On Saturday evening, BBC audiences were whisked back to the sparkle and excitement of the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom, but this time the show transported everyone to the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom. Last weekend's suspense had Wynne Evans and Shayne Ward facing off in the feared dance-off, each striving to outperform the other to remain in the show.
Ultimately, it was Shayne who had to say goodbye, with head judge Shirley Ballas making the tough call as the panel was split on the decision. While it was a rollercoaster ride for some, Tasha Ghouri and JB Gill dazzled the judges with their stellar routines, both scoring an almost flawless 37, placing them tied atop the leaderboard.
Yet, as the remaining contestants hit the Blackpool dance stage ready for another round of performances, scores, and changing leaderboard spots, it was actually the opening act that captured everyone's attention. The professional dancers shimmied onto the floor in eye-catching silver metallic costumes, delighting viewers as they commenced the night with a showstopping musical piece rather than diving directly into the celeb performances.
And for an extra sprinkle of Blackpool magic, The Pet Shop Boys delivered a live medley of their biggest hits, looking every bit in sync with the glittery pros. Social media lit up instantly, with fans rushing to Twitter to express their amazement at the performance. One user exclaimed: "Pet Shop Bots were incredible!" Meanwhile, another posted: "The legendary #Petshopboys Pet Shop Boys icons open @bbcstrictly at Blackpool. Fantastic."
Strictly fans gushed over the opening of tonight's show as the Pet Shop Boys dazzled with their iconic tunes. "Loved the start of tonight's #Strictly. The Pet Shop Boys have a great back catalogue."
One viewer was ecstatic, sharing, "Wow! Best opening yet and finally great musical guests. Love The Pet Shop Boys! Wish they could have the show at Blackpool every week too. My fav week," while another posted, "It doesn't get much better than The Pet Shop Boys #PetShopBoys opening the very special week of Blackpool Tower Ballroom on Strictly."
More praise came flooding in: "PET SHOP BOYS on Strictly best opening of the show ever.! ! That enjoyable short performance brought back so many and amazing memories."
Post-performance, as confetti rained down, the Strictly stars took to the dancefloor, basking in the audience's thunderous applause. Claudia Winkleman was quick to express her gratitude toward The Pet Shop Boys and the choreography team for an unforgettable start. And there's more to come from the legendary duo as they will return for Sunday night's result show to perform their new single 'All The Young Dudes.
Kicking off Blackpool Week with a sparkle were Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell, who performed an American Smooth to Paul Anka's 'Jump,' as Dianne burst into tears after Anton handed over 10 points.
