BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Sarah Hadland makes sweet nod before joint Vito Coppola statement

Sarah Hadland made another sweet nod to her acting past after performing her latest routine to a song Strictly Come Dancing fans had been waiting for over the weekend.

The actress and her professional dance partner Vito Coppola returned to the ballroom over the weekend after making it through to week eight of the BBC One dance contest and the pair didn't disappoint as they took to the dance floor on Saturday night (September 9).

Sarah, who is known for playing Stevie in BBC One sitcom Miranda alongside friend Miranda Hart, performed the American Smooth to Proud by Heather Small, a song which her character often sang in the hit comedy show, with the routine boasting "spectacular" lifts.

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They were awarded 33 out of a possible 40 points by the judges, who appeared to have mixed opinions with Craig Revel Horwood criticising Hadland’s hand positions and Shirley Ballas asking her to focus on "neater, smaller details".

Despite this, the judges also had some positives with Craig saying: "The cartwheel, darling, into that lift was spectacular." But it was the judges' tough critique of Sarah and Vito's latest routine that left viewers disappointed as well as their choice of score.

That being said, it was revealed during Sunday night's (November 10) results show that the pair had done enough to impress the public and safely make it through to week nine of Strictly's 20th-anniversary series, which will see the show relocate to Blackpool for the annual special.

Following the news, Sarah took to Instagram with pictures from her and Vito's epic routine and said: "@vitocoppola and I are going to Blackpool !!!! Thank you so much to everyone who voted. We could not have done it without you," before adding: "LOVE OO," in another nod to the much-loved Miranda.

Vito has also since shared a video of the excited and stunned pair thanking their fans for voting for them and seeing them through to the next week of the competition which will see them perform in Blackpool's iconic Tower Ballroom.

Alongside the post, the Italian dancer and reigning Strictly champ wrote: "Thank you Thank you Thank you beautiful people. Honestly we could never be grateful enough for all you support and your love. It’s just amazing to be able to perform in Blackpool and we can guarantee you that we are putting the 200% every single day in order to show how much we appreciate your support.

"If we are here is because of you and as long as you will continue supporting us we will keep dancing. We love you and we are super grateful #teamtiramisu #alwayswithlove Trilly & Vito."

Heather Small herself was among those to show their support, telling the pair after dancing to her song: "Congratulations Sarah & @vitocoppola, we were never in any doubt. Bring on Blackpool!" Meanwhile, former Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati simply said: "Phenomenal."