Strictly Come Dancing’s Shirley Ballas danced and laughed with a group of “brave” seriously ill or disabled children ahead of their charity-funded holiday of a lifetime in Florida.

The show’s head judge, 64, chatted and took selfies with the young people before they left on a specially chartered British Airways flight from Heathrow Airport to Orlando on Sunday.

For many of the children, the highlight of the Dreamflight trip will be swimming with dolphins at Discovery Cove.

DShirley Ballas speaks with Alex Knowles, nine, from Morecambe
Shirley Ballas speaks with Alex Knowles, nine, from Morecambe (James Manning/PA)

Ballas, speaking hours after a Strictly Come Dancing show on Saturday night, said: “Today was a special day, meeting so many brave and wonderful children before their magical flight to Orlando, Florida, on a British Airways aircraft.

“Hearing about their incredible journeys and seeing their excitement to fly has been wonderful, I hope they have an amazing time.”

The children, aged between eight and 14, were also welcomed with music played by a band, police dogs and emergency fire vehicles.

Children from the Jedi group parade with Darth Vader
Children from the Jedi group parade with Darth Vader (James Manning/PA)

Star Wars characters Darth Vader and Chewbacca were also there to wave them off.

Freddy Gardiner, 12, from Gateshead, told the PA news agency: “I’m very excited, I can’t wait to swim with the dolphins.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip!”

Freddy Gardiner, 12, from Gateshead (left) arrives for his flight
Freddy Gardiner, 12, from Gateshead (left) arrives for his flight (James Manning/PA)

Ayla Dannatt, 12, from Portsmouth, said: “I feel very lucky, not everyone gets this opportunity.”

Lottie Scott, 14, from Shrewsbury, said: “I swim a lot, but I’ve never been in the water with a dolphin before so that will be the most exciting experience.”

Alex Knowles, nine, from Morecambe, added: “It’s a trip to Florida and everything is free, it’s so great, I really feel very lucky.”

Shirley Ballas surrounded by Star Wars characters including Darth Vader and Chewbacca
Ballas and the young patients met Star Wars characters during the hangar party (James Manning/PA)

The 191 children, some of whom have never left the UK, will also visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Universal Studios before returning on November 5.

Dreamflight has taken more than 6,500 children on the annual trip since 1987.

Paralympic gold medal swimmer and Dreamflight patron Liz Johnson, who went on the trip as an 11-year-old in 1997, said: “I am forever humbled that I have the opportunity to play my part and give back to something that has had such a profound impact on me and everyone involved.”