Can Dancing Dean, Dr Mairi Watson, feel the beat in this year’s Strictly Northampton?

Dr Mairi Watson, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law at the University of Northampton will grace the stage at the Royal & Derngate for this year’s Strictly Northampton.

Will her foxtrot get her a first? Or will she be left crying on the dancefloor? Mairi has just eight weeks to perfect three dance routines, before talking to the stage to raise for the competition, in aid of Cynthia Spencer Hospice. Mairi and the other dancers will perform their routines before a judging panel and a live audience, with the winner on the night taking home the coveted Strictly Northampton glitterball trophy.

Speaking after her first training session, Mairi said: “Having said for years that the only reason I’d be on the stage at the Derngate is to read the names at the University of Northampton graduation, I’m stepping right out of my comfort zone and into my dancing shoes to take part in Strictly Northampton 2019.

“I’m aiming to raise £1,000 for local charity, Cynthia Spencer Hospice, who do fantastic work with people with life limiting illnesses and their families. The first training session was hard work, but so much fun. I’m sure I’ll be spotted cha-cha-cha-ing my way around campus over the next few weeks – that’s got to be worth donating whatever you can to this wonderful cause.”

You can support Mairi by donating through her Justgiving page here. JustGiving sends your donation straight to Cynthia Spencer and automatically reclaims Gift Aid if you are a UK taxpayer, making your donation worth even more.

Tickets for Strictly Northampton available and can be purchased directly through the Royal and Derngate website.