Strictly Come Dancing

Strictly Come Dancing (informally known as Strictly) is a British television dance contest in which celebrities partner with professional dancers to compete in mainly ballroom and Latin dance. Each couple is scored by a panel of judges. The format has been exported to over 40 other countries – under the title Dancing with the Stars – licensed by BBC Worldwide, and led to a modern dance-themed spin-off Strictly Dance Fever. The Guinness World Records has named Strictly to be the world's most successful reality television format.[8] The series is currently presented by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

Strictly Come Dancing
GenreDance Talent show
Created by
Developed byKaren Smith
Presented by
Judges
Voices ofAlan Dedicoat
Theme music composer
  • Dan McGrath[5]
  • Josh Phillips[6]
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original language(s)English
No. of series17
No. of episodes348
Production
Executive producer(s)Karen Smith (2004–2006)
Production location(s)
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time30–120 minutes
Production company(s)BBC Studios
DistributorBBC Studios
Release
Original networkBBC One
Picture format
Audio format
Original release15 May 2004 (2004-05-15) 
present
Chronology
Related shows
External links
Website

The series has been broadcast on BBC One since 15 May 2004, typically on Saturday evenings with a following Sunday night results show. With its high viewing figures, Strictly Come Dancing has become a significant programme on British television.[9] Eleven stand-alone Christmas specials and nine charity specials have also been produced. Since the fourth series, the show has aired in high definition.

In April 2014, Sir Bruce Forsyth retired from presenting the main series. While intending to return as host for each Children in Need and Christmas special, he only did so for the Christmas special in 2014 and the Children in Need special in 2015. He recorded a video message for the 2015 Christmas special[10] as he was unable to appear due to illness.[11] Forsyth died on 18 August 2017.[12]

Development

Producer Richard Hopkins, who had produced the first UK series of Big Brother, unsuccessfully pitched the idea of a modern Come Dancing to the BBC under the title of Pro-Celebrity Dancing in 2003.[13] Later, entertainment executive Fenia Vardanis also suggested reviving Come Dancing, so Jane Lush, the then head of BBC Entertainment, put Hopkins and Vardanis together to develop the show.[13]

Hopkins then called in Karen Smith, who had just produced Comic Relief Does Fame Academy for BBC One and The Games for Channel 4, to help lead the development of the show and launch the series. Smith was the show running Executive Producer of the first three series, and of sister show It Takes Two.[14] She then took the role of Creative Director of BBC Entertainment whilst still overseeing series 4 and 5.[15][16]

Hopkins later took the format to America himself when the BBC dismissed the idea of selling it abroad, as they felt it was too British.[17]

Format

From series 1 to 11, Sir Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly presented the pro-celebrity ballroom dancing competition. From series 8 to 11, Forsyth only presented the main show and was replaced for the results show by Claudia Winkleman, at which point Daly assumed Forsyth's role as main presenter and Winkleman assumed Daly's role as co-presenter. Winkleman has joined Daly as full-time co-presenter for series 12 following Forsyth's departure after the 2013 series. Through telephone voting, viewers vote for who they would like to be in the next round, the results of the poll being combined with the ranking of the judges. For example, with ten contestants left, the judges' favourite would receive ten points, second favourite nine points, and so on, and similarly with the viewers' rankings. The bottom ranked couple gets one point.[18] The profits from the telephone lines were donated to Sport Relief in series 1, to Children in Need from series 2, until series 8 when donations to charity stopped.

The show is broadcast live on BBC One on Saturday evenings, and is currently presented by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman (however Zoë Ball covered for Winkleman for a number of weeks in 2014). Sir Bruce Forsyth presented the live shows alongside Daly from 2004 to 2013, announcing his departure in 2014. He was to continue to present special editions of the show.[19] For some of the second series, Natasha Kaplinsky stood in temporarily for Daly while she took maternity leave; Claudia Winkleman hosted the results show and editions that Forsyth had missed between 2010 and 2013. The judging panel initially consisted of Bruno Tonioli, Arlene Phillips, Len Goodman and Craig Revel Horwood. Alesha Dixon took Phillips' place from series 7 to 9, after which she left the programme to judge Britain's Got Talent which led retired ballerina Dame Darcey Bussell to replace her. Bussell remained a judge alongside Goodman, Tonioli and Revel Horwood until 2018.[20] Tonioli commutes weekly between Hollywood and London to judge both the American and British versions of the show simultaneously. Each judge gives the performance a mark out of ten, giving an overall total out of forty. The voice-over announcer is Alan Dedicoat. During series four, an hour-long highlights show was shown on Sundays at 19:00 on BBC Two, and during series five and six, the results show moved to Sunday evenings, although it was filmed on Saturday and then broadcast "as live" on the Sunday.

The singers on the show are Tommy Blaize, Hayley Sanderson, Lance Ellington, Andrea Grant and formerly the well known UK dance music vocalist Tara McDonald. The music director is David Arch. Tommy Blaize has been part of Strictly since its beginning. David Arch joined in the fourth series and Hayley Sanderson in the fifth. In the seventeenth series the singers were joined by Mitchell.[21]

The show was broadcast from a specially constructed set at BBC Television Centre (primarily in the largest studio, TC1[22]) until its closure in 2013, with the show moving to Elstree Studios' George Lucas Stage 2 from 2013 onwards. However, in the first two series, shows were also filmed at the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool, where the original Come Dancing series was filmed in the 1970s.[23][24]

In the second series, two shows were filmed at the Tower Ballroom, show five and the Grand Final which was broadcast live on 11 December 2004.[25][26] In 2005 though the BBC announced that they would not be returning to the venue for the third series due to "logistical problems".[27] In October 2008, Craig Revel Horwood called for the series to return to the Tower Ballroom, saying, "the atmosphere was electric. It's huge and has so much history. The Tower Ballroom puts a lot of pressure on the professionals and the celebrities to perform to the best of their potential. What a wonderful place to go live to 12 million people. We have got to get the BBC to bring Strictly Come Dancing back to Blackpool." Eventually, the show did return to the Tower Ballroom, for series 7, where Blackpool-born Craig Kelly was eliminated. The episode was aired live on 7 November 2009.[28] Strictly Come Dancing returned to Blackpool for the 2010[29] and 2011 series.[30] Then after series 10 when Strictly Come Dancing did not go to Blackpool, they announced that they would return for series 11.[31]

Presenters and judges

Presenters

Current presenters
Former presenters
Guest presenters
It Takes Two presenter(s)
  • Zoë Ball, 2011–present
  • Rylan Clark-Neal, 2019–present
  • Claudia Winkleman, 2005–2010
  1. In series two, Tess Daly only appeared from week six onwards due to maternity leave. Natasha Kaplinsky served as a temporary replacement.
  2. From series 8 onwards, Winkleman presented the results show alongside Daly, and occasionally the main show, replacing Forsyth. Following Forsyth's departure after series 11, Winkleman became a permanent co-presenter.
  3. From series eight to 11, Sir Bruce Forsyth only hosted the main show.
  4. Covered for Tess Daly in the first five weeks of the second series.
  5. Corbett was a guest host in the ninth week of the seventh series.
  6. In series twelve, Zoë Ball co-presented weeks six, seven and eight of the main show with Daly, covering for Winkleman. Ball was also a contestant on the show in the third series.

Judging panel

Current judges
Former judges
Guest judges
  1. Goodman was head judge during his time. He missed the sixth week of the ninth series so Revel Horwood served as temporary head judge.
  2. Dixon was a contestant in the fifth series in 2007, coming first place.
  3. Bussell also served as a guest judge throughout weeks twelve to fourteen for seventh series.
  4. Grey served as a guest judge in the place of Goodman during the sixth week of the ninth series.
  5. Osmond served as a guest judge for the third week of the twelfth series.
  6. Ribeiro filled in for Tonioli for the fifth week of the sixteenth series and the seventeenth series.

Professional dancers

Key:

     Winner of the series
     Second place/runner-up(s) of the series
     Third place of the series
     First elimination of the series
     Withdrew in the series
     Participating in current series

Current

Professional Avg. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Anton du Beke
24.50
Karen Hauer
26.01
Aljaž Skorjanec
30.66
Emma Weymouth
Janette Manrara
28.71
Giovanni Pernice
34.02
Oti Mabuse
31.85
Katya Jones
27.23
Amy Dowden
30.90
Dianne Buswell
30.09
Nadiya Bychkova
25.68
Neil Jones
27.73
Johannes Radebe
25.50
Luba Mushtuk
12.00

Former

Professional Avg. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Brendan Cole
28.00
Camilla Dallerup
29.84
Erin Boag
27.34
Richard Arnold
Hanna Karttunen
20.08
John Byrnes
30.00
Kylie Jones
20.00
Paul Killick
22.88
Darren Bennett
30.14
Hazel Newberry
8.00
Ian Waite
31.52
Zoë Ball
Lilia Kopylova
29.11
Nicole Cutler
21.58
Andrew Cuerden
23.00
Hanna Haarala
26.17
Izabela Hannah
19.60
Karen Hardy
29.04
Matthew Cutler
31.42
Christine Bleakley
Flavia Cacace
28.73
James Jordan
31.86
Ola Jordan
27.04
Vincent Simone
31.21
Brian Fortuna
31.48
Hayley Holt
19.75
Kristina Rihanoff
28.31
Aliona Vilani
32.53
Matt Baker
Katya Virshilas
26.21
Natalie Lowe
29.51
Artem Chigvintsev
33.80
Jared Murillo
26.75
Robin Windsor
28.49
Pasha Kovalev
32.27
Iveta Lukosiute
25.47
Anya Garnis
32.61
Kevin Clifton
32.70
Joanne Clifton
30.91
Trent Whiddon
34.55
Tristan MacManus
24.25
Gleb Savchenko
30.77
AJ Pritchard
29.73
Saffron Barker
Gorka Márquez
32.00
Oksana Platero
29.64
Graziano Di Prima
24.20

Notes and statistics

  • Iveta Lukosiute was a replacement partner for Johnny Ball in series 10 after his original partner, Aliona Vilani, was injured in training.
  • Although Ian Waite no longer dances competitively on the show, he still makes regular appearances on the companion programme It Takes Two. Waite and Darren Bennett both participated in the professional dance troupe in series 8, and Waite stood in as a temporary dance partner in series 8, due to the unavailability of Brendan Cole.
  • Anton du Beke is the only professional dancer who has taken part in every series of the show.
  • Only four professionals have won in their first series of being a Strictly professional. Those four are Brendan Cole (Series 1), Darren Bennett (Series 2), Artem Chigvintsev (Series 8) and Aljaž Skorjanec (series 11)
  • Only four professionals have won in their last series of being a Strictly professional. Those four are Camilla Dallerup (Series 6), Flavia Cacace (Series 10), Aliona Vilani (series 13) and Joanne Clifton (series 14).
  • In series 11, Aliona Vilani (who had previously been announced as leaving the show) was a replacement for Natalie Lowe who was injured before the series started. The producers of the show announced this on 2 September 2013.
  • Aliona Vilani is the first professional in history to be eliminated first twice in a row with Tony Jacklin in series 11 and Gregg Wallace in series 12. She is also the only professional, however, to have won more than once (with Harry Judd and Jay McGuiness).
  • Kevin Clifton has the most appearances in the final of any professional dancer, with five (2013–16, 2018).
  • Since series 13, the show has had more professional dancers than celebrities to partner with. The following professional dancers have been without celebrity partners:
  • Neil Jones suffered an injury in series 17 and was unable to dance with his celebrity partner Alex Scott in weeks 6 and 7, though he continued to choreograph the dances. Kevin Clifton danced with Alex while Neil was injured.

Professional partners

Some of the dancers form professional partnerships, dancing together competitively or on the show. Darren Bennet and Lilia Kopylova,[34] and James and Ola Jordan are married,[35] while Matthew and Nicole Cutler are divorced but still professional partners.[36][37] Anton du Beke and Erin Boag[38] have danced as a professional couple since 1997; Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace are a former Argentine Tango world champion couple.[39] Brendan Cole and Katya Virshilas danced professionally for several years before parting in November 2009.[40][41][42] Karen Hauer and Kevin Clifton were engaged when Kevin entered the show in 2013 and were married prior to the 2015 season, Janette Manrara and Aljaž Škorjanec were married in 2017. Neil and Katya Jones were also married, until their split in 2019.

Presentation

Dances

On average, dances last for approximately 90 seconds.[43] The music for the dances are performed by The Strictly Come Dancing Band.

  • The Waltz, Cha Cha Cha, Quickstep, Rumba, Tango, Jive, Foxtrot, Paso Doble and Samba have all been danced since Series 1.
  • The American Smooth and the Viennese Waltz were added in Series 3.
  • The Salsa and the Argentine Tango were added in Series 4.
  • No more dances were added until Series 7, week 11 when couples performed either a Charleston (which winner Chris Hollins chose to perform again in the final) or a Rock N' Roll routine. The final also featured a head-to-head Lindyhop. Of these dances, only the Charleston was retained for subsequent series, although elements of the Lindyhop have often featured in Showdances.
  • Series 8 introduced the Swing-a-thon, where all remaining couples dance Swing simultaneously and are voted off the dancefloor one by one by the judges until only one couple remains. This returned in Series 9 and 11.
  • The tenth series featured a "Dance Fusion", in which the couples attempt to perform two dances consecutively in one routine.
  • The twelfth series introduced the Waltz-a-thon, which uses the same manner as the Swing-a-thon of all remaining couples on the dance floor at the same time, all the couples dance Waltz. Afterwards, the results are revealed by the judges.
  • The thirteenth series introduced a Quickstep-a-thon, in which all seven remaining couples simultaneously performed a quickstep. The judges then ranked them one to seven and gave points accordingly.
  • The fourteenth series saw the Cha-Cha-Challenge introduced, in which all six remaining couples simultaneously performed a cha-cha-cha. The judges then ranked them one to six and gave points accordingly.
  • The sixteenth series introduced Contemporary, Jazz, Street dances as part of a "couples' choice" category.
  • A Showdance (Freestyle) has always been performed in the series final as a last chance for couples to impress the public. However, since Series 8, the Showdance has been danced as the second dance in the final.

Prior to series 10, the dances performed in the early weeks are switched between one Ballroom and one Latin, and are divided as evenly as possible depending on the number of contestants left. As the competition progressed further, this system is abandoned and many styles, not just two, can be performed in one week by each of the remaining contestants. From series 4 through 7, the remaining contestants who made it to the semi-finals are granted to perform the semi-final-exclusive Argentine Tango. Beginning with series 10, this has all changed. The contestants are now allowed to dance whichever dance they are bestowed to (not accustomed to any patterns), though the Argentine Tango remains to be somewhat reserved for the latter stages of the series. The Showdance, however, is still restricted only for the finalists from the very first series until now.

Coaching

As of series four, coaches are Jaclyn Spencer and Chris Marques (aka Cuban Groove) for Salsa and Mambo, and Jenny Thomas and Ryan Francois for Swing, Jive, Rock n Roll and The Charleston. The Argentine Tango coaches in series three were Flavia Cacace and Vincent Simone, both of whom have subsequently competed in the show.

Results show

From Series 1–4, the results show was shown live, later on the Saturday 1 hour after the performances.

From Series 5 onwards, the results show is recorded on the Saturday night directly after the live show and incorporates the result of the viewers' votes which are completed by 21:30. This was confirmed by the official BBC website in 2008:

The Sunday show is recorded on Saturday night but no element involving the results of the vote will start recording until after lines are closed and votes counted and verified.[44]

Throughout the Sunday results show the presenters refer to 'last night' in reference to the main show, due to the timing of the Sunday programme, and Tess Daly, Claudia Winkleman's and the judges' outfits are changed to present an illusion of a second live broadcast.

For Series 7, the Sunday results show was axed and put back to Saturday nights as a result of a revamp of the show.[45] It was then put back on Sundays in Series 8.

Dance-off

A new system called the dance-off was introduced in series 5. It continued on the program through series 7, was not used for series 8 and 9, but was reinstated as of series 10 and has remained a feature of the show ever since. There are two couples in each dance-off, which occurs on the results show: the two who received the lowest totals that week from the combined judges' scores and the public vote. The aim of the dance-off is for the couples to convince the judges that they deserve to go through to the following week's competition. Before they attempt the dance a second time the couple sometimes gets advice from the judges. The judges decide who continues on the show and who is eliminated based on the second dance performances. If three of the judges agree that one of the couples should be "saved", that couple is through to the following week's competition and the Head Judge's vote is not counted. If one couple has two votes and the other couple has one vote, then the deciding vote is cast by the Head Judge, originally Len Goodman and currently Shirley Ballas. Afterwards, the eliminated couple perform one final dance—some people call it waltzing out of the ballroom. The Monday after they are eliminated they appear on It Takes Two to talk about their time on the show. The dance-off has been cancelled only once, in series 14, due to an injury sustained earlier by one of the contestants, Anastacia. She was unable to perform the dance-off, and the couple with the lowest total was eliminated.

Strictly: It Takes Two

During the run of Strictly Come Dancing, Strictly: It Takes Two is broadcast each weeknight on BBC Two. The series was previously hosted by Claudia Winkleman; but, due to her pregnancy in 2011, she had to leave the series, and Zoë Ball took over from Series 9.[46]

The show features reviews of the performances during the previous Saturday's show, and interviews with, and training footage of, the couples preparing for the next show. The judges and other celebrities also provide their opinions on how the couples are doing. It Takes Two replaced Strictly Come Dancing on Three, hosted by Justin Lee Collins, which ran on BBC Three during the first series. Prior to 2010, BBC Two Scotland aired the programme on four nights only, running their own Gaelic-language programming on Thursdays instead.

Main series results

No. Weeks Premiere date Finale date Couples Winners Runners-up Third place
1 8 15 May 2004 3 July 2004 8 Natasha Kaplinsky & Brendan Cole Christopher Parker & Hanna Karttunen Lesley Garrett & Anton du Beke
2 8 23 October 2004 11 December 2004 10 Jill Halfpenny & Darren Bennett Denise Lewis & Ian Waite Julian Clary & Erin Boag
3 10 15 October 2005 17 December 2005 12 Darren Gough & Lilia Kopylova Colin Jackson & Erin Boag Zoë Ball & Ian Waite
4 12 7 October 2006 23 December 2006 14 Mark Ramprakash & Karen Hardy Matt Dawson & Lilia Kopylova Emma Bunton & Darren Bennett
5 12 6 October 2007 22 December 2007 14 Alesha Dixon & Matthew Cutler Matt Di Angelo & Flavia Cacace Gethin Jones & Camilla Dallerup
6 14 20 September 2008 20 December 2008 16 Tom Chambers & Camilla Dallerup Rachel Stevens & Vincent Simone Lisa Snowdon & Brendan Cole
7 14 18 September 2009 19 December 2009 16 Chris Hollins & Ola Jordan Ricky Whittle & Natalie Lowe Ali Bastian & Brian Fortuna
8 12 1 October 2010 18 December 2010 14 Kara Tointon & Artem Chigvintsev Matt Baker & Aliona Vilani Pamela Stephenson & James Jordan
9 12 30 September 2011 17 December 2011 14 Harry Judd & Aliona Vilani Chelsee Healey & Pasha Kovalev Jason Donovan & Kristina Rihanoff
No. Weeks Premiere date Finale date Couples
Winners
Runners-up
10 12 5 October 2012 22 December 2012 14 Louis Smith & Flavia Cacace Denise Van Outen & James Jordan, Kimberley Walsh & Pasha Kovalev
11 13 27 September 2013 21 December 2013 15 Abbey Clancy & Aljaž Škorjanec Natalie Gumede & Artem Chigvintsev, Susanna Reid & Kevin Clifton
12 13 26 September 2014 20 December 2014 15 Caroline Flack & Pasha Kovalev Frankie Bridge & Kevin Clifton, Simon Webbe & Kristina Rihanoff
13 13 25 September 2015 19 December 2015 15 Jay McGuiness & Aliona Vilani Georgia May Foote & Giovanni Pernice, Kellie Bright & Kevin Clifton
14 13 23 September 2016 17 December 2016 15 Ore Oduba & Joanne Clifton Danny Mac & Oti Mabuse, Louise Redknapp & Kevin Clifton
15 13 23 September 2017 16 December 2017 15 Joe McFadden & Katya Jones Alexandra Burke & Gorka Márquez, Debbie McGee & Giovanni Pernice, Gemma Atkinson & Aljaž Škorjanec
16 13 22 September 2018 15 December 2018 15 Stacey Dooley & Kevin Clifton Ashley Roberts & Pasha Kovalev, Faye Tozer & Giovanni Pernice, Joe Sugg & Dianne Buswell
17 13 21 September 2019 14 December 2019 15 Kelvin Fletcher & Oti Mabuse Emma Barton & Anton du Beke, Karim Zeroual & Amy Dowden

Series 1 (2004)

In Spring 2004, Strictly Come Dancing commenced its first series. The professional dancers were: Brendan Cole, Hanna Karttunen, Anton Du Beke, Erin Boag, John Byrnes, Paul Killick, Camilla Dallerup and Kylie Jones. This was the only series that took place in the Spring/Summer months. From the second series onwards, the show takes place from September/October to December each year. Natasha Kaplinsky & Brendan Cole were crowned the first winners. This was the shortest series, with 8 weeks.

Celebrity Professional Result (week voted out)
Jason Wood Kylie Jones Week 2
David Dickinson Camilla Dallerup Week 3
Verona Joseph Paul Killick Week 4
Claire Sweeney John Byrnes Week 5
Martin Offiah Erin Boag Week 6
Lesley Garrett Anton du Beke 3rd place
Christopher Parker Hanna Karttunen Runners up
Natasha Kaplinsky Brendan Cole Series winners

Series 2 (2004)

In Autumn 2004, the second series commenced. 5 of the 8 professionals returned. These professionals were: Brendan Cole, Anton Du Beke, Erin Boag, Paul Killick and Camilla Dallerup. There were 5 new professionals who were: Darren Bennett, Ian Waite, Lilia Kopylova, Nicole Cutler and Hazel Newberry. Hazel only participated in this series while the other professionals competed in the following series.

A new spin-off show called Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two presented by Claudia Winkleman was created this series and has continued to air alongside each following series, now hosted by Zoë Ball on BBC Two.

Celebrity Professional Result (week voted out)
Quentin Willson Hazel Newberry Week 1
Carol Vorderman Paul Killick Week 2
Esther Rantzen Anton du Beke Week 3
Diarmuid Gavin Nicole Cutler Week 4
Sarah Manners Brendan Cole Week 5
Roger Black Camilla Dallerup Week 6
Aled Jones Lilia Kopylova Week 7
Julian Clary Erin Boag Third place
Denise Lewis Ian Waite Runners up
Jill Halfpenny Darren Bennett Series winners

Series 3 (2005)

In 2005, the third series commenced. Brendan Cole, Anton Du Beke, Erin Boag, Camilla Dallerup, Darren Bennett, Ian Waite and Lilia Kopylova returned from the last series. Nicole Cutler, Paul Killick and Hazel Newberry did not return. They were replaced by Karen Hardy, Hanna Haarala, Izabela Hannah, Andrew Cuerden and Matthew Cutler.

The celebrities that took part in this series were as follows:

Celebrity Professional Result (week voted out)
Siobhan Hayes Matthew Cutler Week 1
Jaye Jacobs Andrew Cuerden Week 2
Gloria Hunniford Darren Bennett Week 3
Fiona Phillips Brendan Cole Week 4
Dennis Taylor Izabela Hannah Week 5
Will Thorp Hanna Haarala Week 6
Bill Turnbull Karen Hardy Week 7
Patsy Palmer Anton du Beke Week 8
James Martin Camilla Dallerup Week 9
Zoë Ball Ian Waite Third place
Colin Jackson Erin Boag Runners up
Darren Gough Lilia Kopylova Series winners

Series 4 (2006)

The show ran from 7 October to 23 December 2006. Over 12 million votes were cast, raising £1.5 million for Children in Need. A peak of 13 million viewers tuned into the final show of series four to see Mark Ramprakash and Karen Hardy crowned 2006 Strictly Come Dancing champions.

This series introduced four new professional dancers – Flavia Cacace, James Jordan, Ola Jordan and Vincent Simone. Andrew Cuerden, Hanna Haarala and Izabela Hannah did not return to the series. This series also saw the return of Nicole Cutler, who had taken part in Series 2 but not in Series 3.

The couples in order of elimination:

Celebrity Professional Result (week voted out)
Nicholas Owen Nicole Cutler Week 1
Mica Paris Ian Waite Week 2
Jimmy Tarbuck Flavia Cacace Withdrew
DJ Spoony Ola Jordan Week 3
Georgina Bouzova James Jordan Week 4
Jan Ravens Anton du Beke Week 5
Ray Fearon Camilla Dallerup Week 6
Peter Schmeichel Erin Boag Week 7
Claire King Brendan Cole Week 8
Carol Smillie Matthew Cutler Week 9
Louisa Lytton Vincent Simone Week 10
Emma Bunton Darren Bennett Third place
Matt Dawson Lilia Kopylova Runners-up
Mark Ramprakash Karen Hardy Series winners

Series 5 (2007)

The fifth series of Strictly Come Dancing began on BBC One on 29 September 2007, with Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly returning as presenters. For the first and only time, the line up of professionals was unchanged from the previous series. The first programme was a catch-up show and preview to the new series, before the start of the competition on 6 October, which ran for 12 weeks.

The show featured 14 new celebrities, who were paired with 14 professional dancers. In a change to the previous format, the results show was recorded on Saturday and broadcast on Sunday, rather than shown live later on Saturday. In addition to this, the two couples who were at the bottom of the table after the viewers' vote were subject to a dance-off, where they reprised their routine, for the judges to decide who left. Head Judge Len Goodman had the casting vote in case of a tie. The series raised just over a million pounds for Children in Need.[47]

Celebrity Professional Result (week voted out)
Brian Capron Karen Hardy Week 1
Stephanie Beacham Vincent Simone Week 2
Willie Thorne Erin Boag Week 3
Gabby Logan James Jordan Week 4
Dominic Littlewood Lilia Kopylova Week 5
Penny Lancaster-Stewart Ian Waite Week 6
Kate Garraway Anton du Beke Week 7
John Barnes Nicole Cutler Week 8
Kelly Brook Brendan Cole Withdrew[48]
Kenny Logan Ola Jordan Week 9
Letitia Dean Darren Bennett Week 10
Gethin Jones Camilla Dallerup Third place
Matt Di Angelo Flavia Cacace Runners up
Alesha Dixon Matthew Cutler Series winners

Series 6 (2008)

A sixth series of the show was confirmed after the dancers' pay dispute was called off in late June 2008.[49] The series lasted for 14 weeks, which is the longest series so far.[49] The series involved three new professional dancers, Brian Fortuna, Hayley Holt and Kristina Rihanoff.[50] Nicole Cutler did not return to the series.

The sixth series began on 13 September with a behind-the-scenes look at the new series, followed by the first live show on 20 September.[51]

On 19 November 2008, John Sergeant announced that he would be leaving the show because he believed he may "win it".[52]

Celebrity Professional Result (week voted out)
Phil Daniels Flavia Cacace Week 1
Gillian Taylforth Anton du Beke Week 2
Gary Rhodes Karen Hardy Week 3
Jessie Wallace Darren Bennett Week 4
Don Warrington Lilia Kopylova Week 5
Mark Foster Hayley Holt Week 6
Andrew Castle Ola Jordan Week 7
Heather Small Brian Fortuna Week 8
Cherie Lunghi James Jordan Week 9
John Sergeant Kristina Rihanoff Withdrew[52]
Jodie Kidd Ian Waite Week 10
Christine Bleakley Matthew Cutler Week 11
Austin Healey Erin Boag Week 12
Lisa Snowdon Brendan Cole Third place
Rachel Stevens Vincent Simone Runners up
Tom Chambers Camilla Dallerup Series winners

Series 7 (2009)

The seventh series of Strictly Come Dancing ran from 18 September until 19 December 2009.[53] Tess Daly signed a two-year deal to continue presenting the programme for at least the 2009 and 2010 series'.[54]

On 9 July 2009, former competitor Alesha Dixon was confirmed to be joining the judging panel for this series, and that Darcey Bussell would be a guest judge towards the end of the series run. Dixon replaced Arlene Phillips who moved to The One Show as a Strictly Come Dancing expert.[53] The BBC were accused of sexism, as none of the male judges on the show had been replaced. The BBC received over 5,000 complaints. Dixon's fans were also unhappy as she had to cancel a number of dates on her autumn tour to do the programme.[55]

The official line-up was revealed on 25 August 2009 and the winner was BBC Breakfast presenter Chris Hollins:[56]

Celebrity Professional Result (week voted out)
Martina Hingis Matthew Cutler Week 1
Richard Dunwoody Lilia Kopylova Week 2
Rav Wilding Aliona Vilani Week 3
Lynda Bellingham Darren Bennett Week 4
Joe Calzaghe Kristina Rihanoff Week 5
Jo Wood Brendan Cole Week 6
Zöe Lucker James Jordan Week 7
Craig Kelly Flavia Cacace Week 8
Phil Tufnell Katya Virshilas Week 9
Jade Johnson Ian Waite Withdrew
Ricky Groves Erin Boag Week 10
Natalie Cassidy Vincent Simone Week 11
Laila Rouass Anton du Beke Week 12
Ali Bastian Brian Fortuna Third place
Ricky Whittle Natalie Lowe Runners-up
Chris Hollins Ola Jordan Series winners

Series 8 (2010)

The eighth series of Strictly Come Dancing began with a launch show on 11 September 2010, then three weeks later the live shows started on 1 October 2010.[57] Three new professional dancers were announced,[58] The celebrities were revealed on 8 September 2010[59] and the professional partners were revealed during the launch show.[60][61]

Celebrity Professional Result (week voted out)
Goldie Kristina Rihanoff Week 2
Paul Daniels Ola Jordan Week 3
Peter Shilton Erin Boag Week 4
Tina O'Brien Jared Murillo Week 5
Jimi Mistry Flavia Cacace Week 6
Michelle Williams Brendan Cole
Ian Waite (Week 4)
Week 7
Felicity Kendal Vincent Simone Week 8
Patsy Kensit Robin Windsor Week 9
Ann Widdecombe Anton du Beke Week 10
Gavin Henson Katya Virshilas Week 11
Scott Maslen Natalie Lowe Week 11
Pamela Stephenson James Jordan Third place
Matt Baker Aliona Vilani Runners-up
Kara Tointon Artem Chigvintsev Series winners

Series 9 (2011)

Strictly returned with a launch show on 10 September 2011, with the final in December at the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool. Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly returned to front the main show, and Claudia Winkleman presented the Sunday night results show along with Daly.

For Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, a new presenter joined the team. Winkleman had to pull out of the 2011 series as it would be difficult to do a daily programme so soon after giving birth and was replaced by Zoë Ball.

All of series eight's judges returned to the show. Jennifer Grey served as a cover judge for Len Goodman during week six due to his break from the show. This was the last series to feature Alesha Dixon as a judge after she left the show after the final to become a judge on Britain's Got Talent

The professional line-up was announced on 15 June 2011 with most of the Series 8 professionals returning, except for Jared Murillo who was replaced by Siberian dancer Pasha Kovalev.[62] The celebrity line-up was announced on 6 September 2011 on The One Show and the couples were paired up for the first time on the launch show.

Celebrity Professional Result (week voted out)
Edwina Currie Vincent Simone Week 2
Dan Lobb Katya Virshilas Week 3
Rory Bremner Erin Boag Week 4
Nancy Dell'Olio Anton du Beke Week 5
Lulu Brendan Cole Week 6
Audley Harrison Natalie Lowe Week 7
Russell Grant Flavia Cacace Week 8
Anita Dobson Robin Windsor
Brendan Cole (Week 9)
Week 9
Robbie Savage Ola Jordan Week 10
Alex Jones James Jordan Week 11
Holly Valance Artem Chigvintsev
Brendan Cole (Week 7)
Week 11
Jason Donovan Kristina Rihanoff Third place
Chelsee Healey Pasha Kovalev Runners-up
Harry Judd Aliona Vilani Series winners

Series 10 (2012)

The tenth series began on 15 September 2012 with a launch show to reveal the celebrity/professional partnerships, and the live shows began on 5 October.

On 25 April 2012, it was confirmed that Darcey Bussell would be joining the judging panel, replacing Alesha Dixon who left the show to be a judge on Britain's Got Talent.[63]

Katya Virshilas was the only professional dancer not returning to this series, and she was replaced by Burn the Floor's Karen Hauer.[64] The full line-up was revealed on 10 September during The One Show.[65]

Aliona Vilani was originally Johnny Ball's partner, but injury resulted in her being replaced by Iveta Lukosiute.[66]

Celebrity Professional Result (week voted out)
Johnny Ball Iveta Lukosiute Week 2
Jerry Hall Anton du Beke Week 3
Sid Owen Ola Jordan Week 4
Colin Salmon Kristina Rihanoff Week 5
Fern Britton Artem Chigvintsev Week 6
Richard Arnold Erin Boag Week 7
Victoria Pendleton Brendan Cole Week 8
Michael Vaughan Natalie Lowe Week 9
Nicky Byrne Karen Hauer Week 10
Lisa Riley Robin Windsor Week 11
Dani Harmer Vincent Simone Week 12
Denise van Outen James Jordan Runners-up
Kimberley Walsh Pasha Kovalev
Louis Smith Flavia Cacace Series winners

Series 11 (2013)

Strictly Come Dancing returned with the launch show on 7 September 2013 and its live shows on 27 September 2013 for its eleventh series.[67] Rod Stewart and Jessie J performed on the premiere show.[68]

On 1 June 2013, it was announced that Aliona Vilani, Vincent Simone, Flavia Cacace, and Erin Boag would all leave this series. Aljaž Skorjanec, Emma Slater, Janette Manrara and Iveta Lukosiute, who partnered Johnny Ball in the first few weeks of series 10, would all join the cast.[69][70][71] However, it was confirmed on 22 August 2013 that Anya Garnis and Kevin Clifton joined the series, replacing Slater.[72] On 2 September 2013, it was announced that a foot fracture injury meant Natalie Lowe would not be able to participate this series, and she was replaced by returning professional Vilani.[73]

Celebrity Professional Result (week voted out)
Tony Jacklin Aliona Vilani Week 2
Vanessa Feltz James Jordan Week 3
Julien Macdonald Janette Manrara Week 4
Deborah Meaden Robin Windsor Week 5
Rachel Riley Pasha Kovalev Week 6
Dave Myers Karen Hauer Week 7
Fiona Fullerton Anton du Beke Week 8
Ben Cohen Kristina Rihanoff Week 9
Mark Benton Iveta Lukosiute Week 10
Ashley Taylor Dawson Ola Jordan Week 11
Patrick Robinson Anya Garnis Week 12
Sophie Ellis-Bextor Brendan Cole Week 13
Natalie Gumede Artem Chigvintsev Runners-up
Susanna Reid Kevin Clifton
Abbey Clancy Aljaž Škorjanec Series winners

Series 12 (2014)

The series started on 7 September 2014 with a launch show,[74] followed by the live shows starting on 26 and 27 September.[75] This series was the first not to be presented by Sir Bruce Forsyth after announcing his departure from the live shows on 4 April (He made his final regular appearance in this series' launch show). However, Forsyth would continue to present special editions of the show, such as Children in Need and Christmas specials.[76] It was announced on 9 May that Claudia Winkleman would join the main show as co-presenter and the duties would mirror the existing result show format, with Tess Daly taking over Forsyth's role as main presenter and Winkleman taking Daly's role as co-presenter.[77]

It was announced on 1 June 2014 that professional dancers Artem Chigvintsev, James Jordan and Anya Garnis would not be returning for the new series, although Garnis would remain on the show's choreography team. It was also announced that Tristan MacManus and Joanne Clifton would be joining the show's professional line-up.[78] It was then announced in August that Robin Windsor had pulled out of the competition due to a back injury. Windsor was replaced by new professional Trent Whiddon.[79] In the third week entertainer Donny Osmond joined the four regular judges, making the maximum score that week 50 points.[80] Due to Winkleman's absence in weeks 6, 7, and 8, It Takes Two presenter Zoë Ball co-presented with Daly.

Celebrity Professional Result (week voted out)
Gregg Wallace Aliona Vilani Week 2
Jennifer Gibney Tristan MacManus Week 3
Tim Wonnacott Natalie Lowe Week 4
Thom Evans Iveta Lukosiute Week 5
Scott Mills Joanne Clifton Week 6
Alison Hammond Aljaž Škorjanec Week 7
Judy Murray Anton du Beke Week 8
Steve Backshall Ola Jordan Week 9
Sunetra Sarker Brendan Cole Week 10
Pixie Lott Trent Whiddon Week 11
Jake Wood Janette Manrara Week 12
Mark Wright Karen Hauer Week 13
Frankie Bridge Kevin Clifton Runners-up
Simon Webbe Kristina Rihanoff
Caroline Flack Pasha Kovalev Series winners

Series 13 (2015)

Strictly Come Dancing returned for the thirteenth series with a launch show on 5 September 2015, followed by the live shows starting on 25 and 26 September.

On 23 April 2015, the list of professionals participating in the thirteenth series was revealed. Professionals from the last series who did not return included Trent Whiddon, Iveta Lukosiute and Joanne Clifton. Clifton would remain involved in group dances and would feature on Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two as a dance expert. Robin Windsor, absent from the previous series because of injury, also did not return for this series. Three new professional dancers were introduced: Russian dancer Gleb Savchenko (from the American, Australian, and Russian versions of Dancing with the Stars), South African dancer Oti Mabuse (from Germany's Let's Dance) and Italian dancer Giovanni Pernice.[81]

On 3 October 2015, the judges performed The Strictly, a signature dance made up of some iconic moves from the show's history for fans to do at home when they hear the theme tune; subsequently, a tutorial for the dance was made available on the show's website and iPlayer hosted by Natalie Lowe and Tristan MacManus.[82] Ola Jordan later announced that she had quit the show and claimed that the results were "fixed".

Series 13 was the last to feature Tristan MacManus, Kristina Rihanoff, Ola Jordan and Gleb Savchenko as professional dancers. Aliona Vilani announced three days after winning that she was leaving the show, however, she did do the 2016 live tour. Savchenko announced he was leaving the show on 28 June 2016. For series 14, Katya Jones, Gorka Márquez, Oksana Platero, and Joanne Clifton replaced them.[83]

Celebrity Professional Result (week voted out)
Iwan Thomas Ola Jordan Week 2
Anthony Ogogo Oti Mabuse Week 3
Daniel O'Donnell Kristina Rihanoff Week 4
Ainsley Harriott Natalie Lowe Week 5
Kirsty Gallacher Brendan Cole Week 6
Carol Kirkwood Pasha Kovalev Week 7
Jeremy Vine Karen Clifton Week 8
Jamelia Tristan MacManus Week 9
Peter Andre Janette Manrara Week 10
Helen George Aljaž Škorjanec Week 11
Anita Rani Gleb Savchenko Week 12
Katie Derham Anton du Beke Week 13
Georgia May Foote Giovanni Pernice Runners-up
Kellie Bright Kevin Clifton
Jay McGuiness Aliona Vilani Series winners

Series 14 (2016)

Strictly Come Dancing returned for its fourteenth series with a launch show on 3 September 2016 on BBC One. This was Len Goodman's final series as head judge.

On 28 June 2016, the list of professionals who were returning for the fourteenth series was revealed. Professionals from the last series who would not return included last series' champion and two-time professional winner of the show Aliona Vilani, former professional winner Ola Jordan, and two-times professional finalist Kristina Rihanoff as well as Gleb Savchenko and Tristan MacManus. Joanne Clifton was returning after a one series hiatus. The leaving professionals were replaced by Katya Jones, Burn the Floor dancer Gorka Márquez and former Dancing with the Stars US troupe member Oksana Platero.[84] On 26 July 2016, three more new professional dancers were announced as AJ Pritchard, Chloe Hewitt and Neil Jones, husband of new dancer Katya.[85] Chloe Hewitt and Neil Jones did not partner a celebrity as the professionals outnumbered the celebrities, although they were still in group dances and appeared on It Takes Two.

Celebrity Professional Result (week voted out)
Melvin Odoom Janette Manrara Week 2
Tameka Empson Gorka Márquez Week 3
Will Young Karen Clifton Withdrew
Naga Munchetty Pasha Kovalev Week 4
Lesley Joseph Anton du Beke Week 5
Anastacia Brendan Cole
Gorka Márquez (week 5)
Week 6
Laura Whitmore Giovanni Pernice Week 7
Daisy Lowe Aljaž Skorjanec Week 8
Greg Rutherford Natalie Lowe Week 9
Ed Balls Katya Jones Week 10
Judge Rinder Oksana Platero Week 11
Claudia Fragapane AJ Pritchard Week 12
Danny Mac Oti Mabuse Runners-up
Louise Redknapp Kevin Clifton
Ore Oduba Joanne Clifton Series winners

Series 15 (2017)

On 4 May 2017, it was announced that Series 7 finalist, Natalie Lowe would be departing the show. Five days later, on May 9, Shirley Ballas announced that she would be replacing Len Goodman as head judge.[86] On 21 June 2017, previous series professional champion, Joanne Clifton, as well as Oksana Platero announced that they would also be leaving. The new professionals replacing them were Australian Open champion, Dianne Buswell, Welsh dancer, Amy Dowden, and Ukrainian two-time world champion, Nadiya Bychkova. On 7 August, Nick Grimshaw announced that Mollie King was the first celebrity to be taking part in the series. This was the first series to be broadcast since Sir Bruce Forsyth's death in August that year. In a change to the format of previous five years, there was no elimination in the final, hence there were three runner-up couples this series.

Celebrity Professional Result (week voted out)
Chizzy Akudolu Pasha Kovalev Week 2
Rev. Richard Coles Dianne Buswell Week 3
Charlotte Hawkins Brendan Cole Week 4
Brian Conley Amy Dowden Week 5
Simon Rimmer Karen Clifton Week 6
Aston Merrygold Janette Manrara Week 7
Ruth Langsford Anton du Beke Week 8
Jonnie Peacock Oti Mabuse Week 9
Susan Calman Kevin Clifton Week 10
Davood Ghadami Nadiya Bychkova Week 11
Mollie King AJ Pritchard Week 12
Alexandra Burke Gorka Márquez Runners-up
Debbie McGee Giovanni Pernice
Gemma Atkinson Aljaž Skorjanec
Joe McFadden Katya Jones Series winners

Series 16 (2018)

On 30 January 2018, it was announced that Brendan Cole would no longer perform in the show.[87] On 30 May 2018, the full line-up for professional dancers was announced. Chloe Hewitt left the series, and three new professional dancers, Graziano Di Prima, Johannes Radebe and Luba Mushtuk were announced to be joining the show. This meant that there were 18 professional dancers, the largest in the show's history.[88]

Celebrity Professional Result (week voted out)
Susannah Constantine Anton du Beke Week 2
Lee Ryan Nadiya Bychkova Week 3
Katie Piper Gorka Márquez Week 4
Vick Hope Graziano Di Prima Week 5
Seann Walsh Katya Jones Week 6
Dr. Ranj Singh Janette Manrara Week 7
Danny John-Jules Amy Dowden Week 8
Kate Silverton Aljaž Skorjanec Week 9
Graeme Swann Oti Mabuse Week 10
Charles Venn Karen Clifton Week 11
Lauren Steadman AJ Pritchard Week 12
Ashley Roberts Pasha Kovalev Runners-up
Faye Tozer Giovanni Pernice
Joe Sugg Dianne Buswell
Stacey Dooley Kevin Clifton Series winners

Series 17 (2019)

On 13 February 2019, professional dancer Pasha Kovalev announced that he was leaving the show, after competing on it for eight years.[89] On 10 April 2019, it was announced that judge Darcey Bussell had left the show after seven years.[90] On 22 July 2019, Motsi Mabuse was announced as the replacement for Bussell. On 30 July 2019, it was announced that Nancy Xu would be joining the cast of professional dancers.[91] On 5 September 2019, it was announced that Jamie Laing had withdrawn from the show due to a foot injury. He was later replaced by Kelvin Fletcher. In late October, Will Bayley left the Strictly competition due to a sustained leg injury.[92]

Celebrity Professional Result (week voted out)
James Cracknell Luba Mushtuk Week 2
Anneka Rice Kevin Clifton Week 3
Dev Griffin Dianne Buswell Week 4
David James Nadiya Bychkova Week 5
Catherine Tyldesley Johannes Radebe Week 6
Will Bayley Janette Manrara Withdrew
Emma Weymouth Aljaž Skorjanec Week 7
Mike Bushell Katya Jones Week 8
Michelle Visage Giovanni Pernice Week 9
Saffron Barker AJ Pritchard Week 10
Alex Scott Neil Jones
Kevin Clifton (weeks 6-7)
Week 11
Chris Ramsey Karen Hauer Week 12
Emma Barton Anton du Beke Runners-up
Karim Zeroual Amy Dowden
Kelvin Fletcher Oti Mabuse Series winners

Series 18 (2020)

On 6 March 2020, Kevin Clifton announced he was leaving the show after seven years.[93] On 26 March, AJ Pritchard announced he was leaving the show after four years.[94] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been confirmed that the series will be shorter than planned.[95]

Specials

Since the inception of Strictly Come Dancing in 2004, several special editions of the show have been transmitted by the BBC each year. These have included seasonal specials, charity specials, and variations of the Strictly Come Dancing format.

Strictly Come Dancing Live!

Strictly Come Dancing Live! is a nationwide arena tour staged every year since 2008.[96]

Statistics

Highest-scoring celebrities

The scores presented below represent the best overall accumulative average scores the celebrities gained each series.

Female

Male

Lowest-scoring celebrities

The scores presented below represent the worst overall accumulative average score the celebrities gained each series.

Female

Male

Judges' scores

On sixty-six occasions, a perfect 40 out of 40 has been awarded inside the main series (including three perfect 50 out of 50s in Series 7). Ashley Roberts and Pasha Kovalev hold the record for most perfect scores with five forties. Kovalev also holds the record for most perfect scores by a professional dancer with thirteen forties. On another fourteen occasions, a couple scored 40/40 on a Christmas Special. The Rumba is the only dance style not to have received the perfect score before the introduction of Couples’ choice. Thus, Street and Contemporary are both yet to score a perfect score.

Here is a table showing all of the perfect scores achieved by number of perfect scores

By Celebrity:

Number of
40s/50s
SeriesPlaceCelebrityProfessional
516Runner-upAshley RobertsPasha Kovalev
412
14
16
Champion
Runner-up
Runner-up
Caroline Flack
Danny Mac
Faye Tozer
Pasha Kovalev
Oti Mabuse
Giovanni Pernice
36
8
10
11
15
17
3rd Place
3rd Place
Runner-up
Runner-up
Runner-up
Runner-up
Lisa Snowdon
Pamela Stephenson
Kimberley Walsh
Natalie Gumede
Alexandra Burke
Karim Zeroual
Brendan Cole
James Jordan
Pasha Kovalev
Artem Chigvintsev
Gorka Márquez
Amy Dowden
26
7
9
9
10
11
13
14
15
17
Runner-up
3rd Place
Champion
3rd Place
Runner-up
Champion
Runner-up
Champion
Runner-up
Champion
Rachel Stevens
Ali Bastian
Harry Judd
Jason Donovan
Denise Van Outen
Abbey Clancy
Kellie Bright
Ore Oduba
Debbie McGee
Kelvin Fletcher
Vincent Simone
Brian Fortuna
Aliona Vilani
Kristina Rihanoff
James Jordan
Aljaž Skorjanec
Kevin Clifton
Joanne Clifton
Giovanni Pernice
Oti Mabuse
12
4
5
7
7
9
10
12
13
14
15
Champion
Champion
Runner-up
Champion
Runner-up
Runner-up
Champion
Runner-up
Runner-up
Runner-up
Champion
Jill Halfpenny
Mark Ramprakash
Matt Di Angelo
Chris Hollins
Ricky Whittle
Chelsee Healey
Louis Smith
Simon Webbe
Georgia May Foote
Louise Redknapp
Joe McFadden
Darren Bennett
Karen Hardy
Flavia Cacace
Ola Jordan
Natalie Lowe
Pasha Kovalev
Flavia Cacace
Kristina Rihanoff
Giovanni Pernice
Kevin Clifton
Katya Jones

By Professional:

Number of
40s/50s
Professional
13Pasha Kovalev
7Giovanni Pernice
6Oti Mabuse
5James Jordan
3Brendan Cole
Artem Chigvintsev
Kristina Rihanoff
Kevin Clifton
Gorka Márquez
Amy Dowden
2Vincent Simone
Brian Fortuna
Aliona Vilani
Flavia Cacace
Aljaž Skorjanec
Joanne Clifton
1Darren Bennett
Karen Hardy
Ola Jordan
Natalie Lowe
Katya Jones

The lowest score the judges have ever awarded was 8/40 (1,1,3,3) to Quentin Willson and Hazel Newberry for their Cha Cha Cha. Eleven individual ones have been awarded in the entirety of Strictly Come Dancing, with ten of those coming from Craig Revel Horwood and the other coming from Arlene Philips. Ann Widdecombe holds the current record for the most ones, receiving ones from Revel Horwood for her Salsa, Samba, and Rumba. The biggest margin between two singular judges scores is five, awarded to Jason Wood and Kylie Jones for their Rumba (2,5,7,5), Christopher Parker and Hanna Karttunen for their Tango (2,6,7,6), Fiona Phillips and Brendan Cole for their Rumba (1,2,6,4), Gary Rhodes and Karen Hardy for their Cha-Cha-Cha (1,5,6,5), Scott Maslen and Natalie Lowe for their Rumba (4,9,7,8), Mark Benton and Iveta Lukosiute for their Cha-Cha-Cha (3,8,8,7), Scott Mills and Joanne Clifton for their Samba with Donny Osmond (2,5,7,5,6) and Ann Widdecombe and Anton du Beke for their American Smooth in the 2018 Christmas Special (2,6,7,7).

Alexandra Burke and her partner Gorka Márquez and Ashley Roberts and her partner Pasha Kovalev hold the record of most tens with 32, then that is followed by Faye Tozer and Giovanni Pernice with 31, then Karim Zeroual and Amy Dowden with 29, then Ricky Whittle and his partner Natalie Lowe with 28. However, if the four tens given by Darcey Bussell during her tenure as a fifth judge are removed, he is behind Danny Mac and Oti Mabuse as well as Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse, with 26 tens, and Rachel Stevens and her partner Vincent Simone and Harry Judd and his partner Aliona Vilani with 25 each. They are followed by Natalie Gumede and Artem Chigvintsev and Ore Oduba and Joanne Clifton with 24 each, Caroline Flack and Pasha Kovalev with 23, Abbey Clancy and Aljaž Skorjanec and Debbie McGee and Giovanni Pernice with 22, Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev with 21 and Lisa Snowdon and Brendan Cole, Kimberley Walsh and Pasha Kovalev and Denise van Outen and James Jordan with 20.[97] Of these celebrities, Snowdon and Cole, Flack and Kovalev, Tozer and Pernice and Roberts and Kovalev are the only pairings to receive straight tens from the judges in all of their dances in their respective series finals. Flack and Kovalev, and Roberts and Kovalev are the only pairs to manage three sets of perfect 40 marks in the final, and also hold the records for the longest consecutive streak of 40 marks with four, that includes their Salsa and American Smooth in the semi-final shows respectively, and the longest consecutive streak of tens, that adds to a total of 16.

Ashley Roberts and Pasha Kovalev also have the best average score from the judges out of all contestants on every series being 36.94/40 for their dances. Natalie Gumede and Artem Chigvintsev, and Danny Mac and his partner Oti Mabuse, follow, with averages of 36.88 and 36.62 respectively. Quentin Willson, Susannah Constantine and James Cracknell hold averages of 8.0 and 12.0, the lowest of any celebrities so far.

Highest and lowest scoring performances by dance

The best and worst performances in each dance according to the judges' marks (out of 40) are as follows (not including scores earned on Christmas or any other specials).

For a more accurate comparison Darcey Bussell's scores have been subtracted from the totals of the Series 7 quarter-finalists where relevant; specifically Ali Bastian's American Smooth, Chris Hollins' Charleston and Ricky Whittle's Quickstep. Bussell scored all of them a ten. Whittle's Showdance has not been included as it did not receive the perfect score from Bussell, and therefore cannot be considered the same standard. Contemporary, Rumba and Street/Commercial are the only dances that have not received the full mark of 40, the highest score being 39/40 for Contemporary and Rumba, and 38/40 for Street/Commercial. Runner-up of Series 16 Ashley Roberts holds the record for receiving the most perfect scores as a celebrity with five. With thirteen perfect scores, Pasha Kovalev holds the record for most perfect scores by a professional dancer.

Dance Couple Highest
score
Couple Lowest
score
American Smooth (Series 3–present) Ali Bastian & Brian Fortuna
Natalie Gumede & Artem Chigvintsev
Alexandra Burke & Gorka Márquez
Ashley Roberts & Pasha Kovalev
40 Ann Widdecombe & Anton du Beke
Mike Bushell & Katya Jones
14
Argentine Tango (Series 4–present) Jason Donovan & Kristina Rihanoff
Harry Judd & Aliona Vilani
Simon Webbe & Kristina Rihanoff
Louise Redknapp & Kevin Clifton
Debbie McGee & Giovanni Pernice
Kate Silverton & Aljaž Skorjanec 23
Cha-Cha-Cha Lisa Snowdon & Brendan Cole
Caroline Flack & Pasha Kovalev
Quentin Willson & Hazel Newberry 8
Charleston (Series 7–present) Chris Hollins & Ola Jordan
Kimberley Walsh & Pasha Kovalev
Denise van Outen & James Jordan
Caroline Flack & Pasha Kovalev
Georgia May Foote & Giovanni Pernice
Danny Mac & Oti Mabuse
Joe McFadden & Katya Jones
Faye Tozer & Giovanni Pernice
Ashley Roberts & Pasha Kovalev
Anneka Rice & Kevin Clifton 11
Contemporary (Series 16–present) Ashley Roberts & Pasha Kovalev 39 Lauren Steadman & AJ Pritchard 24
Foxtrot Rachel Stevens & Vincent Simone
Lisa Snowdon & Brendan Cole
40 Susannah Constantine & Anton du Beke 12
Jazz (Series 16–present) Faye Tozer & Giovanni Pernice Graeme Swann & Oti Mabuse 32
Jive Jill Halfpenny & Darren Bennett
Ore Oduba & Joanne Clifton
Alexandra Burke & Gorka Márquez
Ashley Roberts & Pasha Kovalev
Karim Zeroual & Amy Dowden
James Cracknell & Luba Mushtuk 13
Paso Doble Chelsee Healey & Pasha Kovalev David James & Nadiya Bychkova 10
Quickstep Lisa Snowdon & Brendan Cole
Ricky Whittle & Natalie Lowe
Pamela Stephenson & James Jordan
Harry Judd & Aliona Vilani
Kelvin Fletcher & Oti Mabuse
Karim Zeroual & Amy Dowden
Diarmuid Gavin & Nicole Cutler 12
Rumba Rachel Stevens & Vincent Simone
Kara Tointon & Artem Chigvintsev
Chelsee Healey & Pasha Kovalev
Jay McGuiness & Aliona Vilani
Kelvin Fletcher & Oti Mabuse
39 Fiona Phillips & Brendan Cole
Carol Kirkwood & Pasha Kovalev
13
Salsa (Series 4–present) Mark Ramprakash & Karen Hardy
Abbey Clancy & Aljaž Skorjanec
Natalie Gumede & Artem Chigvintsev
Caroline Flack & Pasha Kovalev
Alexandra Burke & Gorka Márquez
Ashley Roberts & Pasha Kovalev
40 Ann Widdecombe & Anton du Beke 12
Samba Danny Mac & Oti Mabuse Susannah Constantine & Anton du Beke 12
Showdance (Series 1, 7–present) Jason Donovan & Kristina Rihanoff
Denise van Outen & James Jordan
Louis Smith & Flavia Cacace
Natalie Gumede & Artem Chigvintsev
Caroline Flack & Pasha Kovalev
Kellie Bright & Kevin Clifton
Ore Oduba & Joanne Clifton
Danny Mac & Oti Mabuse
Ashley Roberts & Pasha Kovalev
Faye Tozer & Giovanni Pernice
Kelvin Fletcher & Oti Mabuse
Christopher Parker & Hanna Karttunen 22
Street (Series 16–present) Kelvin Fletcher & Oti Mabuse 38 Michelle Visage & Giovanni Pernice 32
Tango Kimberley Walsh & Pasha Kovalev
Kellie Bright & Kevin Clifton
Debbie McGee & Giovanni Pernice
40 James Cracknell & Luba Mushtuk 11
Viennese Waltz (Series 3–present) Ali Bastian & Brian Fortuna
Pamela Stephenson & James Jordan
Faye Tozer & Giovanni Pernice
Susan Calman & Kevin Clifton
Seann Walsh & Katya Jones
Catherine Tyldesley & Johannes Radebe
20
Waltz Matt Di Angelo & Flavia Cacace
Abbey Clancy & Aljaž Skorjanec
Fiona Phillips & Brendan Cole 11

Oldest and youngest contestants and series winners

Television presenter Johnny Ball, who was 74 when he competed in 2012, is the oldest contestant; he was older than magician Paul Daniels and actress Lesley Joseph, who were 72 & 71 when they competed in 2010 & 2016 respectively.

Actress Louisa Lytton, who was 17 when she competed in 2006, remains the youngest contestant.[98]

Actor Joe McFadden, who was 42 when he competed in 2017, is the oldest series winner and gymnast Louis Smith, who was 23 when he competed in 2012, is the youngest series winner. At 20, Christopher Parker and Matt Di Angelo are the youngest contestants to make it to the finale. while Dr. Pamela Stephenson is the oldest, at the age of 61.

Highest and lowest scores

Series 8 quarter-finalist Ann Widdecombe holds the record for the most lowest scores, with a highest score of 21/40 and lowest score of 12/40. Series 2 contestant Quentin Willson holds the record for the overall lowest score of 8/40 (1,1,3,3) and lowest average 8.0/40.0. Series 16 runner-up Ashley Roberts holds the highest average score with 36.94/40.0 and holds the record for the most perfect scores with five 40s. Series 13 contestant Jamelia holds the record for being in the most dance-offs, which is 5. Series 11 contestant Mark Benton and Series 17 contestant Mike Bushell share the record for being in the most consecutive dance-offs, which is 4. Series 15 runner-up Debbie McGee holds the record for getting the earliest ever 40 in the competition which was in week 7, for her Tango. This was also the first 40 with Shirley Ballas as the head judge.

Controversies

Phone voting

On 13 December 2008, Strictly Come Dancing became the subject of press attention and viewer complaints about an error in the voting system during the semi-final of series six. In the show, three couples remained in the competition. After all three had performed and the judges had given their scores, two of the couples were in joint-first position on the leaderboard, while the third – Tom Chambers and Camilla Dallerup – were in last place. This meant that, no matter how many public votes were cast in their favour, it was mathematically impossible for the third-placed couple to survive. This oversight was initially unnoticed by producers until after the public vote became live and viewers were invited to call in and save their favourites at a cost of 15p per vote. Once the mistake was finally realised and the public vote was closed, it was announced that all three couples would be put through to the final; all the votes already cast would count towards the final result of the competition; and viewers could apply for a refund if they wished.[99]

The BBC received 1800 complaints about the incident,[100] while media regulator Ofcom received 297.[99] Jon Beazley, the BBC's Head of Entertainment Production, was interviewed on Strictly's spin-off show Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two on 15 December. He apologised for the oversight, referring to it as an "unprecedented situation." On the same day, the BBC posted a statement on their website, which clarified that an independent adjudicator had been consulted to reach a solution that would offer "fairness to the viewers who voted and the contestants themselves."[101] The BBC also stated that, following the mistake, "the voting and judging mechanisms used in all BBC voting programmes [had] been thoroughly examined."[99]

After conducting an investigation, Ofcom concluded that "the mistake had resulted from an oversight, rather than any shortcomings in the technical arrangements for voting or in the handling of votes received", and that they were "satisfied that appropriate steps were taken by the BBC and the disadvantage to viewers minimised." Ofcom also opined that: "the BBC had been open and transparent with viewers about the mistake it made and the solution adopted."[99]

Arlene Phillips / Alesha Dixon

In June 2009, tabloid newspaper The Sun reported that the then 66-year-old judge Arlene Phillips, who had judged the show since its inception in 2004, was to be replaced by series five winner Alesha Dixon, then aged 30.[102] This was later confirmed by the BBC in July of that year.[103] Subsequently, the BBC was accused of ageism and sexism by several sources,[103][104] an accusation the corporation has faced before over the removal of several older female presenters, including Moira Stuart,[105] Juliet Morris,[106] Miriam O'Reilly,[106][105] Michaela Strachan,[106] Charlotte Smith[106] and Anna Ford.[107] The BBC denied the allegations that the decision to remove Phillips was due to her age.[103]

Furthermore, Dixon herself was criticised after the debut episode of the seventh series, the first to feature her as a judge. A total of 272 complaints were received by the BBC – bringing the total number about Dixon joining the programme to over 4000 – along with over 5000 comments on Strictly Come Dancing's internet message board.[108] Dixon was compared unfavourably to Phillips, with claims that the former was "unsuitable", "unqualified" and lacked "knowledge, experience and talent".[108] However, Dixon was praised and defended from her critics by the BBC,[108] by fellow judge Craig Revel Horwood[108] and by Phillips herself.[109]

Race row

In 2009, during the seventh series, professional dancer Anton du Beke issued a public apology[110] for his use of a racial slur during a conversation with his dance partner Laila Rouass.[111] Du Beke claimed that the comment, which was never broadcast, was a joke referring to Rouass' spray-tan, in which he said that she "looked like a Paki".[111] Over 600 complaints were received by the BBC, including those about comments Bruce Forsyth, then host of Strictly Come Dancing, made about the controversy on a Talksport radio programme, in which he suggested that Britain "used to have a sense of humour" about such incidents, and that du Beke's apology should be accepted.[112]

Following the incident, and Forsyth's response, the BBC stated:

Racially offensive language in the workplace is entirely unacceptable. Anton was right to apologise quickly and without reservation and Laila has wholly accepted his apology. Everyone is very clear that there can be no repetition of this behaviour.[112]

Forsyth also clarified his position:

What Anton said to Laila was wrong and he has apologised unreservedly for this. Nor do I in any way excuse or condone the use of such language. To be absolutely clear, the use of racially offensive language is never either funny or acceptable. However, there is a major difference between this and racist comments which are malicious in intent and whilst I accept that we live in a world of extraordinary political correctness, we should keep things in perspective.[112]

Same-sex couples

In 2015, in an interview with the Daily Mirror, CJ de Mooi said that he was turned down for the show because he had wanted to dance with a same-sex partner.[113] The BBC denied that de Mooi had ever been under consideration for the show,[114] and also declared that "Strictly is a family show and we have chosen the traditional format of mixed-sex couples".[113] The press has reported on the issue on numerous occasions when gay celebrities have appeared on the show, including Will Young,[115] Susan Calman,[116] Robert Rinder,[117] Richard Coles[118] and Ranj Singh.[119] Strictly Come Dancing judges Shirley Ballas[119] and Craig Revel Horwood[120] have both expressed their support for introducing same-sex couples.

Dancing by same-sex pairings has been included on several of the international versions of the show. 2011 Alfons Haider danced in the Austrian version in a same-sex pairing and reached fourth place. In the American version in 2016, a surprise challenge saw judge Bruno Tonioli work with Jodie Sweetin and season 22 eventual winner Nyle DiMarco and their professional partners. During the sequence, the two celebrities swapped partners, seeing DiMarco and Keo Motsepe dance the tango in ballroom hold, with both men shirtless, and Mostsepe lift and twirl DiMarco.[121] Same-sex pairing fashion designer Giovanni Ciacci and professional dancer Raimondo Todaro reached the 2018 grand final of Ballando con le Stelle, the show's Italian counterpart.[122] In 2019, Courtney Act became the first drag performer in the history of the franchise, competing in the 16th season of the Australian version of Dancing with the Stars.[123][124]

In 2018, the UK show featured same-sex pairings in the pro group dances for the first time since the controversy arose. On 3 November 2019, Johannes Radebe and fellow professional Graziano Di Prima performed together to Emeli Sande's "Shine" on the Sunday results episode, the show's first individual same-sex dance.[125]

Strictly curse

The so-called "Strictly curse" has been blamed for the number of affairs and relationship break-ups that have occurred during or soon after taking part in the show.[126][127] The first such incident was the suggested affair between dancer Brendan Cole and newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky during the initial series: they both denied the affair, but the surrounding controversy resulted in the ending of both their long term relationships.[127]

Ratings

An example of Strictly Come Dancing's popularity is that after episodes, electricity use in the United Kingdom rises significantly as viewers who have waited for the show to end begin boiling water for tea, a phenomenon known as TV pick-up. National Grid personnel watch the show to know when closing credits begin so they can prepare for the surge.[128]

All ratings are from BARB. Series averages exclude Christmas special and launch show.

Series Series premiere Series finale Average UK viewers
(in millions)[129]
1 15 May 2004 3 July 2004 6.45
2 23 October 2004 11 December 2004 9.02
3 15 October 2005 17 December 2005 8.44
4 7 October 2006 23 December 2006 8.57
5 6 October 2007 22 December 2007 8.57
6 20 September 2008 20 December 2008 9.63
7 18 September 2009 19 December 2009 9.22
8 1 October 2010 18 December 2010 11.23
9 30 September 2011 17 December 2011 10.97
10 5 October 2012 22 December 2012 10.80
11 27 September 2013 21 December 2013 10.71
12 26 September 2014 20 December 2014 10.25
13 25 September 2015 19 December 2015 10.62
14 23 September 2016 17 December 2016 11.09
15 23 September 2017 16 December 2017 11.14
16 22 September 2018 15 December 2018 10.59
17 21 September 2019 14 December 2019 10.36

Awards

The show has won a highly prestigious Rose D'Or award for 'Best Variety Show', beating off competition from reality shows from twelve other different countries.[130] It has also won two awards for 'Best Reality Show' at the TRIC Awards and two at the TV Quick Awards for 'Best Talent Show'. It has also received four BAFTA Award nominations.[131]

The show won the award of 'Most Popular Talent Show' at the National Television Awards in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.[132]

In the Guinness Book of World Records 2010 edition, the format of Strictly Come Dancing was named the most successful television show with the format being sold to more than 38 countries worldwide.

YearAwardCategoryResult
2004 National Television Awards Most Popular Entertainment Programme Nominated
2005 Nominated
2006 Nominated
2007 Most Popular Talent Show Nominated
2008 Won
2010 Nominated
2011 National Television Awards Nominated
TRIC Awards Best TV Reality Programme Won
2012 National Television Awards Most Popular Talent Show Nominated
National Reality TV Awards Best Reality Competition Show Won
Televisual Bulldog Awards Readers' Vote Award Won
TRIC Awards Won
2013 National Television Awards Most Popular Talent Show Won
National Reality TV Awards Best Talent Show Won
Televisual Bulldog Awards Best Entertainment Programme Won
TRIC Awards Best Reality Programme Won
2014 National Television Awards Best Talent Show Won
National Reality TV Awards Won
2015 Nominated
National Television Awards Nominated
2016 BAFTA TV Awards Best Entertainment Programme Won
National Television Awards Best Talent Show Won
2017 National Television Awards Won
2018 National Television Awards Won
2019 National Television Awards Won

Strictly Come Dancing: The Game

In 2016, BBC Worldwide commissioned a match-3 mobile app game published by Donut Publishing and developed by Exient Entertainment. The game uses a mix of hand animation and motion-captured data for all the dances in the game, using pro dancers from the show (Chloe Hewitt and Neil Jones). The mo-cap process was featured on It Takes Two in the build-up to the release of the app. The game features over 150 dresses and 9 dances: Quickstep, Jive, Tango, Salsa, Charleston, Viennese Waltz, Rumba, Cha Cha Cha, and Paso Doble. It was released on the App Store and Google Play in early 2016 and is regularly updated with new dance features alongside new seasons of the show.[133]

See also

References

  1. Richard Hopkins Archived 11 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine The Telegraph, 12 January 2012
  2. Strictly Come Dancing producer Richard Hopkins dies Archived 12 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine; BBC News, 9 January 2012
  3. Smith, Karen. "Must see XpoNorth Panellists". Northern-scot. Archived from the original on 10 July 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  4. Smith, Karen. "Strictly co-devisor speaks at Edinburgh TV Festival". thetvfestival.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  5. "History". Cannon Studios. Archived from the original on 11 September 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
  6. "TV credits". Blaze Music. Archived from the original on 25 December 2007. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
  7. Jake Bickerton (7 August 2012). "News & Comments". Televisual. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  8. "Strictly Come Dancing: the worldwide phenomenon". The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  9. Storry, Mike (2013). British Cultural Identities. Routledge. p. 95.
  10. Duff, Seamus (18 August 2017). "The first and last TV appearances of Sir Bruce Forsyth". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 12 April 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  11. "Sir Bruce pulls out of Strictly Christmas special" Archived 3 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine. BBC. 3 December 2015
  12. "Sir Bruce Forsyth: TV legend dies aged 89". BBC News. 18 August 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  13. "Richard Hopkins". The Daily Telegraph. 12 January 2012. Archived from the original on 11 January 2018.
  14. Smith, Karen. "Broadcast". Broadcast Magazine. Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  15. Smith, Karen. "Broadcast Karen Smith Promotion". Media Business Insight. Broadcast. Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  16. Smith, Karen (21 February 2006). "BBC's Karen Smith Promoted". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 10 July 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  17. Anthony Hayward (11 January 2012). "Richard Hopkins: Producer of 'Big Brother' and 'Strictly Come Dancing'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017.
  18. "Strictly Come Dancing – How to vote". BBC. Archived from the original on 15 October 2007. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
  19. "Sir Bruce Forsyth steps down from Strictly Come Dancing". BBC. 4 April 2014. Archived from the original on 4 June 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  20. Hallett, Emma (2 January 2012). "Alesha Dixon quits Strictly Come Dancing for Britain's Got Talent". The Independent. Archived from the original on 12 January 2012.
  21. "the band". www.strictlycomedancingband.com.
  22. "BBC Television Centre". TV Studio History. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  23. "David Dickinson Strictly Come Dancing". David Dickinson Online. 2004. Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
  24. "Filming locations for 'Strictly Come Dancing' (2004)". IMDb. 2004. Archived from the original on 9 July 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
  25. "Strictly a sellout for return of TV classic". Blackpool Gazette. Johnston Publishing Ltd. 18 November 2004. Archived from the original on 10 December 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
  26. "Strictly Come Dancing wins ratings war". BreakingNews.ie. 12 December 2004. Archived from the original on 22 October 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
  27. "Strictly not dancing". Blackpool Gazette. Johnston Publishing Ltd. 29 October 2005. Archived from the original on 1 November 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
  28. Bennett, Julia (18 October 2008). "Strictly star wants show back in Blackpool". Blackpool Gazette. Johnston Publishing Ltd. Archived from the original on 19 October 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
  29. Strictly Come Dancing – live blog! Archived 5 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine The Guardian, 20 November 2010
  30. Strictly Come Dancing returns this Autumn with shows from Wembley and Blackpool Archived 11 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine BBC Press Office, 30 July 2011
  31. "Strictly show returns to the Tower". BBC News. 6 August 2013. Archived from the original on 9 August 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013. [Strictly Come Dancing announces that they will return to Blackpool Tower Ballroom for Series 11]
  32. "Graziano di Prima will not get a celebrity partner this year". Radio Times. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  33. "Strictly professional Gorka Marquez receives bad news about this year's series". Digital Spy. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  34. "Pas de deux: Strictly Come Dancing's Lilia Kopylova and Darren Bennett". The Guardian. 26 May 2009. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  35. "Biography – James Jordan". James and Ola Jordan. Archived from the original on 20 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  36. "Nicole Cutler's Official Website". Archived from the original on 31 December 2009. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  37. "Strictly Come Dancing series four". BBC Press Office. 29 September 2006. Archived from the original on 4 January 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  38. "About the Partnership". The Official site of Anton Du Beke & Erin Boag. 2011. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  39. "About Us". Vincent and Flavia. Archived from the original on 1 December 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  40. Virshilas, Katya (8 October 2009). "Dirty Dancing". Katya Virshilas' official website. Archived from the original on 22 February 2010. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  41. Virshilas, Katya (30 November 2009). "Meet My New Pro: Klaus Kongsdal". Katya Virshilas' official website. Archived from the original on 21 February 2010. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  42. "Katya's paired up for life". Kent Online. KM Group. 26 March 2012. Archived from the original on 5 June 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  43. Tim Wonnacott. "Strictly Come Dancing 2014: Tim Wonnacott's diary". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014.
  44. Strictly Come Dancing Vote BBC. Retrieved 18 October 2008 Archived 29 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  45. 'Strictly' results move back to Saturdays Archived 13 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine Digital Spy, 12 August 2009
  46. Zoë Ball to host 'Strictly Come Dancing' spinoff: "I'm giddy with glee" Archived 10 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Digital Spy, 6 July 2011
  47. "Children in Need proceeds". Archived from the original on 12 January 2008. Retrieved 19 January 2008.
  48. "Brook pulls out of dancing show". BBC News. 30 November 2007. Archived from the original on 2 December 2007.
  49. Alex Fletcher (26 June 2008). "'Strictly' dancers end pay row". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 1 July 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
  50. "Brian Fortuna's Page". Ballroom Dance Channel. Archived from the original on 15 September 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  51. "Programme Information Network TV Week 38 Saturday 13 September 2008". BBC Press Office. Archived from the original on 10 January 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2008.
  52. "Sergeant to pull out of Strictly". BBC News. 20 November 2008. Archived from the original on 20 December 2008.
  53. "Dixon joins Strictly dance judges". BBC News. 9 July 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
  54. "Strictly Come Dancing – News – Report: Daly signs new 'Strictly' deal". Digital Spy. 19 June 2009. Archived from the original on 23 July 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
  55. "Strictly Backlash". Sky TV. 13 July 2009. Archived from the original on 16 July 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  56. "Strictly reveals dancing line-up". BBC News. 25 August 2009.
  57. BBC unveils new 'Strictly' launch show Archived 14 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine Digital Spy, 14 August 2010
  58. Three new guys join the team Archived 25 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine Strictly Come Dancing, BBC, August 2010
  59. Strictly Come Dancing line-up is revealed Archived 16 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine BBC News, 8 September 2010
  60. 'Strictly Come Dancing' couples revealed Archived 13 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine Digital Spy, 11 September 2010
  61. Dancers Archived 9 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine Strictly Come Dancing 2010, BBC
  62. New professional dancer joins Strictly Come Dancing 2011 Archived 5 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine BBC Press Office, 15 June 2011
  63. BBC Strictly Nora. "Strictly Come Dancing: Darcey Bussell joins Strictly!". BBC. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  64. Westbrook, Caroline (19 June 2012). "Venezuelan mambo champion Karen Hauer joins Strictly Come Dancing". Metro. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  65. "'Strictly Come Dancing' 2012 lineup confirmed – First pictures – Strictly Come Dancing News – Reality TV". Digital Spy. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  66. Baxter, Anthony (29 September 2012). "Newsbeat – Strictly Come Dancing: New partner for Johnny Ball". BBC. Archived from the original on 30 September 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  67. "Be in the audience – Strictly Come Dancing". BBC. Archived from the original on 26 August 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  68. 6.50–8.10 pm. "Media Centre – Programme Information – Strictly Come Dancing 2013 Premiere". BBC. Archived from the original on 26 August 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  69. Strictly pro-dancers: 2013 line-up revealed Archived 8 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine BBC Press Office, 1 June 2013
  70. BBC announces 'Strictly Come Dancing' shake-up Archived 8 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine Newsbeat, 1 June 2013
  71. 'Strictly Come Dancing': New professional dancers revealed Archived 19 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine Digital Spy, 19 August 2013
  72. BBC Strictly Nora (22 August 2013). "Blogs – Strictly Come Dancing – Fifteen celebrities, two new pro-dancers for 2013!". BBC. Archived from the original on 26 August 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  73. Daisy Buchanan (2 September 2013). "Strictly Come Dancing pro Aliona Vilani returns to the show, replacing injured Natalie Lowe – Mirror Online". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 3 September 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  74. Archived 7 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  75. "BBC – Be in the audience – Strictly Come Dancing". Archived from the original on 23 August 2014.
  76. 23.42 (4 April 2014). "Entertainment & Arts – Sir Bruce Forsyth steps down as Strictly Come Dancing host". BBC News. BBC. Archived from the original on 10 April 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2014.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  77. "Tess and Claudia confirmed as our presenter line-up". BBC. 9 May 2014. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  78. "Strictly Come Dancing: Artem Chigvintsev, James Jordan not returning – Strictly Come Dancing News – Reality TV". Digital Spy. 1 June 2014. Archived from the original on 5 June 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  79. "Robin Windsor pulls out of Strictly Come Dancing after suffering back injury". Metro. 6 August 2014. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014.
  80. "Donny Osmond to guest judge on Strictly Come Dancing". Digital Spy. 21 September 2014. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  81. "Strictly Come Dancing new professional dancers revealed – BBC News". BBC. 23 April 2015. Archived from the original on 28 July 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  82. "Strictly Come Dancing – #DoTheStrictly – BBC One". BBC. Archived from the original on 13 October 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  83. Darvill, Josh (28 June 2016). "Meet Strictly Come Dancing's new pros: Katya Jones, Oksana Platero, Gorka Marquez". Telly Mix. Archived from the original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  84. "BBC Blogs – Strictly Come Dancing – 2016 Strictly Professional Dancer line up revealed!". BBC. 28 June 2016. Archived from the original on 18 July 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  85. "Three new professional dancers join the Strictly Come Dancing line-up for 2016". BBC Media Centre. 26 July 2016. Archived from the original on 31 July 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  86. Brown, Mark (9 May 2017). "'Queen of Latin' Shirley Ballas to be head judge on Strictly Come Dancing". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 14 September 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  87. McCreesh, Louise (30 January 2018). "Brendan Cole reveals he has been axed from Strictly Come Dancing". Digital Spy. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  88. "We reveal our biggest pro-dancer line-up ever! As a trio of outstanding dancers join the show". BBC. 30 May 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  89. Earp, Catherine (13 February 2018). "Strictly Come Dancing confirms one of its professional dancers has quit after eight series". Digital Spy. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  90. "Dame Darcey Bussell decides to step down as judge from Strictly". BBC. 10 April 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  91. "Who is Nancy Xu? Strictly Come Dancing 2019 professional dancer guide". Radio Times. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  92. "Will Bayley leaves Strictly after leg injury". 30 October 2019 via www.bbc.co.uk.
  93. Earp, Catherine (6 March 2020). "Strictly Come Dancing professional Kevin Clifton leaves the show". Digital Spy. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  94. Daly, Helen (26 March 2020). "AJ Pritchard quits BBC show – here's why". Radio Times. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  95. "Strictly Come Dancing 2020 to be shorter series". 24 June 2020 via www.bbc.co.uk.
  96. "BBC Dancing show to hit the road". BBC News. 12 October 2007. Archived from the original on 14 October 2007. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
  97. League table for Celebrities scoring 10s Archived 26 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine Ultimate Strictly
  98. Louisa Lytton at Ultimate Strictly Archived 3 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 10 December 2013
  99. "Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin – Issue number 132" (PDF). Ofcom. 27 April 2009. pp. 42–43. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  100. Deans, Jason (16 December 2008). "Strictly Come Dancing fans offered refund by BBC after voting fiasco as complaints top 1,800". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  101. "BBC – Strictly Come Dancing 2008 – News: Week 13 Results Update". BBC. 15 December 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  102. "Judge's Strictly exit unconfirmed". BBC News. 18 June 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  103. Holmwood, Leigh (9 July 2009). "BBC denies ageism as Arlene Phillips shifted off Strictly Come Dancing". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  104. Singh, Anita (16 July 2009). "Strictly Come Dancing's Arlene Phillips is a victim of ageism, says Harriet Harman". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  105. Cochrane, Kira (11 January 2011). "Miriam O'Reilly: 'Standing up to the BBC was the right thing to do'". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  106. Holmwood, Leigh (28 November 2008). "Countryfile shifts to peak time but loses middle-aged female hosts". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  107. Hagerty, Bill (27 August 2007). "Interview with Anna Ford". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  108. "Complaints over Strictly's Dixon". BBC News. 21 September 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  109. Brook, Stephen (21 September 2009). "Alesha Dixon's debut as Strictly judge draws more than 250 complaints". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  110. Conlan, Tara (5 October 2009). "The apologies of Anton du Beke and Carol Thatcher in full". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  111. Tryhorn, Chris (5 October 2009). "Strictly Come Dancing: Anton Du Beke apologises over racist term". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  112. Tryhorn, Chris (9 October 2009). "Bruce Forsyth spurs surge in Strictly Come Dancing complaints". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  113. Watts, Halina (5 September 2015). "Strictly hasn't started but there's already been a bust-up". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  114. McCormick, Joseph Patrick (4 September 2015). "BBC denies dropping TV star from Strictly after he asked for a same-sex partner". PinkNews. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  115. "Will Young Weighs in On 'Strictly Come Dancing' Same-Sex Couples Debate". HuffPost. 20 September 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  116. Williams, Zoe (12 September 2017). "Susan Calman same-sex pairing row: is fancying your partner Strictly necessary?". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  117. "Judge Rinder Weighs in On 'Strictly Come Dancing' Same-Sex Partners Debate". HuffPost. 18 September 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  118. Ward, Victoria (3 August 2018). "Strictly Come Dancing will not have same-sex couples this year". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  119. "Shirley Ballas backs Dr Ranj to have same sex partner on Strictly Come Dancing". Metro. 22 August 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  120. "Strictly's Craig Revel Horwood backs same-sex couples being added to the show". Metro. 24 September 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  121. Williams, Joe (10 May 2016). "Dancing With The Stars features first same-sex dance routine". PinkNews. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  122. Hudson, David (11 May 2018). "Same-sex couple reach Dancing with the Stars grand final". Gay Star News. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  123. Morgan, Joe (18 February 2019). "Courtney Act wows with first Dancing With The Stars Australia same-sex pairing". Gay Star News. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  124. McLaughlin, Chelsea (19 February 2019). "Everything you need to know about Courtney Act, Dancing With The Stars' 2019 frontrunner". MamaM!a. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  125. "Johannes 'felt so liberated' doing Strictly dance". BBC News. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  126. Wilson, Cherry (8 October 2018). "Has the Strictly curse struck again?". BBC News. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  127. "The Strictly Curse: a history of how one Saturday night TV show wreaked domestic havoc". The Daily Telegraph. 14 July 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  128. Carrington, Damian (20 December 2013). "Strictly Come Dancing: National Grid prepares for biggest surge of the year". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 January 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  129. "Four-screen dashboard | BARB".
  130. Wolfe, Ronald (23 May 2005). "Programme for change – Rose d'Or awards". The Stage. Archived from the original on 20 March 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  131. "Entertainment & Events Awards". BBC. Archived from the original on 8 January 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  132. "NTA Winners – each of them chosen by YOU!". National Awards. Archived from the original on 21 January 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  133. "Strictly Come Dancing – Apps on Google Play". play.google.com. Retrieved 7 May 2020.

Further reading

  • Smith, Rupert (2005) Strictly Come Dancing; dance consultant: Len Goodman. London: BBC Books ISBN 0-563-52293-3

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.