Strictly’s Class of 2023 are off to Blackpool, always a landmark week for couples who make it.  With the iconic setting of the Tower Ballroom come some super iconic tunes. When have the 7 tracks the couples are stepping out to made a previous appearance on the Show?

Making a 5th appearance on the Show

• Track: Unchained Melody
• Artist: Benedetta Caretta
  (The most famous version was recorded by The Righteous Brothers in 1965, and is forever associated with the 1990 movie ‘Ghost’, though the song was originally written by Alex North and Hy Zaret in 1955; it is thought over 1500 different versions of the song have been recorded.)
• Routine: American Smooth by Annabel & Johannes
• Previous routines:
  • 4: American Smooth by Anita & Gleb in Week 3 Series 13. Score 29. Ghost-themed Movie Week routine. Result: 3rd on Leaderboard, Safe.
  • 3: Waltz by Patrick & Anya in the Semi Final Series 11. Score 36. Result: Eliminated in a dance-off against Natalie & Artem’s Argentine Tango.
  • 2: Viennese Waltz by Pamela & James danced twice in Weeks 10 and 12 of Series 8. A double-40 scoring routine which topped the Leaderboard in both the Quarter-final and the Final despite Pamela & James being eliminated from the Final after performing it. 1 of 3 Viennese Waltz routines with a perfect score.
  • 1: Waltz by Claire Sweeney & John Byrnes (remember him?) in the very first show ever broadcast, Week 1 of Series 1 in 2004. Score 27. [Video unavailable]
• Verdict: Pamela & James’ double performance is spellbindingly good and will be hard (impossible?) to better. Even more impressive as she was a sexagenarian when she performed it (having turned 61 that week). Annabel has risen to almost every challenge thrown her way so far and though it may not be a leaderboard-topping routine, we don’t underestimate her potential to do well.

Here is Pamela & James 40-scoring Viennese Waltz from the 2010 Final, the only perfect dance of the night:

• Track: It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)
• Artist: Duke Ellington
  (Other versions have been used on Strictly; Judge Rinder & Oksana danced to Chantz Powell’s version in Series 14. Ellington wrote and arranged the track in 1931, Irving Mills added lyrics and in 2008 the first 1932 recording of the track was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.)
• Routine: Quickstep by Nigel & Katya
• Previous routines:
  • 4: Quickstep by Judge Rinder & Oksana in Week 7 Series 14. Score 33. Safe. Rob Rinder – although somewhat dividing the Strictly fan base – was nonetheless a charismatic, interesting contestant who improved consistently and danced credibly. This classic Quickstep was his joint-highest scoring dance and is the highest score of dances performed to this track.
  • 3: Charleston by Tony Jacklin & Aliona in Week 2 of Series 11. Score 13. Eliminated after a dance-off against Julien McDonald & Janette. Aliona dancing her heart out couldn’t save this lacklustre Charleston which is the second-lowest scoring on the show ever.
  • 2: Quickstep by Alex Jones & James in Week 6 of Series 9. Score 31. Safe. A few mishaps (a heel caught in a dress and a fall at the end of the routine) didn’t scupper this dance which gave Bruno ‘frissons of  excitement’ and made guest judge Jennifer Grey feel ‘giddy’.
  • 1: Quickstep by Martin Offiah & Erin in Week 6 of Series 1. Score 24. Eliminated. Martin & Erin made it to the first Strictly Quarter-final but were then eliminated by public vote after performing this Quickstep and a Cha Cha Cha. [Video unavailable]
• Verdict: The potential here for a stylish, classy Quickstep with a wow factor – there’s certainly a lot of floor to cover at the Tower Ballroom (it is around 9 times bigger than the Elstree Studio) and it has seen some high-scoring Quicksteps in the past. The only 40-scoring routine danced here was in the 2011 Series Final, which was held at Blackpool and was danced by Harry Judd and Aliona, the winners on the night. Should be good.

Making a 4th appearance on the Show

• Track: Wake Me Up Before You Go Go
• Artist: Wham!
  (This 1984 crowd-pleaser, and Wham’s first UK Number 1, was inspired by the note Andrew Ridgeley left for his mum on his bedroom door asking her to “Wake me up up before you go go”!)
• Routine: Jive by Bobby & Dianne
• Previous routines:
  • 3: Jive by Anthony Ogogo & Oti in Week 1 of Series 13. Score 21. A trouser-splitting routine from Anthony who although surprisingly light of foot was criticised harshly by Craig for his ‘pigeon toes’.
  • 2: Jive by Jason Donovan & Kristina in Week 8 of Series 9. Score 34. Safe. Another grand venue outing for this top pop tune as the broadcast came live from Wembley Arena’s ‘Best of Britain’ show. Not Jason’s best dance – at least once he looks a little bit lost, but he still managed to pull off a decent score.
  • 1: Jive by Julian Clary & Erin in Week 8 of Series 2. Score 21. Safe but bottom of the leaderboard. This was Semi-final week and there was some controversy when Aled Jones & Lilia were eliminated by public vote despite Julian’s lower scores. The comedian went on to the Final where he ended up in 3rd place. [Video unavailable]
• Verdict: Bobby has got stuck on a mid-Leaderboard plateau with remarkably consistent scores ranging from 29 to 32 and Craig was pretty scathing about his ‘spatulistic’ hands last weekend. We think the score will be closer to Jason’s (higher even?) than Julian’s and Anthony’s, and if it’s light, frothy and full of fun it could be fab-u-lous.

Making a 3rd appearance on the Show

• Track: Ain’t No Other Man
• Artist: Christina Aguilera
  (A grammy-award winning tune, released in 2006 and reaching number 2 in the UK charts; Aguilera said she wanted the song to be easy to dance to but we are sure whatever style Layton & Nikita choose it will be far from an ‘easy’ performance.)
• Routine: Couple’s Choice by Layton & Nikita
• Previous routines:
  • 2: Cha Cha Cha by Peter Andre & Janette in Week 1 of Series 13. Score 30. A leaderboard topping debut dance for this partnership which seemed to justify Peter’s position as the bookie’s favourite to win. A standing ovation in the studio and a classic comment from Head judge Len: “Oi, oi saveloy! The best dance of the two nights!”
  • 1: Cha Cha Cha by Jade Johnson & Ian in Week 1 of Series 7. Score 27. Another promising first dance to this track, Olympic athlete Jade was on an upwards trajectory in the competition when she later picked up an injury in the dress rehearsal for her Week 9 Tango and had to withdraw a week later becoming the 4th celebrity to do so since the Show began.
• Verdict: Both earlier dances to this track went down well on the night with audiences and judges – the lower scores reflect their Week 1 positioning. The fortune of getting to dance a Couple’s Choice routine to this classic, funky tune within the hallowed walls of the Tower Ballroom all bodes well for a roof-raising performance. Should we anticipate the first 40 of Series 21? Apparently everyone is.

Making a 2nd appearance on the Show

• Track: Love Machine
• Artist: Girls Aloud
  (Reaching Number 2 in the UK charts in 2004, this joyful synth pop track made #65 on Billboard’s 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time in 2017.)
• Routine: Charleston by Ellie & Vito
• Previous routine:
  • 1: Quickstep by Kate Garraway & Anton in Week 2 of Series 5. Score 15. Safe but bottom of the leaderboard by 8 points. The second lowest scoring Quickstep in Strictly history saw Kate hampered by a tendonitis injury picked up during training which meant she was on crutches the week of the show. At the time the presenter joked the Quickstep had been renamed the ‘Hobble’. Saved by the public, Kate & Anton remained in the competition up to Week 7.
• Verdict: This high-energy track could suit a Charleston very well and the concept and styling will be interesting to see. As long as its not too frenetic, and any extra dancers add quality rather than chaos, then with Ellie & Vito’s great partnering and brilliant track record we think it will be knockout.

• Track: Back to Black
• Artist: Amy Winehouse
  (A personal favourite, we’re delighted this track is putting in an appearance. Amy Winehouse & Mark Ronson’s 2006 track makes Number 79 on Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, 2021. Enough said.)
• Routine: Argentine Tango by Angela S & Carlos
• Previous routine:
  • 1: Tango by Phil Tufnell & Katya in Week 7 of Series 7. Score 30. Safe. This was Phil’s second highest-scoring dance and despite a reportedly laid-back attitude to his Strictly endeavours, he made it all the way to Week 9.
• Verdict: Angela is having something of a bumpy Strictly ride but there are some definite highs (her Charleston, Waltz and Paso all impressed) which give us confidence she will rise to this particular challenge, especially with such an inspirational – though heart-achingly mournful – track. Could be emotional.

Making a 1st appearance on the Show

• Track: Tea for Two
• Artist: Ella Fitzgerald
  (This version of the 1924 track was recorded by Ella and Count Basie in 1963.)
• Routine: American Smooth by Angela R & Kai
• Verdict: Angela is the only celebrity at Blackpool who is dancing to a debut tune, an absolute classic fitting for the occasion of the former Come Dancing host’s return to Blackpool. A unique tune for a unique contestant on a unique evening. Will it be enough to keep her safe? It will depend on the dancing we hope. If she delivers, with Kai, a classic and competent routine (and others fail to) possibly, but we think maybe not.

Photo Credit: Amy Winehouse from Wikimedia Commons.