The Blackpool Tower Ballroom, with its gilded mirrors and sprung maple floor that has echoed with foxtrots and flings since 1894, is gearing up for its annual invasion by the glitterati of Strictly Come Dancing on November 22, 2025. But it’s the Sunday results show on November 23 that has sent the nation’s sequin-loving hearts into overdrive. In a tease straight from the BBC’s playbook of masterful mischief, the corporation has dropped a bombshell: a “group of former Strictly celebrities” will storm the floor once more, dusting off “iconic routines” with the show’s pros. As Lewis Capaldi croons in the wings, two couples face the dance-off abyss—who’s heading home from the Tower? The speculation is fiercer than a paso doble, and fans are already plotting their dream reunions.
The announcement landed like a perfectly timed lift in a rumba: subtle, then seismic. Buried in the BBC’s online listings for Week 9’s results extravaganza, the blurb reads: “It’s back to Blackpool for the results as our couples find out if they’ve done enough to return next week. A group of former Strictly celebrities return to the dance floor to revisit some iconic routines with our professionals, and Lewis Capaldi performs. Two couples must dance again for their place in the competition. Who’s Strictly adventure will end at the Blackpool Tower?” No names. No spoilers. Just enough sparkle to ignite the fandom’s fire. With the live show tickets—£35–£150, snapped up in hours—now collector’s items, the Tower’s art deco dome is primed for a nostalgia-fueled frenzy.
Blackpool Week is Strictly‘s crown jewel: the pros in full glam, the celebs channeling seaside swagger, the crowd of 3,500 roaring like the Irish Sea in storm. Past specials birthed legends—2023’s Layton Williams’ fiery samba, 2022’s Molly Rainford’s gravity-defying jive. This year, with the halfway mark looming (nine celebs left, including frontrunners like Dr Punam Krishan and her pro Jowita Przystal), the returnees promise a victory lap laced with emotion. “It’s the ultimate full-circle,” gushed a BBC insider to Radio Times. “These routines aren’t just dances—they’re time machines. Expect tears, triumphs, and maybe a glitterball ghost or two.”
Fan Fever: Wishlists, Whispers, and Wild Guesses
The internet, ever the armchair choreographer, erupted within minutes of the listing drop on November 8. #StrictlyBlackpoolReturns hit X’s top trends, amassing 2.5 million posts by midnight—outpacing even the weekend’s results row. TikToks dissected potential lineups: quick-cuts of past winners shimmying back, overlaid with “Over My Shoulder” by UB40 for that ironic twist. Instagram Reels? Montages of fan-casts, 10 million views in 24 hours. The speculation? A glittering guessing game.
Top of the dream ballot: Joe Sugg and Dianne Buswell. The 2018 finalists—whose quickstep to ABBA’s “Super Trouper” scored 39 points and a final berth—now parents-to-be (baby boy due January 2026). “What a full-circle moment for Dianne, Joe, and their baby boy,” tweeted @StrictlyFanatic, her post racking 50K likes. “Pregnant Dianne waltzing that quickstep? Iconic overload!” Echoed @GlitterballGuru: “Joe and Dianne back—tower’s never seen a bump that fabulous.” With Dianne on maternity leave from pros (announced September 2025), a guest spot feels poetic—revisiting their semi-final samba or that emotional showdance to “Hallelujah.”
The wishlist sprawls like a cha-cha chain: Harry Judd (2015 runner-up, McFly drummer) and his foxtrot finesse; Jay McGuinness (2015 champ) and his Viennese whirl; Kimberley Walsh (2012 finalist) for her jive jolt; Hamza Yassin (2022 winner) and his Highland fling. “Harry and Jay—drum ‘n’ bass meets ballroom bliss!” posted @McFlyMania, sparking 20K replies. Throwbacks beckon: Bill Bailey’s (2020) comedic Charleston, Rose Ayling-Ellis’s (2021) silent paso (deaf dancer’s historic win), Gemma Atkinson’s (2007) fiery jive. Even series one victor Jill Halfpenny whispers in the winds: “Her 2004 waltz—timeless tears.”
The frenzy? “Wildly exciting,” as @TowerTango put it, her thread dissecting “must-revisit” routines hitting 100K views. Forums buzz: Reddit’s r/StrictlyUK thread “Blackpool Ghosts: Who Haunts the Floor?”—15K upvotes, theories from Layton Williams’ drag samba to Ellie Leach’s (2023 champ) contemporary cry. “Gemma and Ian— that 2007 jive was fire!” one user raved. Another: “Rose and Giovanni’s paso—goosebumps eternal.” The BBC’s coy “further details soon” only fanned flames—a spokesperson to Entertainment Daily: “Expect magic. And maybe a surprise or seven.”
Blackpool’s Ballad: From Seaside Spectacle to Emotional Epicenter
Blackpool isn’t just a week—it’s the week. The Tower Ballroom, with its art deco dazzle and 1920s ghosts (once Fred Astaire’s haunt), amps the stakes: pros in sequins that could blind biplanes, celebs channeling coastal cool (think 2024’s Nick Knowles’ seaside quickstep). Week 9’s live show (November 22) promises Latin heat and ballroom beauty; Sunday’s results (November 23) add Capaldi’s brooding balladry (“Bruises,” acoustic for the fallen). With nine couples left—Dr. Punam and Jowita leading polls, DIY SOS’s Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk scraping saves—the returnees could tip the scales. A dance-off duel? Two couples reprising for survival, under the Tower’s watchful eye.
History hums here: 2023’s Blackpool birthed Annabel Croft’s tearful tango; 2022’s Molly’s jive joy. This year’s twist? Nostalgia as narrative. “It’s healing,” a production source spilled to The Mirror. “Post-scandals, post-Tess/Claudia, these reunions remind us: Strictly‘s family.” With pros like Vito Coppola (current frontrunner with Sarah Hadland) eyeing the glitterball, ex-celeb cameos add sparkle—and stakes.
The Tower’s Tango: Why This Twist Twirls Hearts
Fans aren’t just speculating—they’re summoning. Petitions for Joe/Dianne: 10K signatures. Mock-ups of Harry Judd’s foxtrot redux: 500K TikTok likes. “Blackpool’s always emotional,” sighed @StrictlySoul, “but this? Full sob-fest.” Amid 2025’s turbulence—pro exits (Graziano di Prima’s 2024 ban fallout), celeb swaps (Amber Davies for injured Dani Dyer)—the return feels restorative. “From scandals to sequins,” tweeted @BallroomBliss, “these icons remind us why we tune in: joy, jives, and journeys.”
As November 22 nears—tickets reselling at £500 premium—the Tower looms like a sequined sentinel. Who’ll revisit what? Joe’s quickstep bump? Rose’s silent paso? The BBC’s silence is golden—but the fandom’s roar? Deafening. One thing’s certain: Blackpool won’t just dance. It’ll remember. And in that whirl of waltzes and whoops, Strictly‘s heart beats on—glitter, grit, and all.
