SHE’s mastered the choreography and is revelling in the sequins and spray tans but as one of the inspirational contestants on the first ever People’s Strictly for Comic Relief, Anna Kennedy is most thrilled that her two autistic sons are proud of her dancing.

Last week’s double episode saw the Middlesbrough-born campaigner meet her professional partner, Robin Windsor, and begin learning the steps of their energetic Charlston routine before being transformed into a quirky Flapper with the alter ego, 'Betsy'.

In this Wednesday's final show, voting lines will open once all couples have danced from 10pm to 10.30pm and the winner will be crowned The People’s Strictly champion as part of the live Red Nose Day coverage on BBC One on Friday.

“I used to tap dance but for 15 years I did nothing but look after my boys but I thought there’s something missing out of my life so I started going again one night a week which was my autism free zone.”

Mrs Kennedy remortgaged her home to set up a school for other autistic children when her sons, Patrick, now 25, and Angelo 21, now, were turned away from mainstream education.

And since Hillingdon Manor school near London opened in 1999, she has set up a second specialist school, a college and a respite home for adults.

She said talking about her struggles and successes on the prime time entertainment show had helped raise awareness about the condition.

“We took Angelo to the studio when it was empty so he could watch me dance and his eyes were glued on me, Patrick said: “I’m proud of you mum but it’s a different you”.”

She is also the founder of ‘Autism’s Got Talent”, the first show of its kind which encourages children and adults to perform on stage in front of packed audiences and is lobbying the Department of Health to make autism diagnosis consistent across the UK after her survey revealed some families were forced to wait five years or longer.

Her professional dance partner has promised to dance with her at the ‘Autism’s Got Talent’ final and dance mentor, EastEnders actor Jake Wood said he will also attend.

“I completely understand now what celebrity contestants mean when they say they’re in the Strictly bubble. The experience has been more amazing than I ever thought it would be and I’ve realised that I don’t have to be a campaigner all the time,” she said.

The other contestants are Phillip Barnett who has raised more than £2 million after founding a children's theatre charity 20 years ago, Trishna Bharadia, who as an MS sufferer has worked to raise awareness around the condition, Cassidy Little, who lost the lower half of his leg in an explosion while serving as a medic in Afghanistan and has helped his colleagues through rehab, Heather Parsons, who set up a charity to support intensive care patients and their families and Michael Pattie, who has raised £300,000 for meningitis charities.