I'd forgotten quite how much bigger the Tower Ballroom is.

I know that in series three, the night of the final of Strictly was the same night as the Christmas Tree Ball in Blackpool (I was there so I missed the final - I haven't just memorised the dates!) which is held in the Tower complex - the Ballroom included. I assumed at the time that scheduling hadn't allowed them to use the Ballroom that year but later found out there were other reasons as well, those mentioned above.

Looks like I'm in the minority but I didn't like the look of the series set in Blackpool.

It was very dark and gloomy.

I much prefer the set they use now.

I read somewhere that because of the refurbishments made to the promanade and the area around the Tower the BBC were no longer able to get their transmission artics close enough to the Tower because of the presence of the "street furniture."

It wasn't an entire series, just one show throughout the run and then the final.

And don't you be dissing my hometown! I do love the Tower Ballroom but I know what you mean about it being dark - it's not a studio so it's not designed to look as good on television. Having said that, the lighting this year so far has been very good - so I'm hoping this will translate well into the Blackpool week.

(Also - hello! )

I'm glad somebody else has noticed the improved lighting this year

I love the image projections on the dance floor.

Alright?

Oh I didn't realise only a couple of shows from series 2 were shot there.

I can cope with that!

Not the final though - please!

No offense to your hometown

Well, I think there's only one week this year from Blackpool. Craig's desperate to stay that long because he's from 'round that area too... can he last another three weeks?!

I shudder to think.

Laila has mentioned on ITT her aim is to stay in the comp to get to Blackpool

The "Stars" probably don't want to leave London to go to the "wilderness up North"

I imagine Craig and Zoe are petrified of the north.

Rossy want! Bet it's waaaay too late to get tickets

By the way Radio Lancashire are running a few promo events to coincide with the Blackpool SCD show. Link below:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/lancashi...00/8310177.stm

Seeing as one of the free dance events is literally at the bottom of my road, I'm going to go to one of them in my lunch hour and hopefully win one of the tickets to the show.

So glad the show is coming 'home' to Blackpool - it's being made a really big event around here. Hopefully the events will be popular and will inspire the producers to make it (at least) a yearly event.