And… action! Elstree station finds Strictly fame on the small screen

Thameslink’s Elstree & Borehamwood station staff swapped tickets for tangos when they helped celebrate last weekend’s finals of Strictly Come Dancing.

TV producers asked Thameslink and Elstree’s First Impressions group to take part in a series of short clips shot at the station for a film in which people from all walks of life around the country say what they have liked best about the hit show this year.

The film was broadcast as part of the BBC1 show, at Elstree Studios on Saturday.

A number of different pieces were filmed, although not all were used.

Train driver Jaren Stanley introduced the compilation, which was screened two hours into the show from the driving seat of a train cab in the station, pretending to announce the show to passengers over the Tannoy.

Grinning Rachel James in the ticket office told cameras Strictly was “Just the ticket!” and station manager Marc Asamoah recollected Pashley's first class performance on the dance floor, for which he brandished a judge’s paddle ‘10’ from the first class doorway of a Thameslink train.

Thameslink information controllers also put up a special notice on one of the large station screens to say "Strictly Come Dancing Final - keeeeeep dancing!"

Sadly, neither Rachel, Marc nor the special notice made the final cut.

However, Bob Redman, chairman of First Impressions was in the piece, posing in front of the huge showreel mural outside the station to say, “Never mind Hollywood, come to BOREHAMWOOD!” And Thameslink media manager Roger Perkins told viewers Craig was a great judge – because he was grumpy!

Bob said: “We’ve done so much to promote the special status of Elstree to the world of film and television and this was a great opportunity to showcase the town and its railway station to the nation.”

Marc added: “This was a lovely way to celebrate the town and the station’s role in the community.”

ends