Chris Ramsey's delight at reaching Blackpool Week on Strictly Come Dancing South Shields comedian takes to the ballroom floor

Chris Ramsey takes a selfie with a fan as he arrives at Blackpool Tower Ballroom ahead of the Blackpool Strictly Come Dancing show this weekend. Phot by Dave Nelson/PA Wire.

The South Shields comedian and Karen Hauer will perform a salsa to Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars on the show, which will go out on BBC One live today, Saturday, November 16.

It will be beamed onto the big screen at the Customs House as the venue gets behind his place in the programme.

He says he is delighted to have reached Blackpool, where the show will be broadcast from the Tower Ballroom, after achieving a score of just 13 with his opening dance.

He is now among only three male celebrities left on the show, something he never imagined.

The former Harton Academy student said: "I didn't think we'd get here.

“We got 13 in the first week. We were not expecting to be here.

“I'm buzzing - the best way I can describe the feeling. It's not like I aimed for it, and I'm proud I achieved it.

"It's like I've randomly walked into a shop and I'm the millionth customer, and I've been given a prize."

Despite progressing this far in the competition and having good reason to celebrate, the star has not got carried away in post-dance revelry.

"There have been no hangovers.

“I had a little celebration... the week before the Halloween dance. I had a few drinks that night," he said.

"Then we had to do the Halloween group rehearsal the next day, and I remember thinking 'I'm so glad I didn't go crazy'.

"I'm foetal position. As I've got older I don't like hangovers at all."

He has admitted he censors his own jokes on the Strictly Come Dancing group chat.

The dad exchanges messages with current couples and those voted off the show, and revealed he has to be "careful" about his gags.

He said he is overjoyed to have made it to Blackpool Week on Strictly, and likened it to winning a prize for being the "millionth customer" in a shop.

However, despite his excitement at making it this far, he has not gone overboard on the celebrations and has avoided hangovers.

He said of the couples' WhatsApp group: "The amount I write and then delete before I send on that chat is unbelievable.

"You just think, it's different. I'm careful. I'll write a joke and then I'll read it and go 'I'm not going to send it, they might not get that'.

"I'm just quite positive and upbeat on the group."

Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One today at 7.05pm.