Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman mirrored each other with chic wool coats as they arrived at the Blackpool Tower ahead the Strictly special on Saturday night.
Tess, 54, rocked a cream coat and wore a black Adidas zip sweater as she headed to hair and make-up for the show.
The presenter flashed a huge smile as she waved to the camera while making her way to the building.
Tess’s co-star Claudia, 51, sported her signature orange tan as she bundled up in a camel coat and grey fingerless gloves.
Pair: Tess Daly, 54, and Claudia Winkleman mirrored each other in a chic look as they arrived at the Blackpool Tower ahead of a new Strictly Come Dancing episode on Saturday night
Strictly judge Anton Du Beke looked excited as he was also seen arriving at the studios ahead of the show, which is a pivotal moment for the stars competing in this year’s series.
The ballroom pro, 57, looked suave in a navy jacket and dove trousers, while cheering to the camera.
Earlier in the day, Nikita Kuzmin was also seen in Blackpool stepped out with his new flame Lauren Jaine during a cosy outing.
As the Strictly stars prepare for their performance at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom on Saturday, it seems there is a Strictly curse the contestants are hoping to avoid.
Unlike the infamous curse which sees couples falling for each other, this new curse involves the leaderboard on the iconic night of the show.
Based on past results, it is unlikely that whoever is top of the leaderboard at Blackpool will go on to lift the glitterball trophy in the show’s final.
In 19 years, only two dancers in the history of Strictly Come Dancing have gone on to win the show after coming out top on the night.
They are Jill Halfpenny in 2004, and Kelvin Fletcher in 2019.
Classy: The model-turned-presenter rocked a cream coat and wore a black Adidas zip sweater
Glowing: Tess flashed a huge smile as she waved to the camera while making her way to the building
Merry: Strictly judge Anton Du Beke looked excited as he was also seen arriving at the studios ahead of the show
Making an entrance: The ballroom pro, 57, looked suave in a navy jacket and dove trousers, while cheering to the camera
Lovebirds: Nadiya Bychkova and Kai Widdrington arrived hand-in-hand
Keep dancing! Giovanni Pernice, who is no longer competing after his dance partner Amanda Abbington withdrew from the show, gave a thumbs up as he passed excited fans
Caffeine kick: Nadiya fuelled up on a Starbucks coffee as she headed to Blackpool Tower
Boost: Nikita Kuzmin also had a coffee in hand and a bronzed tan as he arrived
Keeping warm: Nancy Xu, who was the first out in the competition with her partner Les Dennis, wrapped up warm in a yellow beanie and puffer jacket
As the competition heats up, bookies William Hill have predicted Layton William’s will secure the first perfect 40 on Saturday night, with Craig Revel Horwood finally getting out his ’10’ paddle.
A spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps said: ‘Despite the excitement surrounding Layton’s potential leaderboard-topping performance, it’s essential to note that only two out of the 19 top scorers in the Blackpool specials have gone on to claim the ultimate victory in the series.
‘Currently positioned as the favourite to dazzle this weekend, the ‘Blackpool Curse’ lingers as an unwanted dance partner for Layton as the business end of the show approaches.
‘Indeed, our outright winner markets seems to reflect that sentiment, with Ellie Leach our 1/4 favourite to win series 21 of the much-loved BBC show and Layton a mere 8/1 to claim the ultimate prize.’
It seems the best place to finish on the Blackpool leaderboard would be third or fourth.
Strictly champions TV presenter Chris Hollins (2009), actress Kara Tointon (2010) and Abbey Clancy (2013) all finished third in the famous ballroom.
Meanwhile The Wanted singer Jay McGuiness, who lifted the trophy in 2015, and Scots actor Joe McFadden, who won two years later, only managed secured fourth place on the night.
Last year’s winner, TV wildlife expert Hamza Yassin, came runner-up to singer Fleur East, further showing that Blackpool isn’t the be all and end all.
Yet there have even been stars who topped the scoreboard and didn’t even make it to the final.
The Strictly curse: As Blackpool approaches there is another curse the contestants are keen to avoid (pictured Layton Williams and Nikita Kumzin)
Unlucky: Unlike the infamous Strictly curse which sees couple’s falling for each other or breaking each other’s hearts, this new curse involves the leaderboard on the iconic night of the show (pictured Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola)
40: As the competition heats up, bookies William Hill have predicted Layton William’s will secure the first perfect 40 on Saturday night
History: In 19 years only two dancers in the history of Strictly have gone on to win the show after coming out top on the night, Kelvin Fletcher and Jill Halfpenny
Throwback: Actress Jill Halfpenny won the show back in 2004 with partner Darren Bennett
Bad luck: And topping the leaderboard at Blackpool doesn’t even mean your place is secure in the final as Pixie Lott found out in 2014
Cursed: In 2009 Hollyoaks actress Ali Bastian got knocked out in the semi-finals, despite coming top in Blackpool (pictured with her partner Brian Fortuna)
In 2009 Hollyoaks actress Ali Bastian got knocked out in the semi-finals, despite coming top in Blackpool, and singer Pixie Lott was eliminated in the quarter finals in 2014 after a successful Blackpool show.
Karim Zeroual and his partner Amy Dowden topped the Blackpool leaderboard in 2019, but lost out in the final to Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse.
Ashley Roberts and Pasha Kovalev and Alexandra Burke and Gorka Marquez were also Blackpool champs, but failed to take home the Glitterball.
