Legendary pop act confirmed as special guests for Strictly’s Blackpool Week as Tasha Ghouri reveals her lucky charm

THE PET Shop Boys have been confirmed as the special guests for Strictly’s Blackpool Week, with Tasha Ghouri revealing she’s packing a lucky charm for the occasion.

The BBC competition — usually shot at Elstree Studios, Herts — films one episode at the seaside town’s famous dance hall every year.

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Fans can look forward not only to stunning routines from the celebrity cast and their professional partners but also to an electrifying performance from the legendary pop act.

The iconic duo, comprised of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe and famed for their hits like West End Girls, It’s a Sin, and Go West, will light up the ballroom with their signature synth-pop sound.

Saturday night’s show will kick off with the boys performing a medley of their greatest hits, joined by the Strictly professional dancers for a dazzling opening number.

Then, on Sunday night’s Results Show, they’ll treat viewers to a live performance of their brand-new single All The Young Dudes.

With over 100 million records sold worldwide, the Pet Shop Boys remain one of the UK’s most celebrated music acts, promising a thrilling spectacle that will elevate Blackpool Week to new heights.

Adding to the excitement, Tasha Ghouri has shared that she’s bringing along her beloved soft toy, Flat Ted, as her personal good luck charm.

She said: “I’d take my soft toy Flat Ted as my good luck charm because, honestly, I can’t go anywhere without him.

“He has to be there with me – he’s my good luck charm.”

Despite Tasha’s popularity with the judges, last week’s episode sparked a social media storm, with viewers accusing the panel of “overmarking” her and Aljaž Škorjanec.

They took to social media as they claimed the performance was ‘flat’ and they even said the band ‘butchered’ the song.

The week before the infamous Blackpool Tower Ballroom episode, the pair performed the Quickstep.

All the judges apart from Craig Revel Horwood seemed to have rave reviews for the first dance of the night.

Both Motsi Mabuse and head judge Shirley Ballas gave the highest score of ten points as she received an overall score of 37.

However, it seems viewers were in complete disagreement as they took to X, formerly known as Twitter, in their droves.

One fan said: “Tasha & Aljaz didn’t deserve 10s I’m sorry.

A second raged: “I liked Tasha’s dance but I don’t think it was 10 worthy.

“Tasha and Aljaz was Overmarked. I agreed with Craig on this one.”, commented a third.

While a fourth noted: “As usual Tasha was good, yawn. Sorry I just find her really dull to watch, there’s been zero journey and I feel like the judges are favouring her massively.”

And a fifth added: “Shirley going in on that when Tasha was bland as anything and she gave a 10. F****** get this woman off that judging panel already. CHRIST.”

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