Tonight, four of Strictly Come Dancing’s most beloved finalists will descend on the renowned Blackpool Tower Ballroom for what is anticipated to be the series’ biggest night.
Four Strictly finalists will reunite on the iconic Blackpool dance floor tonight as part of a special reunion performance. Ashley Roberts, Danny Mac, Jay McGuiness and Layton Williams will step back into the legendary Blackpool Tower Ballroom to dance with some of the BBC series’ professionals in what viewers are promised will be a “dazzling performance”.
Sunday night’s instalment (airing 23 November) follows a dramatic show for the cast, in which Tess Daly announced that La Voix was forced to leave the competition because of an injury, and EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal sitting at the bottom with 33 points, just seven points behind scoreboard leaders Katya Jones and Lewis Cope.
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Due to La Voix, Chris Dennis’ alter ego, and her professional partner Aljakorjanec’s early exit, Tess and Claudia Winkelman announced that Sunday’s show will no longer feature an elimination.
Instead, viewers will see a group performance by some of the show’s most memorable contestants, including Jay, who won the glitterball with Aliona Vilani, and Lewis Capaldi giving a live performance.
Hollyoaks actor Danny, 37, made it to the finals in the 2016 series with Oti Mabuse, as did Pussycat Doll Ashley and her partner Pasha Kovalev.
The final of the four, musical theatre star Layton, danced with Nikita Kuzmin in the 2023 series, making it to the finals with Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell, but eventually lost out to Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola.
Radio presenter Ashley, 44, said she was looking forward to seeing if her “jive legs can still do their thing,” adding that “sequins always help, I’m sure” when she returned to her British ballroom home.
In Week 11, Movie Week, Layton, 31, and Nikita performed a dramatic and perfectly timed Paso Doble to Backstage Romance from Moulin Rouge.
He described his return as “absolutely buzzing” and “the most iconic dance floor there is.” Let’s hope I’ve still got it, eh? “Blackpool brings back so many fantastic memories, and it’s a true honor to be invited back.” !
The 23rd series kicked off this year after a number of scandals involving allegations of backstage bullying and subsequent professional departures, and has been plagued by injury-related withdrawals as well as the shock news this week that a Strictly Come Dancing star has been arrested on suspicion of rape. The report came less than three months after a star of the BBC show was arrested for rape.However, attention remains on tonight’s show and La Voix’s exit – which she said “wasn’t the ending I imagined, but I’ll cherish this forever.” Her departures comes after Dani Dyer and Neighbours actor Stefan Dennis were both forced to pull out earlier in the series.
After receiving the news that her injury had been discovered, Alja, her father-of-one, expressed her gratitude on social media and said that letting him down was the most upsetting aspect of her exit.
She said, “I’m devastated not to be able to continue the adventure with him, but I’m utterly appreciative of everything he’s given me throughout this experience.”
Tonight on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, Strictly Come Dancing will air at 7 p.m.
