Elliot Blant-Harwood and Mia Linnik-Holden win Children in Need Strictly Come Dancing special

Elliot Blant-Harwood and Mia Linnik-Holden with their Children in Need Strictly Come Dancing special trophy

Middleton dancers Elliot Blant-Harwood and Mia Linnik-Holden took part in a Strictly Come Dancing Special for Children in Need and were crowned champions.

The dancers, who have been dancing together since 2013, competed in the charity special alongside professional dancers Anton Du Beke and Natalie Lowe.

Maxine Holden, Mia’s mum said: “They were so happy when they won. They loved the trophy as it is a complete one off and they had an amazing time. We were so proud of them for winning but whether their team had won or not, it was such an amazing opportunity and experience for them so we were proud of them from the start.”

The competition involved Elliot and Mia dancing a foxtrot and quickstep. The dancers had to keep in sync with the professional dancers during their routine.

Elliot has been dancing since the age of three with Mia taking up dancing at the age of six.

Maxine added: “Elliot’s grandfather and father are dancers so it’s in his blood. Mia asked to go to ballroom and Latin lessons when she was six after watching a programme on television so I took her to a Saturday class and they quickly said she had potential and it has just gone from there.”

The pair are currently the British Juvenile Ballroom and Latin Champions and the World Juvenile Ballroom Champions.

Elliot and Mia also recently competed in Assen in the Netherlands and are off to Paris this week for the World Championships.

“The better they become the more demanding it becomes and it is such a commitment,” said Maxine.

Elliot and Mia are also looking for sponsorship to help them with their demanding schedule.

Maxine added: “Elliot and Mia are sponsored for their outfits and shoes but we would love to find backing from a company or person for their dancing itself. It's such an expensive art and we have to travel internationally for competitions. Any help would be just wonderful.”