Lynda Bellingham knows better than most how dreadful and devastating Alzheimer’s can be.

She lost her adopted mum to the disease and now her biological mother is also suffering from it.

You’d have thought that after nearly a year playing Chris in Calendar Girls at Chichester, on tour and in the West End, that actress Lynda Bellingham would have had her fill of the character for the time being.

Yet here she is, back on the road, finding new aspects to Chris and apparently loving every moment of it.

Strictly Come Dancing's Darren Bennett has an affectionate new name for her in doors - meet the DWAG.

That's a Dancer's Wife and Girlfriend.

Top Frank Sinatra tribute artist Stephen Triffitt will be in the lead role of the new musical ‘Ol’ Blue Eyes and Friends – Live on TV’ when the world premiere is staged at the Alhambra.

It’s also been announced that ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ past winner Darren Bennett will play the part of the legendary Gene Kelly when the show makes its debut in Dunfermline.

Sheffield dance favourites Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova have been snubbed by Strictly Come Dancing bosses - who have axed them from competing with celebrities in the main section of the show.

Instead the couple - who are performing tonight in the second of two appearances at Sheffield City Hall in their hit Latin Fever show - would just be members of a dance troupe performing more 'spectacular' numbers.

Strictly Come Dancing babe Lilia Kopylova has been told to Foxtrot Oscar as part of a clearout of professional dance partners on the hit BBC show.

And in a double-blow Darren Bennett, the hubby of Lilia, has also been told that he won't be dancing with the celebs this year.

With rumours rife about the BBC giving the beloved Strictly Come Dancing a shake-up, there was always the worry that some of the professional dancers were going to be waltzing off the show.

But twinkle-toed man and wife Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova – dance mentors on the hit TV series – are taking the speculation in their stride.

Lynda Bellingham is to return to screens as the Oxo mum more than a decade after the adverts were dropped.

The 61-year-old actress, who appeared in more than 40 adverts, was axed in 1999 when her Oxo family campaign came to an end.

Lynda Bellingham attempts to keep her fellow Loose Women in control when they're drinking.

The 'Strictly Come Dancing' star disapproves of the other ladies consuming so much alcohol on their nights out, and often warns them of its dangers.

Strictly Come Dancing's flimsy costumes are inappropriate for ladies of a certain age, according to contestant Lynda Bellingham.

The 61-year-old, who was voted out of the BBC show in week four, said she felt uncomfortable in the revealing dresses as she competed against women in their 20s.

Strictly star and Loose Woman Lynda Bellingham on who she wants to win, her new lease of life and why she’s rooting for the over-50s..

Life begins at 60 – just ask Loose Woman regular and Strictly Come Dancing star Lynda Bellingham.

On Saturday 10th October, Actress and TV presenter Lynda Bellingham became the fourth celebrity to be voted off the seventh series of BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing.

In week four of the competition, all 13 of the remaining celebrity contestants and their professional dance partners took to the floor to dance either a foxtrot or a salsa.

After Saturday's performance, the combination of the judges' scores and viewer votes left Lynda Bellingham and her professional partner Darren Bennett in the bottom two and facing the dance off with Craig Kelly and his professional partner Flavia Cacace. Lynda and Darren then performed their foxtrot to Neil Sedaka’s ‘Calendar Girl’ and Craig and Flavia their foxtrot to Dan Hill’s ‘Sometimes When We Touch’ for a second time for the judges' deciding vote.

The Judges' Comments

Making their decision on who to save the judges said:

Craig Revel Horwood: “Well this is a tough one actually because of course the male celebrity has to lead and the female celebrity must follow, and in this situation it’s very difficult but I’m going for the most confident couple on the dancefloor tonight and that was Lynda and Darren.”

Alesha Dixon: “I think both couples came out and did themselves really proud, but the couple who I felt matched the brief better is Lynda and Darren.”

Bruno Tonioli: “Well this is very, very hard because actually Craig said it, the man has to lead in this, the woman has to follow. For me I will have to go with Craig and Flavia.”

With two votes in Lynda and Darren’s favour and one vote in Craig and Flavia’s favour, that left Head Judge Len Goodman to cast his deciding vote. He said: “It was a very, very difficult decision to make because I thought they both came out and upped their game, however I have to pick one and I’m going for Craig and Flavia.”

Asked about her elimination, Lynda Bellingham laughingly said: “It was having all those affairs with you (Bruce) at lunchtime that let me down!”. When asked what she would miss most about Strictly she replied “Everybody, and Darren’s been absolutely fantastic. Brilliant. Good luck and Craig, they got the best man on the night.”

Saturday night's show also saw Dionne Bromfield perform her forthcoming single “Mama Said”, with her godmother Amy Winehouse on backing vocals. Viewers were also treated to a stunning tap dance choreographed by Ryan Francois, performed by Dougie Mills and Mattias Lundmark and accompanied by Strictly’s professional dancers.

Next week, the remaining 12 couples in the competition will perform either a Jive or a Viennese Waltz.

Lynda Bellingham is relieved to have been axed from Strictly Come Dancing.

The Loose Women presenter and her partner Darren Bennett lost out in the dance-off to 'Coronation Street' star Craig Kelly and Flavia Cacace on Saturday; but admits she has no regrets as she had no idea how stressful she would find the show

Actress Lynda Bellingham and her pro-partner Darren Bennett have become the latest couple to be voted off Strictly Come Dancing. The pair were beaten in the dance off by Coronation Street actor Craig Kelly and pro Flavia Cacace.

61-year-old Bellingham was saved by both Craig Revel Horwood and Alesha Dixon. However, as Bruno Tonioli and head judge Len Goodman both chose to save Kelly, the head judge's casting vote sent Bellingham home.

Both of the dance off couples danced a foxtrot in this week's show. Tonight's contest saw the remaining couples in the competition perform either a foxtrot or a salsa.

The public vote once again saved the two couples who were at the bottom of the judges' leader board, Jo Wood and Brendan Cole and Joe Calzaghe and Kristina Rihanoff, who each scored just 20 points out of a possible 40. Top of the leader board with 34 points - despite the week's race rows - were Laila Rouass and Anton Du Beke.

Former cricketer Phil Tufnell performed a salsa depite undergoing knee surgery earlier in the week. Impressing the judges were former Hollyoaks actress Ali Bastian and her pro-partner Brian Fortuna and current Hollyoaks star Ricky Whittle and his partner Natalie Holt who also performed the salsa.

The show also saw a performance by Amy Winehouse. Winehouse was providing back-up vocals for her god-daughter, 13-year-old singer Dionne Bromfield.

Next week's Strictly Come Dancing sees the remaining couples dance either a jive or a Viennese waltz. The show can be seen on BBC One on Saturday.

Actress Lynda Bellingham has become the fourth casualty of Strictly Come Dancing 2009 after losing out to Craig Kelly in the dance-off.

The 61-year-old had survived last week's dance off but this week her luck ran out after both she and Kelly had reprised their foxtrots, and the judges voted to save the Coronation Street star.

However it was a close run thing after she and professional partner Darren Bennett received the first two judges votes, from Craig Revel Horwood and Alesha Dixon.

"This is a tough one for me," Craig told them, "but I'm going for the most confident couple tonight."

Bruno then tipped the balance by voting to save Craig and partner Flavia Cacace, leaving Len Goodman with the casting vote.

And although he admitted it was a "difficult decision,", he voted to save Craig and Flavia.