As this year's celebs head up to Blackpool, Strictly has started to reveal the line-up for this year's Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special.
The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special is back as the Ballroom is once again transformed into a magical winter wonderland
On Christmas Day, six couples will perform a festive fuelled routine in the hope of impressing the judges, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Head Judge Shirley Ballas, and the voting studio audience.
Expect festive cheer, jingle bells, mistletoe madness, bedazzling baubles and six celebrities all sleighing their way to Elstree, but who will emerge the Christmas star of the evening, and lift the sought after Christmas trophy?
Here's who will be taking part...
Josh Widdicombe
Comedian, podcaster and author
Josh Widdicombe has been revealed as the first celebrity in 2024’s Christmas lineup and will be paired with Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Karen Hauer. Together they'll be dancing to Let it Snow.
The stand-up comedian has starred in over thirty series of Channel 4’s The Last Leg and co-hosts the hugely successful podcast Parenting Hell with Rob Beckett and has written two Sunday Times Bestselling books.
Josh has also appeared on multiple comedy panel shows including Smart TV, QI, A League of Their Own, Have I Got News For You and Taskmaster, to name a few. And he has performed onstage at the Royal Albert Hall for The Royal Variety Performance and hosted Live At The Apollo.
Speaking ahead of this year's Strictly Christmas Special, Josh Widdicombe said "am utterly terrified this will end in humiliation and worried I’m going to be so bad I will ruin Christmas for the nation. Why have I done this?"
Tayce
Drag artist, model and presenter
Tayce has been revealed as the second celebrity in 2024’s Christmas lineup and will be paired with Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Kai Widdrington. Together they'll be dancing to Kylie Minogue's 100 Degrees.
Welsh-born Tayce was a finalist on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK's second series and is often dubbed the "Naomi Campbell of Drag" and she models across the world in runway fashion shows. She has presented on BBC Radio 1, MTV and Sky and performs her drag act globally and has also released her own rap single.
Speaking ahead of this year's Strictly Christmas Special, Tayce said "I cannot wait to sleigh on the Strictly Ballroom floor. My partner and I are going to dance for our lives! In all seriousness, it’s an incredible honour to be the first Drag artist to be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing. I hope I do all of my Drag Race and Welsh fans proud! Sign me up for all the glitz, glam and discoballs."
Vogue Williams
Presenter, podcaster, DJ and fitness expert
Vogue Williams has been revealed as the third celebrity in 2024’s Christmas lineup and will be paired with Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Carlos Gu. Together they'll be dancing to Rockin' Robin.
The presenter is from Ireland and her broadcast work has ranged from presenting documentaries and hosting studio shows, to appearing in her own reality show. She is often seen presenting the fashion and red carpet segments on ITV’s Lorraine.
Vogue is an established podcaster known for My Therapist Ghosted Me, Spencer and Vogue and Never Live It Down and she was a regular presenter friend on Channel 4’s Steph’s Packed Lunch, hosted Virgin Media’s Saturday Night Extravaganza and fronted her own Heart Radio weekend show.
Speaking ahead of this year's Strictly Christmas Special, Vogue Williams said "I’m so excited to join the Strictly family! Carlos would have more of a chance of winning a Nobel prize than turning me into a good dancer but I am determined to try my very best! I’m loving it so far, bring on the Ballroom floor."
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey / Nitro
Olympian and Gladiators favourite
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey has been revealed as the fourth celebrity in 2024’s Christmas lineup and will be paired with Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Nancy Xu. Together they'll be dancing to Christmas Wrapping.
In 2023 Harry was unveiled as ‘Nitro’ in the BBC One series of Gladiators and is also a Team GB sprinter, Commonwealth and World gold medallist sprinter. Harry has competed at the highest level in the UK since his youth. After becoming the first athlete to win gold medals at both 100 and 200 metres at the World Youth Championships, he won 2005 BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year age 17.
Harry has gone on to win gold 4x in the men’s 100m European Championships and at the Commonwealth Games. His long list of achievements include: 2x Olympian, 3x European Champion, 2x Commonwealth Champion, 1x Commonwealth Silver Medallist, 1x European Bronze Medallist, 1x World Bronze Medallist, 1x British Champion, 2x World Youth Champion and 1x World Junior Champion.
Speaking ahead of this year's Strictly Christmas Special, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey said "STRICTLY....ARE YOU READY?! Nitro’s blasting onto the Ballroom floor this Christmas! I’m swapping my trainers for dancing shoes, and trust me, I’m bringing the power, the energy and the moves! This December I'm gonna light up that dancefloor and crank the Christmas spirit all the way UP. Let’s do this!"
Tamzin Outhwaite
Actress
Tamzin Outhwaite has been revealed as the fifth celebrity in 2024’s Christmas lineup and will be paired with Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin.
Tamzin is a multi-award winning actress from stage and screen, best known for her series leading roles including DCI Sasha Miller in the BBC’s New Tricks, Hotel Babylon and Murder Is Easy, to name a few and she also starred in EastEnders as Mel Owen.
In film, Tamzin was in Out Of Control and joined an all-star cast in Mike Newell’s Great Expectations, including Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter and Robbie Coltrane. Her recent theatre roles include Abigail’s Party at the Theatre Royal Stratford East and the West End revival of Noises Off.
Speaking ahead of this year's Strictly Christmas Special, Tamzin Outhwaite said "I'm so excited to swap the stage for the Strictly Ballroom this Christmas. I’m used to performing in front of a live audience, but this is a whole new experience. I can’t wait to immerse myself in all things glitter and sequins, let’s hope the judges show Nikita and I some extra festive cheer this Christmas!"
Billy Monger
Racing Driver and TV Presenter
Billy Monger has been revealed as the sixth and final celebrity in 2024’s Christmas lineup and will be paired with Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova. They'll be dancing to Merry Christmas by Ed Sheeran and Elton John.
Billy has scored podiums in British Formula 3 and followed in Lewis Hamilton's footsteps by winning the Pau Grand Prix in European Formula 3. He was critically injured in a high-speed collision while racing in Formula 4 which left him with both legs amputated. Despite this, Billy refused to give up on his racing career, lobbying to allow both disabled and non-disabled drivers to race alongside each other.
He won the BBC Sports Personality Helen Rollason Award and had a BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary made about his story. Billy is also a presenter and pundit on Channel 4's coverage of Formula One and the Paralympics.
Recently, Billy beat the world record for a double amputee in the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii, the toughest endurance event in the world, and a BBC documentary on this is being made.
Speaking ahead of this year's Strictly Christmas Special, Billy Monger said "I've spent the last 12 months training 20 hours a week for an Ironman world record attempt, but the thought of donning sequins in front of Craig Revel Horwood fills me with a fear I've never experienced before."
"This is about as far from my comfort zone as it can get! My family are big Strictly fans, so I'm doing it for them and to raise awareness for what I’m doing for Comic Relief next year. I'm just hoping my leg doesn't fall off mid-dance!"
Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special returns Christmas Day on BBC One
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