TWINKLE toes Jo Scanlan is hoping to write her name into the record books on live television.

The Swindon tap dancer and choreographer is aiming to become the world’s fastest tap dancer on Sky One tomorrow.

Jo, of Bishopdale Close, Nine Elms, will be attempting to better the existing record of 602 beats in a minute, set by New Zealander Tony Adams, during the ‘Boys V Girls’ section of the hit show Guinness World Records Smashed, which is presented by former Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq and Steve Jones of T4 fame.

Jo, 29, who has been tap dancing since she was seven, qualified as a teacher at The Judith Hockaday School of Dance and continued her training in London achieving Fellowship status with both the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing and International Dance Teachers Association in both tap and modern dance.

She then continued training in America where she has performed on Broadway, and since 2005 has been awarded three prestigious scholarships to further her studies with The Manhattan Tap Company and the University of Oklahoma.

“I get a lot of phone calls regarding different dance jobs but this was one of the more unusual requests,” said Jo.

“The biggest problem with preparing for the challenge is that I’m not sure of the exact amount of beats I’m currently doing, it’s impossible to count at the speed I dance at, so it’s a little difficult to gauge exactly where I am in my preparations.

“Knowing how TV operates I’m going to have a long time between the rehearsal and the actual attempt, so keeping my muscles warm and loose so that they don’t tighten during the attempt is a big part.”

Jo is no stranger to British TV having previously worked on shows for Sky, BBC and ITV.

Her most recent appearance was last year’s series of The Alan Titchmarsh Show on ITV and a performance with Lionel Blair at Littlecote House.

Jo now splits her time working as a performer, choreographer and teaching at the Countries leading performing arts colleges including Italia Conti and Sylvia Young, as well as running her own tap dance company Tap Attack and managing the England Tap Team who compete at the world championships each December.

The weekly ‘Boys V Girls’ segment is being led by Konnie’s girls team. Competing for the boys is 19-year-old Joe Dodd.

The Londoner and former pupil of Jo’s at Italia Conti, is also a member of the England Tap team and was ranked 12th in the world in last year’s World Tap Dance Championships.

“It’s going to be tough trying to break the existing record, regardless of the fact I’m up against such a good dancer as Joe Dodd,” said Jo. “Fortunately I’ve taught him everything he knows, but not everything I know!”

To see if Jo is successful in breaking the Guinness World Record, tune in to Guinness World Records Smashed on Sky One tomorrow at 8pm.