Claudia Winkleman will not host Strictly Come Dancing in Blackpool this weekend, as she does not want to leave her daughter’s side.
The presenter’s eight-year-old daughter Matilda was taken to hospital after suffering burns when her Halloween costume went up in flames while she was out trick-or-treating almost two weeks ago.
Zoe Ball, who normally hosts spin-off show Strictly: It Takes Two, will once again stand in to co-host the show with Tess Daly as it heads north for its annual special from the Tower Ballroom.
Meanwhile, the contestants’ dances and song choices for Blackpool have been revealed and Judy Murray and professional partner Anton du Beke appear to be continuing to play the comedy card in an attempt to win votes. They will attempt the Viennese Waltz to Let’s Go Fly A Kite from the musical Mary Poppins, with Anton promising some “kite-ography”.
Caroline Flack and her partner Pasha Kovalev – who found themselves in the bottom two last week, but were saved by the judges – will be performing the Jive to Crocodile Rock by Elton John, while Saturdays star Frankie Bridge and her pro Kevin Clifton will dance the Quickstep to A Town Called Malice by The Jam.
EastEnders actor Jake Wood and his partner Janette Manrara will take on the American Smooth to Feeling Good and pop star Pixie Lott and Trent Whiddon will be dancing the Paso Doble to The Eve Of War by Jeff Wayne, and have promised a “Gladiator-style theme”.
Former The Only Way Is Essex star Mark Wright and partner Karen Hauer will perform the Charleston to We No Speak Americano by Yolanda Be Cool, while Blue’s Simon Webbe and Kristina Rihanoff will tackle the first Argentine Tango of the series to El Tango De Roxanne from the film Moulin Rouge.
Naturalist Steve Backshall and Ola Jordan are set to dance the American Smooth to Rolling In The Deep by Adele and Casualty star Sunetra Sarka and Brendan Cole will do the Samba to I Don’t Feel Like Dancin by Scissor Sisters.
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