Preston girl Rachel Botes has landed a job on the BBC TV show Strictly Come Dancing.

A recent BA(Hons) Journalism graduate, Rachel is working as a runner on series 10 of the popular prime-time show.

Rachel contacted the shows production team “on a whim” and to her surprise they took her on. Her tasks include assisting the production team, helping out in the studio during the live shows and looking after the celebrity dance couples.

Rachel said about her work: “I feel extremely lucky to be able to work on a show as big as this. I’m a huge fan of the show and I’m also a ballroom dancer myself so I love watching all the technical steps and criticizing if they don’t do them correctly.

“It’s one of the BBC’s biggest shows, which attracts some of the highest viewing numbers, so it’s exciting to be a part of it and know I contributed in some way.”

She has worked on Blue Peter, Real Radio Manchester, CBBC, BBC Radio Lancashire and North West Tonight since leaving the UCLan in Preston.