Historically, many partnerships have been inspired by Strictly’s annual mid-series trip to Blackpool. In this week’s blog we compare the score each duo earned at the Tower ballroom, with the scores performed directly before and afterwards, to see who received the biggest Blackpool boost.

Notes:

• This analysis looks at the eleven series (2, 7-8, 11-17 and 20) which contained a mid-series trip to Blackpool.
• Contestants who were eliminated at Blackpool were not eligible to appear on the list.
• Natalie Gumede received a bye in the week prior to Blackpool, and so was not included in this analysis.
• In instances where there is a tie in the ‘Blackpool boost’ total, the partnership with the higher Blackpool score is placed higher in the countdown .

10th Steve Backshall & Ola, Series 12 (2014)

• Average score in the weeks before & after Blackpool: 25.5
• Blackpool score: 31
• Blackpool boost: 5.5 points

The partnership of naturalist Steve & Ola is perhaps most remembered for their difficulties in the training room, rather than for any of the routines they performed. Their highest score of the Series came at Blackpool for this American Smooth. One week later, a 23-scoring Jive left them bottom of the leaderboard, leading to their elimination by Sunetra Sarkar & Brendan.

9th Ben Cohen & Kristina, Series 11 (2013)

• Average score in the weeks before & after Blackpool: 26.5
• Blackpool score: 32
• Blackpool boost: 5.5 points

Rugby player Ben and Kristina are perhaps better known their subsequent marriage, than for any of the routines they performed on the show. Their exit from Strictly follows a similar path to that of Steve & Ola; with a Blackpool American Smooth earning them their (joint) highest score, before leaving the competition (versus Mark Benton & Iveta) the following week.

8th Alex Scott & Neil, Series 17 (2019)

• Average score in the weeks before & after Blackpool: 28.5
• Blackpool score: 34
• Blackpool boost: 5.5 points

Before Kelvin Fletcher danced ‘that’ Week 1 Samba, footballing ‘Lioness’ and TV-presenter Alex was the early favourite to win Series 17. It was a bit of a ‘stop, start’ campaign for this duo, with Neil having to sit out Weeks 6 & 7 due to injury. Their high point was this dramatic Blackpool Paso which received ‘nines’ from Motsi, Shirley and Bruno. Eventually the duo were eliminated by Chris Ramsay & Karen in the Quarter-final.

7th Anita Rani & Gleb, Series 13 (2015)

• Average score in the weeks before & after Blackpool: 31.5
• Blackpool score: 37
• Blackpool boost: 5.5 points

TV presenter Anita was partnered with Gleb on his only year as part of the Strictly cast. This was a consistent pairing, with 11 of their 13 routines receiving a score between 27 and 32 points. Their only routine to earn a ‘ten’ (issued by Darcey) was this Blackpool Paso Doble. They made it all the way to the Semi-final, and despite finishing higher on the judges’ leaderboard, it was Katie Derham & Anton who were victorious in the dance off.

6th Charles Venn & Karen, Series 16 (2018)

• Average score in the weeks before & after Blackpool: 32.5
• Blackpool score: 38
• Blackpool boost: 5.5 points

TV actor Charles and Karen are another partnership whose only ‘tens’ were received at the Tower ballroom for their Samba; and they would go on to reach the Quarter-final, before being eliminated by Ashley Roberts & Pasha. Charles is the last male celebrity to appear in this countdown, with all of the top five places filled by female celebrities. We saw Charles’ Samba in my previous blog, so here is his 30-scoring Tango that he performed directly after Blackpool.

5th Susanna Reid & Kevin, Series 11 (2013)

• Average score in the weeks before & after Blackpool: 33.5
• Blackpool score: 39
• Blackpool boost: 5.5 points

TV presenter Susanna was paired up with new professional Kevin, and were not expected to have a particularly long run in the competition. They would confound expectations, finishing in joint second place; and as is the case with both Alex and Anita, their standout routine was a Blackpool Paso Doble.

4th Emma Barton & Anton, Series 17 (2019)

• Average score in the weeks before & after Blackpool: 31.0
• Blackpool score: 37
• Blackpool boost: 6.0 points

To date, Series 17 has seen the biggest overall Blackpool boost, with Emma joining Alex Scott, Chris Ramsay and Karim Zeroual in all seeing their score rise by at least 4.5 points. Emma & Anton’s American Smooth, which earned Anton his first ever ‘tens’, was featured in last week’s blog, so here is their 33-scoring Couple’s Choice which took place the week before Blackpool.

3rd Ali Bastian & Brian, Series 7 (2009)

• Average score in the weeks before & after Blackpool: 34.0
• Blackpool score: 40
• Blackpool boost: 6.0 points

With this Viennese Waltz, TV actress Ali is one of four celebrities to have received a mid-series ‘Blackpool 40’, alongside Danny Mac, Ashley Roberts & Fleur East. As well as a third place in this countdown, Ali & Brian also finished third in Series 7; missing out on a place in the Final, as Jade Johnson’s withdrawal meant that the Final was competed by only two partnerships.

2nd Helen Skelton & Gorka, Series 20 (2022)

• Average score in the weeks before & after Blackpool: 30.5
• Blackpool score: 39
• Blackpool boost: 8.5 points

TV presenter Helen, dancing with Gorka, earned her first score of 39, not with her ‘Cabaret’ Couple’s Choice, but for this Quickstep performed two weeks earlier. Helen’s high ‘Blackpool boost’ rating was undoubtedly aided by having the tricky Salsa/Samba combination either side of her trip to the Tower ballroom.

1st Gemma Atkinson & Aljaz, Series 15 (2017)

• Average score in the weeks before & after Blackpool: 26.5
• Blackpool score: 38
• Blackpool boost: 11.5 points

TV actress Gemma was born in Bury, which is less than 50 miles away from Blackpool; so it’s understandable how an appearance at the Tower ballroom would lift her performance. Dancing with Aljaz, this 38-scoring American Smooth was sandwiched by a 28 for the Viennese Waltz, and a score of just 25 for the Samba. This duo would go on to reach the Series 15 Final, and understandably chose to perform this routine again then.

Honourable Mentions

• Chris Hollins & Ola, Series 7 (2009): 29.5 vs 34; boost of 4.5 points
• Caroline Flack & Pasha, Series 12 (2014): 32.0 vs 37; boost of 5.0 points
• Mark Wright & Karen, Series 12 (2014): 31.5 vs 36; boost of 4.5 points
• Joe Sugg & Dianne, Series 16 (2018): 33.5 vs 38; boost of 4.5 points
• Graeme Swann & Oti, Series 16 (2018): 27.5 vs 32; boost of 4.5 points
• Karim Zeroual & Amy, Series 17 (2019): 34.0 vs 39; boost of 5.0 points
• Chris Ramsay & Karen, Series 17 (2019): 28.5 vs 33; boost of 4.5 points