Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Specials

The Christmas Specials of Strictly Come Dancing have been transmitted by BBC Television each year since 2004. Early editions contained a selection of contestants from the most recent and occasionally previous seasons of the show, however from the 2010 special to the 2013 special, the competition has been contested by celebrities who are unable to compete in the main series due to time constrictions, from 2014 onwards, the competition has been contested by previous contestants, known as "All Stars". With their professional dance partners the celebrities perform their chosen Ballroom or Latin dance which is then marked by the judges. The winning couple is chosen by a studio audience vote.

Results

2004

     Winner

     Runner-up

This Christmas special was broadcast live on 22 December 2004, featuring top couples from both of the first two series (with the exception of Christopher Parker and Julian Clary, who were not able to appear). The show was won by Jill Halfpenny and Darren Bennett. Natasha Kaplinsky and Brendan Cole were second.

Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Arlene Phillips, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.

2005

     Winner

     Runner-up

The Christmas special in 2005, broadcast on 24 December, featured the top four couples (Darren Gough and Lilia Kopylova, Colin Jackson and Erin Boag, Zoë Ball and Ian Waite, James Martin and Camilla Dallerup) from the 2005 series competing against two competitors from the US version, Dancing with the Stars, who danced with two professionals from the British series. The two competitors from the US series were Rachel Hunter, who was teamed with Brendan Cole, and Evander Holyfield, who danced with Karen Hardy. Season 2 winner Jill Halfpenny was scheduled to appear with her partner Darren Bennett, but pulled out due to a breakdown in fee negotiations.

Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Arlene Phillips, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.

As well as winning the 2005 series, Darren Gough and Lilia Kopylova won this Christmas Special, after receiving the full 40 marks from the judges.

2006

     Winner

     Runner-up

The Christmas special in 2006 featured stars from the third and fourth series going head to head to perform their highest-scoring dances. The theme of the programme was black and white, so whether it was wintry white gowns, the little black dress or top hat and tails, the dancers and the dance floor were decked in black and white, setting the stage for some show-stopping performances.

It was a pre-recorded show shown on Christmas Day on BBC One.

Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Arlene Phillips, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.

After the combined scores of the judges' marks and the votes of the studio audience, Colin Jackson and Erin Boag won the competition, after getting the full 40 marks from the judges, with Zoë Ball and Ian Waite being runners up. The final places of the bottom four couples was not announced - they were eliminated from the competition in a random order.

2007

     Winner

     Runner-up

The 2007 Christmas Special featured the top four couples from Series Five (Alesha Dixon, Matt Di Angelo, Gethin Jones and Letitia Dean), as well as Darren Gough and Mark Ramprakash (champions of Series Three and Four respectively). The winner was Series Three champion Darren Gough, who received a perfect 40 for his American Smooth, and had the highest score overall when the judges' points were combined with the studio audience vote. Series Five semi-finalist Gethin Jones, who also received a perfect 40 for his Waltz, was runner up. The final place of the bottom four couples was not announced.

It was broadcast on BBC One on Christmas Day (25 December 2007).

Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Arlene Phillips, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.

Darren Gough won his third Strictly trophy after winning series 3 and two Christmas Specials. He and Jill Halfpenny are the only ones to do this.

2008

     Winner

     Runner-up

The 2008 Christmas Special aired on 25 December 2008. Tom Chambers, Rachel Stevens and Lisa Snowdon took on former contestants Jill Halfpenny, Alesha Dixon and Kelly Brook. Brian Fortuna partnered Brook due to her original partner Brendan Cole dancing with his more recent partner Lisa Snowdon. Russell Watson made a special guest appearance.^[1] The celebrities, their professional partners and dance were announced on 17 December 2008.^[2] Due to 4 couples coming top of the leader's board with 39 points, head judge Len was given casting vote on how to break the tie. Therefore, points from the judge were awarded as follows before the audience vote: Alesha 6, Jill 5, Rachel 4, Kelly 3, Tom 2, Lisa 1. After the audience vote Jill Halfpenny was named the 2008 Christmas Champion with Kelly Brook in second place, meaning that Jill joined Darren Gough in having won two Christmas specials, and her partner Darren Bennett equalled his professional partner and wife Lilia Kopylova's two Christmas special victories.

Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Arlene Phillips, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.

2009

     Winner

     Runner-up

The 2009 Christmas Special aired on 25 December 2009. It featured the top three from Series 7 along with former contestants Gethin Jones, Rachel Stevens and Austin Healey. Craig Revel Horwood, Len Goodman, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli provided the judging. Darcey Bussell didn't judge. After the audience vote Ali Bastian & Brian Fortuna were declared champions. Rachel Stevens & Vincent Simone were second.

Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Len Goodman, Alesha Dixon, Bruno Tonioli.

2010

     Winner

The 2010 Christmas Special aired on 25 December 2010. That special, instead of having celebrities from previous years, had five new celebrities who didn't have time to do the full show.

Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Len Goodman, Alesha Dixon, Bruno Tonioli.

2011

     Winner

The full lineup of the 2011 Christmas special, once again featuring five new celebrities who could not commit to the full series, was announced on 23 November 2011.^[3]

Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Len Goodman, Alesha Dixon, Bruno Tonioli.

2012

     Winner

The full lineup of the 2012 Christmas special, featuring six new celebrities who could not commit to the full series, was announced on 28 November 2012.^[4]

Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.

A musical interlude was provided by the popular singer Rod Stewart.^[5]

As a new addition to the Christmas specials, a "Strictly Allstar" group of seven previous contestants from the show returned for a group dance, and appearances from Ann Widdecombe and Russell Grant were also in the programme.

2013

     Winner

The full lineup of the 2013 Christmas special, featuring six new celebrities who could not commit to the full series, was announced on 25 November 2013.^[6]

Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.

2014

     Winner

The full lineup of the 2014 Christmas special, which in a change to recent tradition, features six returning contestants, was announced on 13 November 2014.

Most of the celebrities were given new partners, with the exception of Lisa Riley, who was reunited with her dance partner, Robin Windsor.^[7]

Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.

2015

     Winner

The full lineup of the 2015 Christmas special, which in a change to recent tradition, features six returning contestants, was announced on 19 November 2015.^[8]

Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.

2016

     Winner

The celebrity lineup of the 2016 Christmas special, which like the previous year, features six returning contestants, was announced on 7 November 2016.^[9] The professional partners were revealed on 11 November 2016.^[10] This marks the first time a contestant who wasn't part of the final three won the Christmas special.

Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.

2017

     Winner

The full line-up of the 2017 Christmas special, which features six returning contestants and their professional partners, was announced on 6 November 2017.^[11]

Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell, Shirley Ballas, Bruno Tonioli.

References