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Strictly Come Dancing 2017 week 9 recap: JK Rowling, Spice Girls and James Bond all come to Blackpool

For the record - the “Blackpool” word tally for the show stands at a strong 44

Saturday 18 November 2017 22:39 GMT

Debbie McGee and Giovanni Pernice performed a Spice Girls-themed samba in Strictly's Blackpool week (BBC/PA)

There’s only one word on everyone’s lips in Strictly Come Dancing this week - the eight remaining celebrities have finally made it to Blackpool. A Spice Girls tribute, a James Bond parachute entrance and even JK Rowling herself all came to the iconic Tower Ballroom in week nine of the competition.

The change in seafront scenery brought with it a flurry of backing dancers, familiar faces in the audience, and increasingly high expectations. The evening kicked off with a Charleston from pop star Mollie King and her partner AJ Pritchard.

While the pair have struggled in previous weeks, ending up in the bottom two twice so far, some ever impressive lifts and a Bird of Paradise theme successfully lifted their routine and everyone’s spirits.

Also following the flying/soaring theme was Eastenders actor Davood Ghadami, parachuting into the ballroom for a James Bond themed paso doble to "Live and Let Die". It’s been a steady uphill journey for Davood, as the actor received his first 10s last week and scored a solid 35 this evening.

Remaining comfortably at the top of the leaderboard is Debbie McGee, who has continued to impress audiences and judges since scoring the first perfect 40 of the competition last week.

Strictly Come Dancing 2017 lineup

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1/15Strictly Come Dancing 2017 lineup

Strictly Come Dancing 2017 lineup

Joe McFadden

Who plays Raf di Lucca in Holby City. Broke through to the mainstream playing PC Joe Mason in Heartbeat series 2.

BBC

Strictly Come Dancing 2017 lineup

Mollie King

The Saturdays singer who has performed numerous routines with her group. She told Nick Grimshaw that she "can't wait to get into the sequins".

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Strictly Come Dancing 2017 lineup

Gemma Atkinson

Atkinson previously appeared in Casualty, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks. Of joining the dancing competition, she said: "I'm beyond excited and incredibly nervous, but looking forward to learning a new skill,"

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Strictly Come Dancing 2017 lineup

Davood Ghadami

Best known for playing Kush Kazemi on Eastenders, he said: "It's going to be exciting, challenging and terrifying all at once and I am so looking forward to stepping out of my comfort zone and learning to dance."

BBC

Strictly Come Dancing 2017 lineup

Ruth Langsford

Stand-in This Morning host who said: "The sum of my dance experience is throwing a few shapes at a party, I've never had a dance lesson in my life."

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Strictly Come Dancing 2017 lineup

Susan Calman

Actor and TV host who told Jeremy Vine of entering the competition: "I am the last person on the dancefloor! "I haven't worn heels or a dress since the 1970s... my mother will die happy to see me in a dress and glitter."

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Strictly Come Dancing 2017 lineup

Simon Rimmer

Sunday Brunch chef who has apparently never danced before. "I am so excited, terrified and proud to be invited... Nobody will try harder, have more fun or get more out of it than me. I can't wait."

Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Strictly Come Dancing 2017 lineup

Rev Richardl Coles

The Reverend Richard Coles, AKA the only Vicar to ever score a top-charting single. Speaking to Chris Evans, he said: "A major dance talent was waiting to be discovered. I just wonder what took them so long. I'm in it to wing it, as they say."

Strictly Come Dancing 2017 lineup

Aston Merrygold

Another popstar - former member of boyband JLS, who rose to fame on X Factor. "I'm both nervous and excited to learn from the professionals about a whole new way of dancing!" he told Scott Mills.

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Strictly Come Dancing 2017 lineup

Chizzy Akudolu

The actor left Holby City in June. she previously appeared in The Inbetweeners, Hollyoaks, and Eastenders. "When I was 13, I made the finals of a disco dancing competition once but there was this amazing girl who exploded onto the stage with a gorgeous sequined costume, throwing glitter everywhere," she told the BBC. "I knew it was game over for me. That was then, this is now and this is my chance to have even more sequins!"

Strictly Come Dancing 2017 lineup

Alexandra Burke

X Factor winner who covered Hallelujah, scoring a Christmas Number 1. "I love this show and have followed it from the beginning, so being able to be a part of it is just a dream come true for me," she said. "I am very nervous as I am a singer not a dancer, but I am going to give this my absolute everything."

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Strictly Come Dancing 2017 lineup

Brian Conley

The comedian, actor and TV presenter has performed at the Royal Variety Performance eight times. "My family all love the show and can't wait to see me do my Dad dancing on national television," he told the Beeb. "I know it's going to be a lot of hard work but I'm up for the challenge, so bring on the spray tan and sequins."

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Strictly Come Dancing 2017 lineup

Charlotte Hawkins

Broadcast who has hosted shows on LBC, Sky News and Channel 5 and appears on Good Morning Britain. "I did dancing as a child, a bit of ballet, and I do a bit of dancing round the kitchen with my two-year old but I don't know if that counts," she said on the ITV show. "Thank you for all the support. This is setting me on the way now. The excitement's really beginning. It doesn't feel like it's really happening until people know."

Ian West/PA Wire

Strictly Come Dancing 2017 lineup

Debbie McGee

Pictured above with husband Paul Daniels, who died 7 years ago. She said: "The excitement is overwhelming. I can't stop smiling. It's been the hardest secret I have ever had to keep!"

PA

Strictly Come Dancing 2017 lineup

Jonnie Peacock

Paralympian and Strictly's first ever disabled contestant. "The opportunity to be the first contestant with a disability to take part in Strictly's main show was too good to turn down," he said. "I've got no previous dance history outside of the occasional 'worm' at a mate's party and I know this will be a challenge and a new experience. "I can't wait to see what I can achieve and how far I can push myself."

AP

However, her Geri Halliwell costume and Spice Girls mashup didn’t quite reach the top spot in Blackpool, as singer Alexandra Burke delivered a fast-paced, magic quickstep, which earnt a near-perfect score of 39 and the coveted first place this week.

Radio presenter Gemma Atkinson honoured the beloved city with an American Smooth foxtrot set on the Blackpool express. The gliding, swirling performance earned Gemma and her partner Aljaz Skorjanec their first 10s of the competition, ending up with a total of 38.

Maintaining a fervent Twitter support campaign since the very beginning, Harry Potter author JK Rowling showed her support for comedian Susan Calman with a front row seat this week.

If ever there was any doubt about it, the magic of Strictly really was confirmed in Blackpool tonight.

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