Strictly stars in Camp Hopson

Dancers Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova pay a flying visit to Camp Hopsons

STRICTLY stars, Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova paid a flying visit to Newbury today (Friday September 16), when they took time out from dancing to interview shoppers in Camp Hopson's store.

The dynamic dancing duo, who rose to fame in the BBC television programme Strictly Come Dancing, were in the local area training for a new strand of their careers - presenting.

After top tips from actor, Paul Clayton, who has previously starred in productions at The Watermill theatre, Bagnor, and recently joined the cast of Coronation Street, they then approached surprised shoppers to ask them questions.

Lilia, aged 33, headed straight for her favourite departments - cosmetics and ladies' fashions, while Darren, aged 34, made a beeline for the cookery department, reflecting one of his other passions off the dance floor (apart from Lilia, his Russian wife) - cooking.

Startled shoppers, Georgia and Sadie Maybank, of Newbury, with baby Sol, aged 11 months, said it was: “A shock:” to bump into Darren in the cookery department, but recovered their demeanour to reply to his question as to whether they preferred shopping in store, or on-line:

“We said:'In store', especially saucepans, you can't tell how heavy they are online,” said Miss Maybank.

Meanwhile Lilia was posing the same question to shoppers in cosmetics and ladies' wear, including Janet Fontaine, of Thatcham, who said: “Lilia's absolutely stunning,” adding “I didn't expect to see her here today!”

Of her new experience, Lilia said it had been: “Real fun and different,” adding:

“I don't like to be stuck doing one thing for too long, I like new experiences and dancing is something I have done all my life.”

Darren said Camps had a: “Homely feel and of real quality” and was also interested to learn of the Liberty Ballroom at New Greenham Park, a former gymnasium used by American troops stationed in Newbury during the Second World War, since converted into a ballroom:

“We see a lot of ballrooms up and down the country so it's quite nice occasionally to come across a historic ballroom - for any town to have a nice ballroom is great,” said Darren.

Lilia said they would like to have spent more time looking around Newbury, but a tight schedule meant they had to continue travels to the north of England, headed for competitions and shows in Darren's home town of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.