IPSWICH: Five years ago she deemed herself lucky to be alive but now Crystal Yelland is reaching for the stars.

The dazzling town dancer overcame the most horrific ordeal of her life after she was caught up in the 7/7 London bombings.

Today, she is enjoying everything that life brings and is set to make a weekly appearance on Strictly Come Dancing – performing alongside show regular Darren Bennett.

Crystal, who is appearing on the show under her maiden name of Main, was selected to be in one of three ‘show dancing’ couples.

Also a dance teacher at the Lait Dance Club in Clarkson Street, Mrs Yelland told the Evening Star that appearing on Saturday’s red carpet show on BBC1 gave her “an amazing feeling”.

“It is all so exciting, when I first got the audition I didn’t want to tell anyone - just in case I didn’t get it,” she added.

“I am just over the moon about it all because it is a fantastic opportunity for me, we have some fantastic performances lined up.

“To be honest, I just can’t believe that I’m on the television – it’s incredible.”

The talented starlet, of Claydon, who appeared in the South African version of the show in 2006, later described her dance partner Darren as “a lovely guy” and said that presenter Bruce Forsyth as a “true gentleman”.

“Bruce is so adorable, he is unbelievably quick-witted and he is a true gentleman,” she said.

However, just five years ago, the 28-year-old was on her way to a dance rehearsal when she was caught up in the terrorist explosions that rocked London.

The ten-dance dancer was travelling with dance partner Bruce Lait when the explosion near Aldgate East took place just feet away. She later told the Evening Star that dancing had got her through some very difficult times.

She said: “I have come such a long way from back then and I have just been trying to put all of it behind me and move forward.

“Other than my husband and my family, my dancing is the only thing that has keep me going.”

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