After a year of change for Strictly Come Dancing, bosses have announced that they’re looking at reverting to a classic format for this year’s Christmas special.
In recent history, Strictly’s annual Christmas Day episode has seen a host of new celebrities learning a routine as part of a one-off appearance in the ballroom, with many going on to take part in the main show in later years.
However, for this year’s festive instalment, the BBC has confirmed that the Christmas line-up will be made up of former Strictly contestants who didn’t lift the Glitterball Trophy.
“The contestants – and their professional partners – will be confirmed in due course,” a BBC press release teased. “They’ll each perform a brand new festive-themed routine with their pro partner, as well as taking part in opening and closing group numbers.”
In 2024, comedian Josh Widdicombe performed on the show, where he performed a Charleston to Let It Snow, two years before he would be unveiled as its new presenter.
Before that Christmas special, though, this year’s series still has to crown its champion.
Right now, there are 10 couples remaining in the competition, following soap star Lawrence Robb’s elimination over the weekend.
For its Halloween spooktacular, Strictly introduced a hair-raising new twist, which saw three couples winding up in the dance-off for the first time, with the judges voting for who to send home, rather than who to save.
Lawrence landed in the bottom three alongside fellow actors Jaime Winstone and Bethany Antonia, both of whom the judges opted to save over him and his professional partner, Jowita Przystał.
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday night at 6.30pm on BBC One.
