The star-studded dance contest reaches its most dazzling annual milestone, as the eight remaining pro-celebrity duos depart from London and head north to the Lancashire coast, where they put their skills to the test against the iconic backdrop of Blackpool Tower Ballroom. Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman open proceedings by introducing a grand-scale group performance, in which the couples are joined on the dancefloor by judges Shirley Ballas, Darcey Bussell, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood. Already a glamorous affair, Strictly turns the dial well and truly up to 11 for its yearly trip to the northern resort town, with even more glitzy sets and routines that push the performers to their limits. With the grand final now only a month away, the stars once again face the judges scrutiny ahead of yet another elimination.
The show pairs a number of celebrities with professional ballroom dancers who each week compete against each other to impress a panel of judges and the viewing public in order to survive potential elimination. Through telephone voting, viewers vote for whom they would like to stay, the results of the poll being combined with the ranking of the panel of judges.
The show is broadcast live on BBC One on Saturday evenings, and is presented by Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly. The judging panel consists mainly of Bruno Tonioli, Len Goodman and Craig Revel Horwood.