Strictly Come Dancing viewers have been left divided over Will Mellor’s Madchester-inspired Couple’s Choice routine.
The Stockport-born actor – who is best known for his role on the BBC sitcom Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, as well as in Hollyoaks, Line of Duty, No Offence, and Broadchurch, and as Harvey Gaskell on Manchester-based ITV soap Coronation Street – and his dance partner Nancy Xu had earned themselves top spot on the leaderboard for past two weeks in a row.
But after yesterday’s semi final, they unfortunately found themselves in last place.
Many fans are saying a big part of the pair’s placing on the bottom of the leaderboard last night had to do with their Couple’s Choice routine – which was inspired by the legendary Madchester music scene.
With all competing couples performing two dances last night in the fight to make it to next week’s grand final, Mellor and Xu initially took to the floor to perform a dramatic Paso Doble, but their scores added up to be the lowest of the first round after the judges had a fair few critiques of the routine.
ADVERTISEMENT
It was then the pair’s turn to perform their Couple’s Choice routine – which was added to the list of dances on Strictly a couple of years back, and gives the contestants one opportunity to choose any dance style to perform, with the routines tending to have a theme and choreography inspired by something personal or meaningful to them.
Couple’s Choice routines are often some of the highest-scoring dances of the series, but this wasn’t exactly the case for Will Mellor.
ADVERTISEMENT
Will explained in the VT before the performance that he was inspired by the city of Manchester and the legendary Madchester music scene.
With a backdrop of a Metrolink tram stop, and the couple aptly dressed in bucket hats, Will’s Couple’s Choice routine combined his love for his hometown with his passion for 90s music, and was performed to a medley of Stone Roses and Happy Mondays songs.
Fools Gold and Step On were just two of the iconic songs the actor performed to.
ADVERTISEMENT
Going on to receive a score of 38, the routine went down better with the judges than their earlier Paso Doble – with Anton du Beke declaring that Will “smashed the place up,” Shirley Ballas calling it a “daddy cool dance”, and Craig Revel Horwood saying it ended up going “very well” despite being initially nervous about it.
Not only that, but Happy Mondays’ maraca-shaking hype man Bez was even in the audience on the night, and seemed pretty chuffed with the routine when the TV cameras panned over to him.
Will Mellor doing a Madchester routine in front of Bez is the Strictly content I never knew I wanted
Just as I was starting to find Will Mellor annoying he’s done a Manc Lad medley by a tram stop and a Northern Quarter mural and won me over again #twistingmymelon#Strictly
You can now have a private sleepover amongst all the history inside Manchester Museum
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Museum is now offering one lucky family the chance to have a sleepover with Stan the Tyrannosaurus rex.
For the first time in Manchester Museum’s history, one lucky family will be given the chance to experience an incredible night at the museum.
This unique opportunity is being offered as part of a prize draw, allowing visitors to find out what happens once the sun goes down inside the Fossils and Dinosaurs gallery – in the company of Stan, the famous Tyrannosaurus rex, of course.
The Fossils and Dinosaurs gallery is one of the most iconic spaces within Manchester Museum.
Having opened to the public all the way back in 1888, it’s part of the museum’s original building designed by celebrated Alfred Waterhouse, who also designed Manchester Town Hall and London’s Natural History Museum.
Not only will the lucky winning family enjoy an overnight stay in the gallery, but they’ll also be treated to a guided torchlight tour of the galleries after the Museum has closed, as well as other fun activities and a film screening too before bed.
You can now have a private sleepover inside Manchester Museum / Credit: The Manc Group
“We can’t be completely sure what happens when the sun goes down in our Fossils and Dinosaurs gallery, because nobody has ever spent the night in there before, but we can only imagine the kind of fun that can be had with Stan the T. rex and his friends,” said Dean Whiteside, Head of Commercial and Operations at Manchester Museum.
“This is a chance to be a part of museum history and enjoy the kind of once-in-a-lifetime experience you can’t usually buy.
“At the same time, Manchester Museum is a charity so, by getting behind this initiative, you’ll be helping to support vital work that impacts the lives of people across Greater Manchester and beyond.”
Fancy it then? You can enter the prize draw by buying a ticket for £5 from the Manchester Museum Shop, with each ticket counting as one entry and the winner set to be chosen at random from all valid entries.
The prize draw is now open and closes on Monday 28 September 2026.
Featured Image – Supplied
Trending
A Twilight rave is coming to Manchester with DJs blasting 2000s indie and emo anthems
Emily Sergeant
A Twilight rave is coming to Manchester this spooky season.
It’s been nearly 20 years since the release of the titular first film in the Twilight Saga, based on author Stephanie Meyer’s bestselling book series of the same name, but despite two decades having passed, the films remain as beloved as ever.
Twilight went on to become a global phenomenon when it first hit cinemas back in November 2008, not just with its target audience of teens and young adults, but with people of all ages – making stars out of its lead actors Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in the process, and generating millions at the box office.
With the impact it had on the culture at the time, it’s no wonder Twilight remained among fans’ favourites all these years later.
And this success is why events company Throwback Events is hosting a series of Twilight Raves across the UK and Europe this autumn, making a stop off here in Manchester in late November with tickets now on sale.
The event description reads: “Bella, where the hell you been loca? Join us as we celebrate Twilight at the club, where every day is Hoa Hoa Hoa season.
“Step into the shadows and relive the magic, mystery, and eternal romance of Twilight. Get ready for a night of anthems, nostalgia, and glittering darkness as we transform the dancefloor into Forks’ most iconic vampire coven.”
DJs will be spinning Twilight soundtracks on the night, alongside dark pop, emo, indie, and 2000s bangers, as well as playing fan edits from the films on big screens.
Oh, and to make it all the better, dressing up as vampires and werewolves is ‘highly encouraged’.
Fancy it then? The Twilight Rave is coming to the Deaf Institute in Manchester on Saturday 21 November, and tickets will set you back upwards of £7 each.
Emily Sergeant -
12th December 2022 
