Blackpool is where dreams come true, but not everyone gets the hype, says JOANNE CLIFTON

Strictly Come Dancing professional Joanne Clifton has analysed the highs and lows of Blackpool Week in her exclusive column for Express.co.uk.

17:05, Mon, Nov 21, 2022 | UPDATED: 11:46, Tue, Nov 22, 2022

Strictly pros perform stunning dance as show returns to Blackpool

Blackpool Week - What’s all the hype about?
On my way back to the train station, I was asked a question by a taxi driver in Blackpool with a thick northern accent: “Why does everyone get so excited about coming to Blackpool?”

Now, I’m not sure EVERYONE gets excited about the seaside town, but what people have to understand is that, for dancers, Blackpool is the goal. It’s where dreams come true.

That could definitely sound funny to some. We talk about it so much on Strictly that I’d imagine some people get tired of hearing about it.

However, if you ever get the chance to go to The Tower Ballroom, you’d understand that all the hype is true.

The moment you take one step inside that beautiful place you can feel the atmosphere and the sheer history of it.

Helen Skelton Gorka Marquez Joanne Clifton

Joanne Clifton says Helen Skelton "summed up" Strictly's Blackpool week. (Image: BBC/Getty)

Joanne Clifton Kevin Clifton

Joanne and Kevin Clifton's family have been competing in Blackpool for many years. (Image: Getty)

Years and years of Waltzes, Cha Chas and Quicksteps on that sprung floor. Echoes of the band playing Foxtrots and Jives.

I was lucky enough to go to the live show this week.

I’ve been going to Blackpool to compete twice a year my entire life, just as my parents did and my auntie and my grandparents.

I was buzzing to be back. The show itself was everything I expected it to be.

Fleur East

Fleur East scored four 10s this week with her Beyonce-inspired Couple's Choice routine. (Image: BBC)

Tyler West Dianne Buswell

Tyler West and Dianne Buswell were the latest stars to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing. (Image: BBC)

From watching the group dances, to the music acts, to the celebs’ excited faces, to the audiences being so loud that they had to turn the surrounding mics down. It was a night to remember.

So onto the couples:

We got Craig’s first 10!!! And well deserved it was too! Fleur was ELECTRIC out there and blew everyone away. I was lost for words.

I think in general though, the costumes, sets and songs all contributed to the couples’ excellent performances.

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A highlight for me was Helen.

If I could sum up dancing at Blackpool on Strictly Come Dancing to a wonderful live orchestra in one face, it would be Helen Skelton’s face.

Not only had she corrected some technical things from previous weeks but the pure enjoyment of it all just radiated from her. It was beautiful to watch.

Top 3 this week

With only a few couples left, I’ll be taking my Top 4 down to a Top 3:

1. Fleur (10) OUTSTANDING.
2. Helen (10) Wonderful technique, energy and expression.
3. Will (9) The performance was full of fun and excitement and he had the whole Blackpool floor shimmying with him!

Someone had to go

Naturally, at this point in the competition it gets really tough to see someone voted off, as now we’re closing in on the final we are being much more critical and looking for details.

So, we had Molly and Tyler in the dance off. Could Molly have been a bit lighter in her Jive? Yes.

Could Tyler’s first lift have gone a bit smoother? Yes. Tough decision.

2014 Strictly Come Dancing winner Joanne Clifton has teamed up with the UK’s leading online bingo site WhichBingo to deliver an honest, weekly summary of the ups and downs of each episode of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing series.