Is this the date 'Strictly Come Dancing' will finally return to Blackpool?

It's been three long years since Strictly Come Dancing last made its annual pilgrimage to Blackpool's Tower Ballroom - but now it appears that the BBC One show could be back up North this November for the first time since 2019.

Blackpool week is beloved by fans and contestants alike, with its mid-series episode often named as the week that many of the celebrities are aiming to make it to.

Read more: How to get tickets for Strictly Come Dancing 2022

However, the coronavirus pandemic has put a stop to Strictly leaving its usual home at Hertfordshire's Elstree Studios to go on location to the Tower Ballroom for the past two series, with the 2020 and 2021 casts spending their entire run in the same studio.

With the Strictly ticket ballot currently open on the BBC's shows and tours website, fans can register for the chance to be in the studio watching their favourite show being broadcast live and a range of Saturday filming dates are listed up until the end of November.

But with one Saturday - 19 November - missing from the calendar, which lists every available weekend's filming location as Elstree, it has fuelled rumours that the show could finally be visiting Blackpool again.

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Considered the home of ballroom dancing, the vast Tower Ballroom is a high point for many of the couples taking part to get the chance to dance in and is also a popular choice with fans keen to see the episode in person.

Listed dates also show that the 20th series of the contest is due to air its first live show on Saturday, 24 September.

Those hoping to get tickets to see Strictly being filmed will need to register at the BBC shows and tours site by 10pm on Sunday, 28 August and choose the dates they would like to enter the ballot for.

Successful applicants will only receive a maximum of one pair of tickets for one date, no matter how many dates they have applied for.

Dates currently available run from 24 September to 26 November - with the exception of 19 November - and the December dates are still to be released.

A BBC spokesperson said that they would not be commenting on whether Strictly will be visiting Blackpool in November.

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