Strictly Come Dancing returns to our screens tonight — but anticipation is high in Lancashire after BBC officials confirmed that ‘our Nat’ needed therapy after ‘too much dancing’.

Former Coronation actress Natalie Gumede, from Colne, became one of the early casualties during training but is still set to dance.

Sarah Ellis, at the BBC, said: “Natalie had to see a physio this week after all her dance training began to take it’s toll, causing pain to her knee and hip.

“She is fine and determined to perform this weekend — it’s just a case of too much dancing.”

The dancefloor magic will return this weekend after three weeks of intensive training from the celebrities and their professional partners.

The couples are now ready to hit the floor and show the nation what they’ve been working on.

Yesterday, the BBC revealed the music and dances each couple will perform.

Natalie, who attended Park High School in Colne and her profesional partner, Artem Chigvintsev, will Cha Cha to disco hit ‘Rasputin’ by Boney M.

However, viewers will have to wait and see what the Coronation Street star will wear on the day, although Natalie has said: “I’m not used to wearing something so revealing. Certainly the characters I play are much grungier and I’m quite grungy in real life too. But I am embracing the sequin, I am giving in to the sequin.”

Natalie attended Chippendale School of Dance in Colne, studying ballet, tap and modern jazz from age four to 17 and bookmakers think this give her just the edge needed to win.

The 29-year-old is the favourite to lift the Glitterball when the series ends in December .