It’s been revealed today that when Strictly Come Dancing airs its first live show of this series on Friday, contestant Lisa Riley is set to make history by becoming the first ever female dancer to LIFT her male partner!

Lisa – who shot to fame playing Mandy Dingle on Emmerdale – is of course partnered with pro-dancer Robin Windsor, and soon after it was revealed that Lisa was competing this year, she expressed concern that Robin may not be able to lift her during routines…

However, he assured her that he could “lift anybody” but despite losing over a stone in weight during training, Lisa was apparently still worried about the issue.

So according to the Daily Mirror, Lisa suggested to Robin and to the SCD bosses that she should hoist him instead, and evidently everyone agreed. So after performing “an energetic” cha-cha-cha to Aretha Franklin’s classic hit Think, we’ll see the groundbreaking lift…

A show insider told the paper, “Everyone thought Lisa was the novelty act, but she’s anything but.

“She’s got great rhythm, personality and confidence and the finished product is starting to look fantastic.

“She’s lost an entire stone in rehearsals and if she stays in the competition for a few weeks she’s going to look totally different.

“She’s bubbly and great fun and viewers are going to see her personality in this routine.

“At the end it looks as though Robin is going to lift her, but instead Lisa grabs him and pulls him upwards. It’s very funny and looks sure to be a vote winner.”

So while clearly Lisa’s doing well, her fellow contestant Victoria Pendleton apparently isn’t, and she’s reportedly struggling to master any of the routines she’ll perform with dance partner Brendan Cole.

In an interview with Radio Times, Olympic cycling champ Victoria confessed, “I spent so many hours training as a cyclist that when I was on my bike I didn’t need to use my brain any more.

“Put me on a bike or in a gym and I’m completely comfortable, but on the dance floor I’m a fish out of water.

“We have accepted that I just don’t move naturally, so my partner Brendan Cole tells me exactly where every single part of my body needs to be.

“Otherwise I can guarantee I’d do it wrong.”

Well, as mentioned, we’ll see just how good or bad Victoria is on Friday night.