Five health professionals from Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust and one contestant from Bradford have been shortlisted for the final round of Strictly NHS to take part in the fundraising event in Blackpool.
Yorkshire has been well represented in the competition as the health professionals from Leeds and Bradford beat more than 2,000 applicants.
The application process started last summer when the idea for an event for NHS staff to raise funds for the NHS was born with the final contestants being selected from a home-made 60 second video to showcase why they should be selected.
The charity event organised by Alison Slinger aims to raise money for the NHS, the finalists will be paired with professional dancers many with championship titles to battle it out in the competition.
To sign up for our Leeds Live newsletter, click here.
Finalist, Nilam Jadav - Patel, KPO Specialist Trainee from Leeds said: "I didn't believe I would get into the final, I couldn't believe it!
"I have to pinch myself, I feel really honoured, all the contestants speak on a daily basis we all lift each others spirits and have made friends - it's been brilliant.
"At the moment with lockdown and managing coronavirus within healthcare interactions are limited so this event has been a beacon of hope for us."
The finalists from Leeds and Bradford are:
- Nilam Jadav - Patel, 38, KPO Specialist Trainee - Leeds
- Louise Pickin, 41, Mental Health Nurse - Bradford
- Lauren Pickup, 32, Midwifery Clinical Educator - Leeds
- Karen Sykes, Head of Safeguarding, Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism - Leeds
Andrew Viggars, 31, Specialty Registrar in Clinical Oncology - Leeds
Adam Wilson, 34, PA and Departmental Secretary - Leeds
The finalists will endure a number of weeks of rehearsals before the grand finale event, which will take place in front of current Strictly Come Dancing professional dancers as the judging panel at Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
Each pairing will compete to raise money via JustGiving and all money raised will be going to support the NHS.
