Steven McIntosh
Entertainment reporter

Every year, the Strictly contestants might look like they’ve
just come back from a six-week holiday in Barbados. But in reality, most
haven’t set foot beyond the BBC’s studios in Elstree.

Strictly’s resident fake tanner, Carrie Marsh, has been
explaining how she and her team usually set up camp in Anton du Beke’s dressing
room every week with their spray-tan machine and products.

“Most people have a full-body spray tan,” she tells BBC Radio
Berkshire. “Some of the gents, if they’re not getting their legs out, they’ll
just have the top half of their body sprayed, especially if they’ve got an open
shirt and they’re showing their chest. But most of the time it’s full-body.”

While some of the celebs might be initially reluctant to get a
spray tan, Marsh says most become more enthusiastic and a few even ask for
darker shades with every passing week.

“Sometimes it depends on the dance they’re doing or the outfit
they’re wearing,” she says, “and I decide what colour to spray them from
there.”

But, she adds in another interview with BBC Radio Lancashire,
some celebrities also want to make sure the tan will have disappeared by the
time they show up for other jobs on Monday.

“If you’ve got actors who are still doing scenes in shows, you
do have to be careful not to take them too dark,” she notes, “or I just give
them lots of advice on how to get it off more quickly.”