AN avid Alcombe fan of Strictly Come Dancing has caught the judges’ eye – and is floating off to be part of the audience at the show’s Blackpool Tower Ballroom.

Rhonda Sexton, 61, of Chestnut Way, entered the Do The Strictly video competition, filmed by daughter Natalia, 36, as she danced with her ironing board in a glittering ballgown that had been in her wardrobe but never used.

And her novel dance won her two tickets to see tomorrow’s show – one of only five winners from around the UK.

“I didn’t dream I would win. I was just trying any way I could to get tickets because they’re like gold dust,” said Rhonda.

“I was very excited when I heard – I just screamed!”

Now she and Natalia are off to Blackpool to view the Strictly episode, with all hotel and travel expenses paid – and her routine also featured on the BBC2 Strictly sister show It Takes Two.

Rhonda, who used to do ballroom and Latin dancing from aged seven until she was 18 but gave up once she married and had children, crafted her dance with the aim of doing something different.

“I had a lovely ballgown with a glittering bodice from long ago that I’ve never used, and my daughter suggested it, to try and reflect the sparkly Strictly mood,” said Rhonda, who still enjoys dancing a bit of rock ‘n’ roll with husband Billy.

Her video dance starts with her in an apron, doing the ironing – then the apron comes off, and she goes on to partner up with her ironing board in a novel routine, ending with her and a picture of her favourite professional male dancer from Strictly – Kevin Clifton.

The competition video routine, called The Strictly and set to the show’s theme tune, had to feature eight key moves from an online BBC tutorial – samba point, Charleston, shimmy, samba bounce, the Russell Grant, flirt with Anton, the Judy Murray, and one of the ‘big finish’ options (Tess, Claudia or Brucie).

Photo: Paul Scullion