous for ballroom dancing?

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 the Strictly live show.

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

They include the world's first and most important ballroom festival called the Blackpool Dance Festival, which has taken place 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?

The famous ballroom dates back to 1894 and is made from a whopping 30,602 pieces of oak, mahogany and walnut wood - the present version of the ballroom opened in 1899.

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 it can enhance performance and reduce strain and injuries.

The Blackpool dancefloor is also enormous.

It's around nine times bigger than the Elstree one, measuring 37m by 31m - so the nine remaining celebs will have plenty of room to strut their stuff.

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.

Did you know... The ballroom's grand crystal chandeliers can be lowered to the floor and take over a week to clean!

What else can we expect from Strictly's Blackpool special?

Strictly Come Dancing has revealed that four celebrities, who have all previously featured in various series of the show, will be returning to the ballroom for one night only.

Ashley Roberts, Danny Mac, Jay McGuiness and Layton Williams will pair up with Strictly's professional dancers for a dazzling routine that will see them each revisit one of their most famous Strictly moments.

The new routine will feature elements of Jay and Ashley's iconic Jives, Danny's famous Samba, and Layton's show stopping Quickstep.

Blackpool's Saturday live show will open with a huge performance from pop group Steps featuring some of their biggest hits.

Sunday's results show will see a very special performance from Lewis Capaldi, accompanied by the Strictly pro dancers.

Do you love Strictly's Blackpool week? What are you looking forward to? Let us know in the comments below...