Strictly Come Dancing’s Susan Calman and Kevin Clifton have promised a passionate dance this weekend, and are hoping it will see them through to the all-important Blackpool week.

Comedian Calman and her professional partner have been known for their fun routines throughout the series, but are now keen to reveal a different side, and will do so with a “serious” tango.

Clifton told Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two: “This week is heading to Blackpool, it’s a really, really important week.

“So what we’ve done, we wanted to give ourselves no excuses, we didn’t want to be in a position where (the judges) could say we’ve let the theme overtake the dance, which has been a comment of ours before.

“The entire dance is content. There are no gimmicks, this is pure ballroom dancing, and I think Susan can do that – she’s becoming a ballroom dancer the more this competition goes on.”

Calman said: “There’s passion, we’re finally letting the genie out of the bottle. It’s what the British public have been waiting for – passion between Kevin and I!”

Calman and Clifton will dance their tango to Katy Perry’s Firework, and the Scottish stand-up said the song’s lyrics have been inspiring.

“This is a very special song, it’s kind of about not believing in yourself but going for it, and it’s all about having one night to prove you’re good enough,” she said.

Clifton added: “Own the night and go and show them what you’re worth – we thought it would be fitting for the qualifying round for Blackpool.”

The Strictly professional said he has put special care into the tango routine for Calman.

“We want to take it really seriously and not throw too much stuff at it, and I think this is the first time you’ll see us in that sort of zone,” Clifton said.

“Everything we’ve done so far has been light, joyous, happy and fun.”

Calman said: “It’s about proving to people we can dance.”

Clifton said he is “adamant” that he wants Strictly viewers to see Calman as a ballroom dancer.

“I think, because she was a comedian coming on the show, people assumed that was what she was going to be – funny routine after funny routine,” he added.

“And I want to show that Susan is an awesome dancer, so I’ve done a routine to show everyone that this week.”

Strictly Come Dancing continues at 6.45pm on Saturday on BBC One.