Strictly couple Kym Marsh and Graziano Di Prima are "living the dream" ahead of their performance in the Blackpool Tower Ballroom this weekend.
The BBC dancing competition will finally make its return to the seaside resort after two years due to the Covid pandemic.
The Italian dancer and choreographer, 28, has never reached the major ballroom milestone since he joined the cast in 2018.
On Saturday night, the remaining eight couples will take the Tower Ballroom to impress the judging panel.
Speaking to the PA news agency, Di Prima said: “The first thing I said to Kym, when we started this together, the dream is Blackpool and then we see…
“The fact that in the past few series, we didn’t have the chance to go. It was a bit sad. Finally, we’re going back baby.”
Hear’Say singer and actor Marsh, 46, also joked that in Di Prima’s excitement to perform, he might “throw” her onto the ceiling of the Tower Ballroom.
Best Strictly Blackpool moments over the years
Reaching the Blackpool Tower Ballroom has long since been considered the turning point in the contest - when the competition truly heats up.
The iconic ballroom has played host to some of Strictly's most memorable moments over its 20-year history.
Viewers will remember the former shadow chancellor Ed Balls's hilarious 2016 entrance when he was lowered from the ceiling playing the piano before taking to the dancefloor to jive with partner Katya Jones.
Fans also won't be able to forget when Ann Widdecombe did the samba alongside professional partner and now judge Anton Du Beke in 2010.
The couple were both dressed in bright yellow and the former Tory MP scored the night’s lowest marks with an abysmal 13 out of 40.
Speaking about reaching the Blackpool milestone, Marsh said that it is “absolutely amazing” to reach this point in the contest.
The presenter continued: “I think you know, you always take week by week, but the closer you get to Blackpool, the more you want to be there.
“And I think that’s where we’re at now.”
She also said: “I’m very shocked to still be here and absolutely delighted.”
The former Coronation Street star actress said her fellow colleagues on the upcoming reboot of Waterloo Road have been “laughing” at her as she cannot stop dancing.
Marsh added: “I was on set, the other day…I just turned around, I’m in my own world, I was doing (the) steps like (doing a) dance around the corner, and everyone was staring.
READ MORE: Kym Marsh dedicates emotional Strictly dance to late son Archie
READ MORE: Strictly viewers all say the same about Tyler West's outfit
“Everyone was looking at me…They knew what I was doing.
“They were just laughing at me because I’m just doing it constantly.
“Or sometimes I’ll be in my own world thinking about the steps and they’re like ‘Are you okay, oh you’re just doing the dance in your head’.”
Marsh also opened up saying that she knows now she is “stronger” than she thinks since doing Strictly.
She said: “I’m someone who (thinks I) can’t do something (but) if I push myself I can. I’m stronger than I think I am.”
Kym dedicated her last performance to her son Archie, who died when he was born 18 weeks early in 2009.
The judges praised her “fragility” and “vulnerability” but noted a mistake at halfway through her American smooth to Snow Patrol's song Chasing Cars.
Following her routine, Marsh got emotional and apologised to Graziano for putting their chances of reaching next week’s Blackpool special at the Tower Ballroom at risk.
Despite her mistake, the judges awarded her 31 out of 40 points which ranked her near the top of the leaderboard.
Who left Strictly this week?
From the Full Monty to their Halloween Quickstep, Tony and Katya have been a legendary #Strictly partnership that we'll never forget 👏@TonyAdams @Mrs_katjones pic.twitter.com/tiat9ycG6M
— BBC Strictly ✨ (@bbcstrictly) November 13, 2022
Former England footballer Tony Adams, 56, become the seventh celebrity to exit the show.
Adams revealed that he had been forced to withdraw due to injury.
The football star received a score of 24 in Saturday’s show after dancing the jive to Land Of 1,000 Dances by Wilson Pickett, leaving him at the bottom of the leaderboard.
He found himself in the dance-off alongside Tyler West and Dianne Buswell who will join the remaining couples in Blackpool this weekend.
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday, November 19 at 7.45pm, with the results show on Sunday, November 20 at 7.20pm on BBC One.
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