Last updated at 20:44, Thursday, 24 May 2012

The atmosphere was electric at Workington’s St Joseph’s School on Saturday for a performance by Strictly Come Dancing stars Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova.

TAKE YOUR PARTNER: St Joseph’s School senior site manager Gordon Shilton and head of business Sybil Worsley are taken for a quick spin by dancers Lilia Kopylova, left, and Darren Bennett

The married couple, who took part in six series of the BBC One show, made a flying visit to Workington to support Paint the Town Red.

Darren said: “It is a great pleasure for Lilia and I to be here.

“It is absolutely fantastic for a town of this size all coming together for one day and for a great cause.

“We are big supporters of Bluebell Children’s Hospice in Sheffield and we have been told all about Hospice at Home West Cumbria.”

The pair were introduced by compere Howard Nicholson and began with a cha cha cha, followed by a jive and finishing with an American smooth – to the delight of the crowd.

They led the audience in a salsa lesson and answered questions from fans.

Lilia said: “In these events it is about the audience, and if they take part and embrace the energy it is great.”

Their warm, friendly personalities shone through and they had the crowd laughing, clapping and cheering throughout, especially when Russian-born Lilia was baffled by the word frock.

Emma O’Neill, 28, of Albert Street, said: “They are really funny and it is a lot more intimate than I have seen them in other places.”

Annette Younghusband-Mawson, 38, of Thorncroft Gardens, said: “It is nice that they have come to support the town and to get to see them up close.”

Peter Brown, of Rose Lane Cockermouth, said: “It is absolutely brilliant to see them in Workington because we don’t see people like that up here often.”

First published at 19:21, Thursday, 24 May 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk