PRIDE of Bury Lisa Riley is back in the swing next week when dance spectacular Strictly Confidential comes to The Lowry.

The 36-year-old actress won the hearts of a TV nation with her performance in the 2012 series of Strictly Come Dancing but narrowly missed out on a place in the final.

Now she is putting on her dancing shoes once again for TV judge Craig Revel Horwood’s new live show which gives audiences the chance to find out more about Strictly’s stars.

Lisa and professional dancers Artem Chigvintsev, Natalie Lowe and Ian Waite will take fans on a journey into their backgrounds, motivations and adventures told through music, song and of course dance.

“I am so excited — it is just unbelievable,” said Lisa.

“Craig has had this concept in mind for a number of years. The fact he said he needed someone who was an actor, a singer, a dancer and loved by the nation and he picked me — well it’s more than flattering!”

The autobiographical plot is loosely based on the lives of Lisa and the other professional dancers and she insists Bury features in the performance.

“Of course we are going to talk about Bury!” she said.

“As my fans will know, through my dad’s job we left for Canada when I was quite young. All I can say is, thank god I came back to Bury — it was the making of my career.”

Lisa, who lost mum, Cath, to cancer just two weeks before last year’s Strictly series began, was touched Craig involved her in the performance in spirit.

“That Craig is letting us dance to my mum’s favourite song is a credit to the show,” she said.

“Her presence will be felt even if she isn’t there physically.”

Lisa said Cath, who died aged 57 after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000, was a passionate supporter of the arts.

“My mum has always been the backbone of my career — she still is,” she added.

“Since her death it has been the worst time of my life and I have been so happy to have Strictly as my little comfort blanket.”

Lisa said Strictly Confidential, which includes feel-good pop songs, monologues and a wide range of dances, is a concept which works.

“What other show could you hope to take every single member of your family to, and they would all enjoy it?” she said.

“Craig is a wonderful choreographer and is so much more than the Mr Nasty he portrays for three months of the year.

“He understands theatre and wants to get all ages involved.”

Lisa, who is arguably still best known for playing Mandy Dingle in Emmerdale between 1995 and 2001, has been training hard to keep up her strength.

“Everyone wants me to dance with Robin (Windsor, her Strictly partner) but I will be dancing with Artem,” she said.

“It’s going to be different without Robin but the professionals switch their partners all the time. I did dance with Artem during Wembley week of the competition when Robin was unwell, and I will kick him into shape!”

Lisa assured Strictly fans her much-loved foxtrot to Everlasting Love will feature in the performance and told them to look out for her on the West end in 2014.

“That would be an amazing chance and I could see it happening in the future,” she added.

The actress, who trained at the Oldham Theatre Workshop from the age of nine, is thrilled to be returning to the north for the performance.

“Playing my home town is going to be brilliant, and it’s my birthday the same week too,” she said.

“I always get an amazing reception performing in Manchester — people know I’m a home girl and I just love being back here.”

Craig Revel Horwood said: “It’s exciting to give fans an autobiographical take on this hit show which incorporates some of the programme’s favourite moments.

“I’ve been working on Strictly Confidential for a while now and it’s a dream everything is coming together.”

Strictly Confidential runs from Monday (July 8) to Saturday July 13. Tickets are priced from £20.50 to £43.50 with £3 off for concessions except on Fridays and Saturdays. For more information or to book: tickets call 0843 208 6000 or go to strictly-confidential.com