The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special is back! As the Ballroom is once again transformed into a magical winter wonderland. Expect festive cheer, jingle bells, mistletoe madness, bedazzling baubles and six celebrities all sleighing their way to Elstree in a bid to be crowned the Strictly Christmas Champion 2024.
In the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, produced by 麻豆社 Studios, each of the 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. But who will emerge the Christmas star of the evening, and lift the sought after Christmas trophy?
The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special will air on 麻豆社 One and 麻豆社 iPlayer on Christmas Day.
Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special is a 麻豆社 Studios Entertainment Production for 麻豆社 One and 麻豆社 iPlayer, commissioned by Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment at the 麻豆社. The Executive Producer for 麻豆社 Studios is Sarah James, the Christmas Series Editor is Kim Allinson and the Series Editors are Nicola Fitzgerald and Jack Gledhill and the Series Producers are Ciara Murray and Joe Turner. The Senior Commissioning Editor for the 麻豆社 is Jo Wallace.
Josh Widdicombe
What鈥檚 your favourite Christmas song that will get you dancing in the kitchen?
Last Christmas by Wham - people who try to avoid it are just ruining their own lives.
Do you stay in your PJs all day or do you plan a special Christmas outfit?
Neither, I get dressed in normal clothes, Christmas pyjamas are embarrassing for all.
Can you dance?!
That would be telling.
What have you asked Santa to bring you this year?
A 10 from Craig Revel Horwood
What is a must have on the Christmas dinner table?
Bread sauce, no interest for the other 364 days of the year but it鈥檚 a must.
Are there any Christmas rituals or traditions that you / your family always do? Anything we wouldn鈥檛 expect?
I am insistent about sequence and turn taking with present giving. I manage to lose all fun.
What鈥檚 the best gift you鈥檝e ever received or given?
Nintendo 64. They say the greatest gift is love, it鈥檚 not, it鈥檚 a games console.
What鈥檚 the worst gift you鈥檝e ever received or given?
Flat cap.
If you could be any character from a Christmas film, who would it be?
I want to live in the muppets' Dickensian England, so I would be Michael Caine in The Muppet Christmas Carol, but just a bit more of a laugh.
Describe the plot of a Christmas movie you would want to watch?
Comedian does Strictly Christmas special and the nation falls in love with his dancing so much it solves every problem on earth and he gets to be a judge on the show.
How many sprouts are you having with your Christmas dinner?
Zero
Did you ever take part in a Christmas Nativity or panto and what character did you play? Any funny anecdotes from school Christmas plays?
At our playgroup nativity the parents had to come onstage to move the kids around, they were too heavy and they fell through the stage. It was my first lesson that comedy always wins.
Why did you say yes to Strictly Christmas?
My daughter. And my dreams of being Billy Elliot.
You鈥檝e got Craig for Secret Santa... what are you buying him?
Beard comb
How excited were you when you found out who your pro dance partner (Karen Hauer) would be?
Delighted, she鈥檚 a legend of the show and everyone I tell says 鈥榦h she鈥檚 the absolute best鈥�. Not sure how happy she is to get me though!
Will you be bringing any comedy to your routine?
No, this is incredibly serious, Strictly is not about fun it鈥檚 about lines and shoulders.
Lots of comedians have taken part in Strictly before you 鈥� have any of them given you some good advice? What did they say when you told them you were doing Strictly Christmas? You鈥檙e pals with Chris McCausland 鈥� what was his advice?
Chris Ramsey told me the best thing is you can eat what you like and still get fitter. Chris McCausland was too busy being the nations鈥� sweetheart to return my calls.
Tayce
What鈥檚 your favourite Christmas song that will get you dancing in the kitchen?
Destiny鈥檚 Child 8 days of Christmas or Barbra Streisand Jingle Bells
Do you stay in your PJs all day or do you plan a special Christmas outfit?
MOST DEFINITELY a Christmas outfit, usually an extremely sharp suit or something elaborate. I mean it鈥檚 Christmas, and I want to be the best dressed at the dinner table, plus the whole day is a big party so you HAVE to look the part.
Can you dance?!
Is the sky blue! YES I CAN DANCE!
What is a must have on the Christmas dinner table?
Smoked salmon and cream cheese with some lemon on bagels in the morning, and prawn cocktails before Christmas dinner. Oh and CRACKERS! If I don鈥檛 have a paper crown on my head is it really Christmas?
Are there any Christmas rituals or traditions that you / your family always do? Anything we wouldn鈥檛 expect?
Secret Santa, and it has to be unhinged gifts ONLY
What鈥檚 the best gift you鈥檝e ever received or given?
I鈥檒l never forget when my mum bought me a RuPaul autobiography when I was 16. It was a cultural shift for me.
What鈥檚 the worst gift you鈥檝e ever received or given?
A card with no money in.
How many sprouts are you having with your Christmas dinner?
One, just to say I had one.
Did you ever take part in a Christmas Nativity or panto and what character did you play?
Yes in primary school I was Joseph and my belt was a rope from my nan's curtains!
Why did you say yes to Strictly Christmas?
It's such an honour to be part of this amazing and highly popular show, pushing the envelope and breaking boundaries as the first drag queen to appear on it. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, though there鈥檚 also been some negativity from trolls, but that鈥檚 nothing I can鈥檛 handle.
How excited were you when you found out who your pro dance partner would be?
Very! Kai is amazing and such an attentive teacher, we also get on extremely well which is a bonus and adds to such great connection when dancing together.
How does it feel to be the first Drag Artist on Strictly?
Fantastic, I鈥檓 honoured to be the first and hopefully will pave the way to more drag icons partaking in the show.
You鈥檙e known for your fabulous outfits and make up looks. How do you feel about working with the Strictly costume and HMU teams? How much input do you hope to have?
Oh all the input, I鈥檓 going to be collaborating heavily on my look, I鈥檓 a perfectionist and it needs to look perfect. If there were to be a best dresser contest I intend to SLEIGH it.
Billy Monger
What鈥檚 your favourite Christmas song to get you dancing in the kitchen?
They all get me. When it's Christmas, I鈥檒l dance to anything.
Do you stay in your PJs all day or do you plan a special Christmas outfit?
We don鈥檛 stay in PJs all day, I'm normally in normal clothes or if I've got a funky Christmas jumper that will get chucked on.
Can you dance?!
No, straight to the point on that one.
What is a must have on the Christmas dinner table?
I'd say a plate with extra pigs in blankets on. Also stuffing as well, I do like a bit of stuffing on my Christmas dinner plate. I鈥檒l always have any spare going too.
Are there any Christmas rituals or traditions that you and your family always do, anything that we wouldn't expect, anything that you wouldn't expect?
No, I wouldn't say anything too unusual. We start the day with a cheeky Mimosa or Bucks Fizz.
What's the best gift you've ever received or given?
Maybe when I was 9 or 10, I got my first ever go karting crash helmet which I wasn鈥檛 expecting.
What's the worst gift you've ever received or given, worst gifts I've ever received?
There鈥檚 all the standard ones, like pants and socks and stuff like that. You get them every year, you know they help out, but it's nothing to write home about. I鈥檝e probably regifted things before although I can鈥檛 think of anything in particular.
If you could be any character from a Christmas film, who would it be? Any character from a Christmas film?
It's got to be Kevin from Home Alone. He always comes out on top.
How many sprouts are you having with Christmas dinner?
I鈥檒l normally put a couple on my plate just for a bit of decoration. In more recent years, I've managed to stomach them but I'm not a big sprout lover.
Did you ever take part in a Christmas, nativity or Panto, and what character did you play?
When I was really young at school I was a background character, like a tree or something. I've never actively gone out and done something like that before.
Why did you say yes to Strictly Christmas?
Good question. I'm still thinking why did I because it's so different to what I'm used to! It took a little bit of convincing. Part of the reason is just to do something very different off the back of recently doing the Ironman challenge for Comic Relief which has taken up the last year of my life and been very regimented, very disciplined. I thought it'd be nice to do something a little bit more creative.
You've got Craig for Secret Santa. What you buying him?
I feel like whatever I buy him, he will judge harshly so I would have to put a lot of thought into it!
You recently broke the double whammy team record for that Iron Man World Championships. How do you think the strictly Christmas special will compare?
It's a very different environment to be in, I've gone from being this disciplined, three hours of training a day athlete to getting jazzed up and dressed up in all sorts of costumes and outfits and learning how to dance from scratch. Physically, I hadn't thought it would be as demanding and tricky for me being a double amputee but it has as it鈥檚 such a different way of moving your body.
I've been smiling quite a lot in rehearsals though which is probably a good sign. I'm a very plain and casual kind of clothing guy and I don't like to wear lots of glamorous, glitzy stuff but coming in to Strictly, it's obviously the polar opposite of that. I think if you're going to do Strictly, you just need to fully embrace it.
How do you feel about performing to the nation on Christmas day?
I鈥檓 still figuring that one out of my head, but I'm excited. It's a bit of fun. There鈥檚 a lot of learning but I'm trying not to think about the fact that it will be out on national TV on Christmas Day, and all my family will definitely be watching. I鈥檒l be watching through my fingers.
How did your family react when you told them you're taking part?
They all had a little laugh about me being Strictlyfied. I think they all find the idea quite entertaining as it鈥檚 so different for me. I think they're excited.
Vogue Williams
What's your favourite Christmas song that will get you dancing in the kitchen?
Feliz Navidad. My mum lives in Spain and we all used to listen to that song, so literally, our favourite one. I can listen to that at any time of year as well.
Do you stay in your PJs all day or do you plan a special Christmas outfit?
PJs in the morning, matching PJs with my kids, if possible. Then I always choose a Christmas Day outfit, which I probably get into for about an hour and a half, and then I get back into my PJs.
Can you dance?!
No, I'm learning to dance. I think Carlos鈥� biggest feat will be if he's able to get me to dance. And dance well. I've always loved the look of dancing but I never in a million years thought I鈥檇 be able to do it. So, I'm putting my heart and my poor battered body into it. I'm trying my very best.
What have you asked Santa to bring you this year?
I actually doubled up on asks. I asked Santa to bring me my present for my birthday and my present for Christmas in one this year, because it's a big one. I want a ring.
What is a must have on the Christmas dinner table?
Brussel sprouts. Turkey. Ham. Roast potatoes, roast sweet potatoes, which are always overcooked but so delicious. And loads and loads of veg, as much veg as possible. I love it.
What's the best gift you've ever received or given?
I think the best gift I ever got was when I was younger. I walked into the sitting room and there was a huge trampoline. We were doing up the house at the time so it was an empty room and there's a huge trampoline in there and I was so happy. One year I got a Furby, when it was really hard to get Furbys, and Santa had actually sent me a letter to tell me that he didn't know if he could get me the Furby. Then I got it, so I was chuffed.
What鈥檚 the worst gift you've ever got or given?
I never think a gift is the worst gift. If I get something that I already have I'd always re-gift it. I think people hate getting me gifts because they think I'm hard to buy for. I'm actually quite easy to buy for, I love a good lip balm or any pair of runners.
If you could be a character from any Christmas film, what would it be? Who would it be?
The Grinch. It's so fun that movie. I love The Grinch. I just think he鈥檚 so funny.
Describe the plot of a Christmas movie you would want to watch.
I love the plot of Home Alone. I can't wait until my kids will sit down and probably watch that, it鈥檚 such a great Christmas movie. So something along those power lines, basically where Christmas has to be saved.
How many sprouts are you having with your Christmas dinner?
10,000. I absolutely love them.
Did you ever take part in a Christmas nativity or panto? If so, what character do you play? Any funny anecdotes from school Christmas plays?
I always wanted to be Jesus but I was really tall when I was younger, so obviously I was never going to be Jesus. I was always a shepherd or one of the boys in the back.
Why did you say yes to Strictly Christmas?
I said yes because it's just so fun. It's such a fun, brilliant show. I think if you鈥檙e asked to do something where you鈥檙e able to learn a skill, it's really cool. You get a professional dancer teaching you how to dance and you're getting to go out in an amazing costume. Every single part of it, it's just so exciting to me.
I love the idea of learning how to dance, especially because I'm not really a good dancer at all. I like challenging myself and this is a very big challenge. I think the problem is people think I look like I can dance. I don't know why they get that idea but I actually can't. It's a really fun thing to be able to try and learn.
You've got Shirley for Secret Santa. What are you buying her?
Maybe a giant glitterball for her house or Christmas decorations. I love buying Christmas decorations and I think people always love getting Christmas decorations. It would have to be really shiny if it's for Shirley.
How excited were you when you found out who your pro dance partner would be?
I got really lucky. I really wanted Carlos because I think he's such a fab dancer. I was absolutely delighted when it when I saw it was him.
You are known for your fashion. So are you looking forward to working with a Strictly costume team? How much input do you think you'll have?
I hope I get loads of input. I don't really know how it works. They do such a good job anyway so I'd wear anything they gave me. I know my outfit will be really cool and I'll be really happy.
Do you and Spencer dance with the kids in the kitchen? Any go to moves or signature moves?
We try and do a little bit of dancing. The kids love music. I don't think any of us in our house are dancers but it's all about the vibe.
Tamzin Outhwaite
What鈥檚 your favourite Christmas song that we get you dancing in the kitchen?
It鈥檚 got to be Last Christmas by Wham.
Do you stay in your PJs all day or do you plan a special Christmas outfit?
We have stayed in PJs all day before. Generally, I tend to try and get dressed by dinner time for Christmas Day lunch.
Can you dance?!
I thought I could. I thought that skill would never leave me and it just needed a little bit of finessing but since I've started training, I now know that I'm not really a dancer.
What is a must have on the Christmas dinner table?
For us, gravy is a big thing. Mainly because we had one Christmas where my mum forgot gravy. So that one Christmas became the gravy-less Christmas and it is famous in our family for that.
Are there any Christmas rituals or traditions that you and your family always do?
My mum and dad started a wonderful thing, where we always had a sack at the end of our beds when Santa had been and so we'd come and see what Santa had left in the sack at the end of the beds. Then they would do a separate thing where they would hide a couple of main presents and they would say that's from them. If we found a present that didn't have our name on we had to really slyly put it back in its hiding place. I've carried on that tradition which is basically a full treasure hunt until everyone finds their present.
What's the best gift you've ever received or given?
The most memorable gift was when I was about 11 and I got a purple chopper bike. My parents kept saying, 鈥楥an you please go to the garage and get some black bags?鈥� and I kept saying, 鈥楴o, it's Christmas I鈥檓 not time doing any jobs today鈥�, but my mum was like, 鈥榶ou've got to go鈥�. When I eventually went there was a brand-new purple chopper bike in the garage, and it's what I really wanted.
What's the worst gift you've ever received or given?
I'm sure that I've given some pretty bad ones without knowing. I actually bought my ex an air fryer, which I'm not sure he was particularly happy with. It鈥檚 in my house now and we use it every day.
If you could be any character from a Christmas film? Who would it be?
I think it's got to be Emma Thompson in Love Actually.
How many sprouts are you having with your Christmas dinner?
At least three. If they're not too mushy and they've got bacon in it then I'm having at least three, maybe four.
Did you ever take part in a Christmas, nativity or panto? And what character did you play? Do you have any funny anecdotes?
I've only done a panto once, many, many years ago, when I was still starting out. It was at the Queen's theatre in Hornchurch and I played Fairy Forgetful. One time I was dressed as a pea and everyone took the mickey out of me because Fairy Forgetful forgot that there was a huge hole in the stage and fell under the stage. Luckily I had this huge, ridiculous outfit on so I was okay.
Why did you say yes to Strictly Christmas?
I've always wanted to do Strictly because I want to learn to Ballroom and Latin dance but I know that at my age, I don't think my body would be able to do the amount of weeks that is required. So I said yes to the Christmas Special because it feel like a little snippet, a Strictly hors d'oeuvre. Like I could just dip in for a couple of weeks.
You鈥檙e good friends with Sarah Hadland who is on this year鈥檚 main series. Has she or any of your other famous friends given you any advice or tips?
I haven鈥檛 told anyone yet but I leave Sarah the odd voice note saying, 鈥榳ell done, that was brilliant鈥� and 鈥極h my God, I don't know how you're doing it.鈥� She's a great performer, she's doing amazing.
How excited were you when you found out that Nikita was your dance partner?
Very excited because we call him Prince Charming in the house. He just has the hair and face and the body and everything, he looks like Prince Charming.
You've been a familiar face on our screens for years, playing some iconic roles and characters. Will you be channelling any of your characters on the Strictly ballroom?
I think that Rebecca Mitchell from Hotel Babylon would do a great Paso Doble. For some reason I reckon Jo McDonagh in Red Cap would be quite good at the Jive. Most of my characters are really strong women and I'm really having to think about being feminine, elegant, and allowing the man to lead which I suppose is quite different to most of my characters.
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey
What鈥檚 your favourite Christmas song that will get you dancing in the kitchen?
Last Christmas by Wham
Can you dance?!
I have no idea to be honest! I have got rhythm and I enjoy dancing.
What made you say yes to Strictly Christmas?
I鈥檝e always wanted to be a part of the Strictly family from a very young age. I鈥檝e always enjoyed watching the athlete contestants and finding new ways to move your body. I have so much respect for the pros as they鈥檙e athletes in their own right. Learning a new skill is always something that I appreciate too and I'm always up for the challenge.
What鈥檚 the best gift you have ever received?
Surprisingly I'm not one for receiving gifts. I love giving gifts so my most favourite gift I鈥檝e given would be the first Christmas when I earned enough money to be able to buy everyone a good present, including my wife, my sisters and my parents. That was a really nice moment.
What are you asking Santa for this Christmas?
Well, Strictly! It's been on my to do list forever, they can feel free to invite me back so I鈥檒l put that on my Christmas list...
We saw you dancing with Vito on social media while you were on MasterChef, has he given you any advice?
Believe it or not, those TikToks were all my idea! We鈥檇 be sitting around in between cooks and I鈥檇 be like come on Vito let鈥檚 put those hips to good use. He鈥檚 been a really good medium to channel my energy through. He鈥檚 been really calming and telling me to enjoy the process.
What will you bring from Gladiators to Strictly Christmas?
I鈥檓 an athlete at heart so training and learning new fundamentals is something that really excites me. There might be some moves I can bring but what I bring is the energy and there will be a smile on my face. I can鈥檛 bring Nitro鈥檚 cockiness to Strictly because the Gladiators arena is his home but the ballroom isn鈥檛 my domain.
You鈥檙e used to performing in front of crowds, how do you think that will compare to performing for viewers on Strictly on Christmas Day?
Being able to stand in front of an audience and perform you have to have an air of confidence. You can always do your best as long as your confident in yourself, it鈥檚 not about winning but it鈥檚 about being the best version of yourself.
How did you react when you found out Nancy was your partner?
I was really happy. I talk a lot about energy because I鈥檓 very positive and like to share the positivity and Nancy is in that lane. She is so bubbly and energetic, she鈥檚 serious but in such a kind way.
The Judges
Shirley Ballas
What will make you give a 10 on this year鈥檚 Christmas special?
I鈥檒l be looking for a beautifully wrapped routine with great leg action, body action, technique and personality that is larger than life.
What do you think of the cast this year?
As always, the cast is amazing. It鈥檚 great to have new celebrities dance for us at Christmas and I know for sure that we鈥檙e in for a real treat. We鈥檝e got a comedian, a DJ, a Drag Queen and so much more. I can鈥檛 wait.
Which other judge or Tess/Claud would you want to buy a gift for in Secret Santa and what would you get them?
I鈥檇 love to buy Claudia a pair of sparkly Latin shoes so she can practice her fundamentals.
Which judge or Tess/Claud would you want to have buying you a gift and what is top of your wishlist this year?
I鈥檇 love Tess to buy me a blonde wig so I can have beautiful locks like hers.
If there was a Strictly Christmas party, who would be the last one on the dancefloor and why?
Carlos would be the last one standing for sure 鈥� everyone else would be leaving and he鈥檇 still be on the singing and dancing on the floor. He鈥檚 the biggest showman we have, and we love him.
What does a typical Christmas day look like in your household? Any fun/unusual festive traditions?
I like a relaxed Christmas with my mother, niece and her fianc茅. This year were going to my friend鈥檚 house, and I know she鈥檚 going to do a cracking Christmas dinner so I鈥檓 excited for that.
Do you have a stand out performance from Strictly Christmas over the years?
George Webster and Amy dancing their Charleston will fill me with Christmas joy for many Christmases to come. It was remarkably joyous.
Describe the plot of a Christmas movie you would want to watch?
A movie where a mother and son live far away from each other and every day the mother makes a wish for her son to visit her on Christmas. On Christmas day the wish comes true... I think I just described my own Christmas wish!
Did you ever take part in a Christmas Nativity and what character did you play? Any funny anecdotes from school Christmas plays?
I was always the angel 鈥� and I鈥檇 like to think I still am an angel!
Craig Revel Horwood
What will make you give a 10 on this year鈥檚 Christmas special?
Perfection.
What do you think of the cast this year?
A fun and vibrant cast, who look like they are going to be the best yet!
Which other judge or Tess/Claud would you want to buy a gift for in Secret Santa and what would you get them?
Claudia, something really goofy to match her personality. Maybe a wooden spoon with my face on it... and a year鈥檚 supply of eyeliner!
Which judge or Tess/Claud would you want to have buying you a gift and what is top of your wishlist this year?
Motsi, and I鈥檇 love one of her fabulous wigs.
If there was a Strictly Christmas party, who would be the last one to get onto on the dancefloor and why?
Me, I don鈥檛 like to sweat!
What does a typical Christmas day look like in your household? Any fun/unusual festive traditions?
Traditional, turkey and all the trimmings. Oh and a game of Christmas croquet.
Do you have a stand out performance from Strictly Christmas over the years?
Me dressed as the Grinch!
Describe the plot of a Christmas movie you would want to watch?
Any storyline with Scrooge.
Did you ever take part in a Christmas Nativity and what character did you play?
Nativity Rocks the movie, and I played the villain, Emmanuel Cavendish
Motsi Mabuse
What will make you give a 10 on this year鈥檚 Christmas special?
For me, a 10 has to come from a performance that truly touches my heart and makes me feel all the joy of Christmas. It鈥檚 about a combination of storytelling, emotion, and technical brilliance. If someone can make me cry and laugh within two minutes while keeping perfect timing and rhythm鈥攖hen it鈥檚 a 10!
What do you think of the cast this year?
The cast this year is phenomenal! They bring such energy and festive spirit to the dance floor. Every single one of them has something special to offer, and I love how they embrace the magic of the season. It鈥檚 going to be a tough competition to call because the talent is so fabulous!
Which other judge or Tess/Claud would you want to buy a gift for in Secret Santa, and what would you get them?
I鈥檇 love to buy a gift for Tess and Claudia. Tess is so elegant and gracious, so I think a beautiful, personalised piece of jewellery would suit her perfectly鈥攕omething that sparkles as much as she does on screen! I鈥檇 want to buy Claudia a gift because she鈥檚 so quirky and fun, and I know it would be something unexpected! On my wishlist? A luxurious spa retreat would be great from anyone.
If there was a Strictly Christmas party, who would be the last one on the dancefloor and why?
Oh, without a doubt, Craig! He may be tough as a judge, but I know he secretly loves the dancefloor, and once he starts moving, he wouldn鈥檛 stop until the early hours. Plus, I can imagine him throwing in some cheeky cha-cha-cha moves!
What does a typical Christmas day look like in your household? Any fun/unusual festive traditions?
Christmas in our house is all about family, food, and fun! We wake up early, open presents together, and spend the day cooking a big feast while listening to Christmas music. One unusual tradition? We always end the day with a little family dance in the living room
Do you have a standout performance from Strictly Christmas over the years?
Oh, I love remembering that Christmas Special in 2015 because I came over from Germany as an audience member, my fabulous sister Oti danced with the dashing Tom Chambers, and together they brought all the sparkle and energy to the dance floor. They performed a Charleston to Santa Claus Is Comin鈥� to Town, and let me tell you, it was like unwrapping the best Christmas present ever!
Tom was all charm, Oti was full of fire, and their dance was brimming with festive joy - it had everything! From cheeky kicks to playful lifts, they looked like they鈥檇 just stepped out of a classic Christmas movie. Honestly, if Santa needed dance partners, he鈥檇 pick them in a heartbeat!
And Oti being Oti, she brought her signature energy and made sure everyone watching couldn鈥檛 help but smile. It鈥檚 performances like that which remind us why Strictly is so magical during the holidays!
Describe the plot of a Christmas movie you would want to watch.
It would be about a small-town dance teacher who brings the community together through a magical Christmas dance competition. Along the way, she finds love, laughter, and the true meaning of Christmas - think Strictly meets a Hallmark holiday movie!
Did you ever take part in a Christmas Nativity, and what character did you play? Any funny anecdotes from school Christmas plays?
No, but I would have loved to have played an angel in my school鈥檚 Nativity play!
Anton Du Beke
What will make you give a 10 on this year鈥檚 Christmas special?
Just turning up would do it, I鈥檓 very generous at Christmas! I鈥檓 a bit like Father Christmas when it comes to giving 10s so I鈥檇 be surprised if I don鈥檛 give a 10.
What do you think of the cast this year?
They鈥檙e all absolutely fantastic this year, it鈥檚 very exciting! I鈥檓 especially pleased to see another Widdicombe [Josh] on the dance floor!
Which other judge or Tess/Claud would you want to buy a gift for in Secret Santa and what would you get them?
I鈥檇 love to have Craig, and this year I鈥檇 get him some Christmas cheer.
Which judge or Tess/Claud would you want to have buying you a gift and what is top of your wishlist this year?
I think I鈥檇 like Tess to buy me something because she鈥檚 ever so stylish.
If there was a Strictly Christmas party, who would be the last one on the dancefloor and why?
I think it would have to be Carlos Gu because he鈥檚 always got so much energy!
What does a typical Christmas day look like in your household? Any fun/unusual festive traditions?
Carnage, I鈥檝e got seven-year-old twins! It鈥檒l be wonderful carnage though and I can鈥檛 wait. They have such unbridled joy over the Christmas period and it鈥檚 so wonderful. No, we鈥檙e very traditional when it comes to Christmas
Do you have a standout performance from Strictly Christmas over the years?
I鈥檇 have to say when Ann Widdecombe and I dressed up as the Ugly Stepsisters from Cinderella.
Describe the plot of a Christmas movie you would want to watch?
The plot of White Christmas is perfect for me.
Did you ever take part in a Christmas Nativity and what character did you play? Any funny anecdotes from school Christmas plays?
I think I was one of the wise men at school. I don鈥檛 remember it going terribly well!