Strictly Come Dancing contestants jive into Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

Visitors to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard we treated to a sneak preview of Strickly Come Dancing stars first dance ahead of this last weekends opening live televised competition.

Contestants couple Louise Redknapp and dancing professional Kevin Clifton sprinkled a bit of dancing magic onto The National Museum of the Royal Navy’s (NMRN) World War One veteran ship HMS M.33 this weekend as part of their preparation for their first dance on the popular BBC show.

Visitors watched as the couple practised their dance moves onboard the 100 year-old vessel in anticipation of their first dance, the jive, broadcast on Saturday 23rd September.

On hand to give them valuable advice about how to salute Royal Navy-style were crew members from the world’s most famous warship HMS Victory, which lies alongside the ship.

Warrant Officer1 Dickie Henderson welcomed the couple on board M.33. The ship, which saw action in the Gallipoli campaign in 1915, was designed and built in seven weeks.

Dickie, who is Victory’s Executive Officer said: “It’s been really good fun, and any opportunity to show off the Royal Navy on TV is just great.”

Louise Redknapp, formerly a member of girl-band Eternal and married to football pundit Jamie Redknapp, said: “It’s amazing to be able to practise our dance on this incredible ship and how exciting to be able to bring a little of the Strictly sparkle to her.”

Kevin Clifton, four-time finalist on the show, said: “I’ve learnt to salute properly because apparently I wasn’t doing it right before and the crew weren’t impressed!”