A Middlesbrough mum and autism champion has made her Strictly debut.
Anna Kennedy OBE, a leading campaigner who set up the UK’s largest school for youngsters with autism, strutted her stuff on TV screens last night for a special Comic Relief version of the hit show.
The former Newlands School and Kirby College pupil who grew up in the Longlands area was paired up with professional British dancer Robin Windsor.
Anna, 54, was chosen as one of six “inspirational but everyday heroes”, from more than 11,000 nominees, to take part in BBC One’s The People’s Strictly for Comic Relief.
Viewers watched her dance the Charleston with Robin, and take part in a group dance number, and hopes people from her hometown will support her by watching and voting.
Anna, who has two sons, Patrick, 25, who has Asperger’s Syndrome and Angelo, 21, with autism, said: “I love dancing with Robin; we make a great team.”
She added that she normally enjoys watching the programme on TV, saying: “Strictly is me time. It’s an autism-free zone. It’s just me, sitting down with a bag of chocolate and Strictly on the telly.”
The series, which begins on Wednesday, will consist of four pre-recorded programmes presented by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
The first two will introduce the contestants as they get the surprise of their lives and discover they are about to embark on an incredible journey.
The third episode will continue to follow their training and preparation, and episode four will see all six contestants compete for judges’ scores and the viewers’ deciding votes.
In 2013 Anna was named both Action Network Woman of the Year and Tesco mum of the year, and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Professional Studies by Teesside University.
She and husband Sean, now living in Uxbridge, are the founders behind Hillingdon Manor School - one of the largest specialist education facilities for children with autism in Europe.
They also set up a second specialist school in Kent, a community college, a respite home, and Anna has an international following of 50,000 parents of autistic children through her website, Anna Kennedy Online.
Anna also became patron of Norton-based autism charity Daisy Chain last year.
The programme starts on Wednesday, February 25 at 9pm on BBC One. The winner will be crowned The People’s Strictly Champion as part of the live Red Nose Day night on BBC One on Friday, March 13.
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