Jenny wows judges with terrific tango... and a perfect paso doble!

Photo: K Shivas Photography

MONSTER MASH . . . David Whaley and Dawn Evans perform their foxtrot

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IT was quite a weekend in the McDermott household: ex-rugby league star Barrie broke a world record by playing rugby at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro - and his wife Jenny danced to victory in the Oldham version of hit show “Strictly Come Dancing”.

Hairdresser Jenny lined up with six other novice dancers — Chronicle managing editor David Whaley, former Dr Kershaw’s Hospice appeals manager Brian Hurst, solicitor John Ainley, Uppermill boutique owner Veronica Walsh, Richard Bartlett from Saddleworth Rotary Club and Denise Mellor — for Strictly Kershaw’s, a night of fund-raising fun for the Royton hospice at Oldham’s Queen Elizabeth Hall.

Judged by Councillor John Hudson, professional dance teacher Carole Madden and Dr Jaya Rao, some of the brave contestants tackled two dances with their pro partners.

Introduced by compère Gill Bussey, the dancers took to the floor in front of a QE Hall packed with family, friends and hospice supporters. Dances were followed by comments and scores from the judging panel before Jenny and her partner Sean Madden were crowned the winners — having raised the roof with both their performances.

Their first was a stunning paso doble that had everyone clapping and they followed that with a haunting tango to “The Phantom of the Opera”.

Jenny said: “I never thought I’d win, I just wanted to give it a go. The professional dancers were so patient and worked so hard to teach us. Barrie Skyped me from Kilimanjaro beforehand and I wish he could have seen me - but he’s doing something amazing himself.

“I had 70 people supporting me so I’m glad I gave them something to cheer. I will keep my trophy sparkling in a special place at my house.”

David Whaley took the runner-up prize thanks to a cha-cha that saw him draped in red sequins and a rip-roaring foxtrot to “The Monster Mash”. They began with Dave wheeling in his partner, Watersheddings Primary School teacher Dawn Evans, on a hospital trolley smeared in fake blood!

He said: “I am full of admiration for the dancers on television. This has been very hard for all the novices and to see 400-plus in the audience was quite daunting — but we were all pulling for each other and it was a fantastic evening that is bound to be repeated by other willing victims next year.