Strictly Come Dancing stars look weather beaten as they arrive at the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom

STRICTLY Come Dancing contestants have arrived in Blackpool as part of this weekend’s prestigious pilgrimage.

The weather may have been horrible, but the rain certainly didn’t wash away the smiles from the contestants and dancers’ faces as they greeted photographers and fans outside the Blackpool Tower Ballroom.

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Ed Balls looked delighted as he arrived with partner Katya Jones and have the thumbs up to cameras before he started rehearsals.

While Louise Redknapp managed to still look glamourous yet windswept as she made her way along the street with partner Kevin Clifton who had to clutch onto his hat against the hale.

The team should prepare for a heavy weekend seeing that both Greg Rutherford and Ore Oduba are celebrating their 30th birthdays and don’t intend to let it pass quietly.

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Ore even hinted they would be getting the drinks out on the bus up for this weekend’s show.

He said: “Greg and I realised in the first few weeks that our birthday would fall in the week leading up to Blackpool.

“It’s so ridiculous to me that I’m sharing a birthday with an Olympian, on the bus to Blackpool to dance in Strictly at the weekend. That sentence would never make sense at any other time of my life.

“It’s a memory we will frame forever. We’ll all be travelling to Blackpool so expect it to be a bit of a party bus.”

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An insider said the stars have been aiming to get to Blackpool for weeks and really want to let down their hair after the show.

They added: “The boys’ birthdays are the perfect excuse and I know everyone, including the judges, is desperate to have a few drinks out on the town.”

But Greg, who was in a bottom two dance-off last week with DAISY LOWE, was a bit more restrained.

The long-jumper, who tweeted a picture while enjoying a cheeky cider with dance partner Natalie Lowe on Tuesday night had publicly said he would wait until after Saturday’s show to celebrate.

He added: “Everyone’s saying Blackpool is a big night after the show. I’m so excited.”

I hope any early partying doesn’t end up with them in the bottom two.