strictly come dancing tour reviews 2023

I went to see Strictly Come Dancing The Live Tour at Utilita Arena Birmingham - and it was fab-u-lous

If you're missing a bit of banter, boogie and ballads in your life, Strictly Come Dancing The Live Tour is here

• 18:29, 21 JAN 2023

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I need to make it clear from the off that I am not the biggest Strictly fan in the world. However my mum is, so I thought I would take her along to Strictly Come Dancing Live at the Utilita Arena Birmingham and see how we both found the experience.

After two hours of dancing, humour and heart, I can confirm that the Strictly tour is truly fun for all. The event is hosted as if it were a live show and after just 20 minutes into the show I really did feel like I was part of the crowd watching the competition take place live.

All the stars performed two dances each, split into two acts divided by an interval, and judges Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas and Anton du Beke gave the classic sparkly paddle ratings before the Birmingham crowd. In the end however, it was up to the audience to vote for their Birmingham Glitterball winner.

Read more: I went behind the scenes of the Strictly live tour in Birmingham and Hamza and Jowita were inseparable

This being the first show of the Strictly tour, it really felt authentic. The judges banter didn't feel forced, the contestants nerves seemed genuine and generally the production came across more natural than perhaps the TV show does.

I know this probably affected our viewing in a positive way, but its worth noting just how much fun it appeared everyone was having, which infected the audience too. It added a level of drama as well.

Strictly winner Hamza Yassin fumbled the final lift in his first performance, and dance partner Jowita Przystal revealed that the wildlife presenter was extremely anxious before the live show, breaking down the barriers somewhat between the show and reality. It was a theme which persisted throughout and helped me to engage with the dancers in a way I couldn't previously imagine.

The judges were by far one of the biggest highlights of the show, freed from the restrictions of television and allowed to let loose a little. Craig Revel Horwood is the master of pantomime villains and fully embraced his role here, to huge plaudits from the brum crowd.

Head judge Shirley Ballas dominated the panel with her enthusiasm, passion and of course, dancing , but the show stealer has to have been Anton du Beke. Taking part in his first live show as a judge, du Beke was the ultimate performer.

Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour press launch at the Ultilita Arena, Birmingham - Pictures

Charismatic, quirky and genuinely hilarious, his personality alone carried the show. I didn't expect so much humour from a professional dancing exhibition, but I could not stop laughing at the chemistry between the presenters, judges and celebs.

Credit too has to go to the unbelievable band and singers setting the scene for all the dances. Their voices were incredible.

It almost felt as if we were getting two for the price of one - stylish and professional dancing alongside beautiful music, both orchestral and vocal. It has to be said, that the band doesn't get the recognition it ultimately deserves.

From my mum's die-hard Strictly fan's point of view, the evening was a masterpiece. She adored the outfits, performances and interviews, although pointed out that in the past the live tour has managed to bring along more celebrities from the show.

Either way she loved the show and despite my prior misconceptions, I have to admit I did too.

The Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour is just so relentlessly entertaining, it's impossible not to have fun watching it. The special effects, pyrotechnics and performances are all spectacular, the judges interactions are hilarious and for two hours you feel fully immersed in the BBC show to such an extent that by the time you leave, you will be wondering why the world isn't as glittery, glamorous and positive as television suggests it should be.

If you need a splash of feel good and a taste of showbiz to kickstart your 2023, the Strictly tour is well worth your time.

Strictly Come Dancing The Live Tour 2023 is at Utilita Arena Birmingham until Sunday, January 22. For tickets, visit the Ticket Factory's website here .

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Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour: I saw The O2 show as someone who isn't a big fan and Helen Skelton was breathtaking

Strictly Come Dancing: The Live Tour is now at London's O2 Arena and there's tickets left

• 12:22, 4 FEB 2023
• Updated 09:36, 6 FEB 2023

Strictly's popular live tour has finally arrived in London with all its sequins, glitter and camp, family-friendly humour. Admittedly, I don't really watch the beloved show. I keep up with the gossip, I see the highlights, it's just that I never really sit and watch an episode in full.

But, really, it's a show I should enjoy. I love dancing, I adore theatre and I can't keep away from sparkles. Plus there's the added joy I find in secretly hoping celebrities are really bad at something and getting to watch them progress. So with the invite to watch this special arena-touring version of the BBC dance contest, I was quite excited to get my first real Strictly experience.

Strictly Come Dancing: The Live Tour arrived in London at The O2 Arena last night, Friday, February 3 and is on all weekend with four performances. The shows feature incredible production, plenty of audience interaction and dances that (as everyone seemed to chant along) were FAB-U-LOUS. You can get your hands on tickets here.

READ MORE: Londoners' last chance to see Only Fools and Horses in the West End before it heads on tour

There was an absolute buzz as soon as we took to our seats, this wasn't a chilled little Friday night out, this was a big night out for fans. Everyone around us chatted away about the dances they were hoping to see, reminiscing on their favourite memories of the series and admiring other audience members' sequinned frocks.

Unsurprisingly, the demographic was pretty clear; many older women, older couples, families with young kids - not exactly a large number of other twenty somethings here on a Friday night. But it didn't matter. We were welcomed by the ladies next to us, telling me just how much they love Strictly.

And they weren't disappointed. In fact, neither was I - I was impressed. Each celebrity and their professional partner perform two of their best dances from the series, receiving a score from the judges and plenty of applause from the crowd. I was sad to hear one of my own personal favourites, Fleur East, was unable to perform but all of the routines truly are fantastic. From the American Smooth to the Jive, each one is a production within itself and enjoyable from every angle of the audience.

The tour staging really is just like being in the TV filming studio but bigger. Everything is bigger. The floor of the arena is transformed into a stretching shiny dance floor, with a raised section in the middle that copied the familiar ballroom set-up. At the back sits the wonderful live band and three judges; Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood.

A small number of the celebrities' routines felt like they weren't quite big enough to fill such a huge space but the addition of extra pro-dancers in some numbers helped the majority to really wow us.

I absolutely loved seeing Helen Skelton's much-talked about performance of Mein Herr live. Partnered for the tour with Kai Widdrington, she truly is a power house on the dancefloor and someone I've continued to admire in adulthood since writing her Blue Peter fan letters as a child. Of course, Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal absolutely blew me away too - he is undeniably deserving of his champion status. It was like watching two professionals as we all gasped and wooped at his lifts and perfect steps.

But nothing really has the arena buzzing more than the big, group dances. The professionals' energy is electric as they bring magical and magnificent moves with the crowd engulfed in disco ball lighting, lit up by pyrotechnics and touched by emotive elegance. By the end, everyone is on their feet too, dancing along to the final up-beat number.

Praise has to be given to Craig of course, who is not only the love-to-hate judge with pantomime villain energy but also the director of the tour. And the whole thing would not be complete without the friendly hosting of Janette Manrara and the exquisite vocals of the four singers - who deserve a little more credit throughout the show.

The judges and Janette are professionals themselves at working the crowd. From perfect puns to the Strictly gags the fans around us seemed to find truly hilarious, the panel know exactly what to do. They have the audience chanting along at the right times, always calling out to them and getting them involved.

But there is one key bit of involvement I found unfair. If you're paying to come along to this show you're expecting the full experience, yet you don't quite get it.

After the first half, the audience is invited to vote for their favourite couple of the show but they have to pay to do so. Sure, it's only a 25p charge to text for your winner but I just assumed there would have been some form of voting system included. However, it doesn't seem to be that much of a problem for the Strictly lovers in the arena as they are all quick to vote.

Unsurprisingly after the consistent cheers and pretty decent moves from them, Helen and Kai were the winners of our night, lifting the glitterball to the roar of a loving audience.

Even without being a huge Strictly fan, there's no denying this is a truly entertaining show - a properly fun night out. I did feel as though I was at a scaled-up version of sitting in the TV studio audience so maybe I'll actually give the next series a proper go. I loved the energy, the spectacle and the shared enjoyment throughout the crowd. Everyone was there to have a good time and it's exactly what they got. Grab yourself a ticket before it's over this weekend and get your fill of sparkles, show-stopping routines and sheer fabulous-ness. Even Craig would give this show a nine, at least.

Strictly Come Dancing: The Live Tour is now running at The O2 Arena. Performances are at 2:30pm and 7:30pm on Saturday February 4 and 1:30pm and 6:30pm on Sunday February 5. You can purchase tickets here.

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The Telegraph Review 2023

Strictly come dancing live, review: slick, glitzy arena show proves it has plenty of foxtrots left.

By Mark Brown 21 January 2023

There were a few Cassandras proclaiming that the BBC’s hit TV programme Strictly Come Dancing had lost its mojo when the 2022 final brought in a mere 9.6 million viewers (almost two million fewer than in pandemic-stricken 2021). However – if the palpably enthralled, 8,000-strong audience for the opening night of the 2023 live tour was any indication – the Beeb’s competitive pro-celebrity dance show (which turns 20 next year) has quite a few foxtrots left in it yet.

Whether on screen or in large performance venues such as the Utilita Arena Birmingham, Strictly continues to thrive on its tried-and-tested formula. There’s a bit of double-entendre laden banter between the judges (Anton Du Beke joins Shirley Ballas and the show’s director Craig Revel Horwood for this year’s tour), and a little chat with the TV-famous dancing couples (led off by host, and former Strictly contestant, Janette Manrara, whose post-interval frock resembled an ornate, Viennese lemon cake).

Most importantly, of course, there’s the dancing. Seven couples – including last year’s winners, TV ecologist Hamza Yassin and his pro-dancer partner Jowita Przystal – perform two dances each. They are competing for the “purely advisory” votes of the judges and the all-important text votes of the live audience.

The prize? None other than the Strictly Live Glitterball, which will be awarded at each and every performance of the tour. If the near pointlessness of this attempt to maintain the veneer of competitiveness troubled the opening night audience, it didn’t show. As the celebrity contestants – from actor Will Mellor to Paralympian Ellie Simmonds – insisted that it was their “dream” to walk away with this evening’s prize, no-one seemed to mind that they’d be dreaming of it twice again tomorrow (at both the matinee and evening performances).

The audience’s indulgence of this conceit should come as no surprise. Strictly is a game in which everyone, fans included, plays their allotted part.

Revel Horwood, for instance, takes on the role of boo-inducing pantomime baddie. When he’s not calling everyone “darling”, the camp curmudgeon is riling the crowd by offering the only negative commentaries of the dancers. It’s all for show, of course, as every couple gets excellent marks, with the final tallies of judges’ votes ranging from 51 to 58 out of 60.

Down on the dance floor, and accompanied by the excellent Strictly big band and singers, the dancers made the most of the opportunities provided by the sheer capaciousness of the venue. Liberated from the restrictions of the TV studio, actor and singer Molly Rainford and partner Carlos Gu swept around the vast floor space with a high-octane quickstep.

Indeed, across the 14 competitive dances, there was barely a foot put wrong. So tightly scripted is the show, in fact, that one couldn’t help but suspect that even the “fails” – such as Hamza missing a lift of Jowita – were written in (although pro-dancer Dianne Buswell losing an extension to her bright pink hair might well have been a genuine hiccup).

Glitzier than the late Liberace’s Christmas tree and cheesier than a visit to a dairy farm, Strictly Live – with its quickfire adrenaline rushes of Charlestons, sambas and paso dobles – gives the TV show’s fans what they want, and then some. This slick two-and-a-half hour extravaganza certainly suggests that 9.6 million Strictly fans can’t be wrong.

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Strictly Come Dancing The Live Tour 2023

• Date 3 Feb - 5 Feb 2023
• Venue The O2 arena
• Availability On sale now

Event Details

Clear the dancefloor and whip out your 10 paddles, because the Strictly Come Dancing Live Arena Tour is back for 2023! The Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour returns to The O2 for more fun and fab-u-lous entertainment on Friday 3, Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 February 2023.

The first three celebrities who will be joining 2023’s hotly-anticipated Strictly Come Dancing Live UK arena tour have been announced. Actor Will Mellor,  Paralympic swimming champion and broadcaster Ellie Simmonds  and Kiss FM radio host, TV presenter and DJ Tyler West will be foxtrotting their way across the country for 31 sparkle-filled shows kicking off in January. Full line-up will be announced soon.

For the first time ever, Anton Du Beke will join fellow TV judges Shirley Ballas and Craig Revel Horwood on the Strictly Live Tour. The tour will also see the welcome return of the sensational Janette Manrara.

The show will feature many of the celebrities and professional dancers from the current series of the multi-award-winning BBC One show, together with the Strictly Live Band, a great way to celebrate the 20th series of this entertainment phenomenon.

As in 2022, each performance of the tour will host a British Sign Language interpreter, who will be displayed on two very large screens either side of the stage so that attendees can book tickets and sit almost anywhere in the arena to enjoy the experience with family and friends.

Important Information - How to download your tickets on The O2 app

For this show, if you’ve purchased your tickets from theo2.co.uk or AXS.com you’ll need to display your ticket on your phone via The O2 app. Ticket purchasers will receive an email with news and information on  AXS Mobile ID tickets  and how you can download your tickets to your phone. 

If you’ve bought your tickets for this show via AXS then you can re-sell your tickets with AXS Official Resale   which gives you a safe, simple, and fair way to buy and sell tickets.

For more information on re-selling tickets from AXS and other ticket agents  click here .  

Please note:  If you purchase  resale   tickets for this show through any website other than via theo2.co.uk or axs.com, your tickets may not be valid and access to the venue could be refused.

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Review: Strictly Come Dancing 2023

Sport Editor Lucy Parry reviews the new season of Strictly Come Dancing at its halfway point, finding that the show has maintained its high entertainment quality and commenting on who the front runners of the competition may be

Strictly Come Dancing has now reached the halfway point and there’s already been a lot of drama, controversy and amazing dances. I am going to break it all down and discuss who I think the front runners are at this point.

On 23rd October, it was announced that Amanda Abbington had decided to withdraw from the competition. Before Strictly started, there was a lot of controversy surrounding her casting because Strictly fans found transphobic comments on her X account. She called her past comments ‘stupid’ and ‘ill-informed’ and apologised for them. In her statement on Instagram about her early departure , she said she was unable to continue due to personal reasons. Noticeably, her professional dance partner Giovanni Pernice was omitted from her statement in which she praised her fellow contestants and thanked the production team. Her absence means there will only be three couples in the final this year.

Her absence means there will only be three couples in the final this year

Layton Williams has been accused of having an ‘unfair’ advantage because he has extensive musical theatre experience. This situation happens every year on Strictly . He has responded to the criticism, saying ‘Anybody who ever saw me in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie knows I didn’t do a Salsa or Tango there on stage’. Despite not having the specific experience of Ballroom and Latin, having musicality and the stamina needed for regular dance training does give him an advantage. However, Layton is not the only contestant with dance experience; Nigel Harman performed in multiple West End shows and Angela Rippon trained as a classical ballerina. We all like a journey, but if all the celebrities were complete novices, it would make the first weeks very boring. Ultimately, Strictly is a popularity contest, so having a dance advantage does not really make a difference if you’re not loved by the public.

We all like a journey, but if all the celebrities were complete novices, it would make the first weeks very boring

One of the best parts of this series has been the interactions between Claudia Winkleman and Jay, Krishnan Guru-Murthy’s 16-year-old son. At first, Jay refused to watch his dad dancing, but he soon relented after seeing how happy dancing makes his dad. In Week 4, he was in the studio audience and Claudia held up a sign saying ‘Welcome Jay’. Then she wore a ‘Hello Jay’ t-shirt. For Halloween Week, she gave all the celebrities and pros Jay masks, and Jay joined in on the joke as he wore a ‘Hello Claudia’ t-shirt. I am excited to see how far it goes. It’s great that Jay gets to watch his dad getting better every week. Krishnan might be the underdog, but the British public loves an underdog.

Krishnan might be the underdog, but the British public loves an underdog

In my opinion, the front runners at this point are Ellie Leach & Vito Coppola, Layton Williams & Nikita Kuzmin and Bobby Brazier & Dianne Buswell. Ellie & Vito have great chemistry and, apart from one blip, their scores have steadily improved every week. In the last two weeks, they have upped their game: their fierce Paso Doble and their daring Salsa were both showstoppers. They just need to continue on this trajectory and they will be in the final. Layton & Nikita also have brilliant banter. Nikita has even made changes to his style because of Layton’s influence. Although Layton has dance experience, he does not seem arrogant. So many of their dances have been amazing, but the two that stand out are their Quickstep and their Cha Cha. Bobby & Dianne have such a cute brother and sister vibe. Bobby has grown up in the public eye, so he already understands what it feels like to be scrutinised. Their Romeo & Juliet themed Samba was top-notch, and I don’t think their Strictly journey will be a tragedy.

Strictly continues to deliver high quality Saturday night entertainment.

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Strictly Come Dancing 2023: full series guide, winner, runners up and more

Strictly Come Dancing 2023 has brought glitz and glamour to our weekends once again.

The Strictly Come Dancing 2023 has come to an end, and what a series it was! After 13 sparkly weeks of watching this year's Strictly Come Dancing 2023 line-up show off their fancy footwork on the dancefloor, we have now got a new champion to add to our Strictly Come Dancing winners list.

Here's everything you need to know about the 2023 series from who won to what dances everyone performed each week...

Strictly Come Dancing 2023 next episode

The Strictly Come Dancing 2023 has now finished, but you can still catch up or re-live your favorite dances on BBC iPlayer.

Strictly spin-off show, Strictly: It Takes Two 2023 is also available on BBC iPlayer if you would like to catch up. 

Who won Strictly Come Dancing 2023? 

Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola were crowned champions of Strictly Come Dancing 2023 on Saturday, December 16. The couple won the hearts of the nation with their infectious friendship and positive nature, and bowled the judges over with their performances each week - no mean feat considering Ellie had never danced before starting the show back in September! 

Ellie and Vito reached the final where they battled it out for the glitterball trophy against Bobby and Dianne and Layton and Nikita. They danced an American Smooth to Robbie Williams’ cover of Ain’t That a Kick in the Head, a paso doble to Insomnia by 2WEI, and their show dance to a Jennifer Lopez megamix, with the public deciding they should be the very worthy 2023 winners. 

Strictly Come Dancing 2023 line up — all this year's celebrities and where they came in the competition

Amanda Abbington - withdrew from the competition

Amanda Abbington was the first celebrity contestant confirmed for the brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing and she's been partnered with Strictly favorite, Giovanni Pernice. 

Amanda is best known for playing Mary Morstan in  Sherlock . Her other credits include  Mr Selfridge , Wolfe , and  Desperate Measures,  she also had a lead role in the series  The Net a nd feature film  The Lost King .

Amanda said: “I’m thrilled to have been asked to do Strictly . I’m actually really shy and self-conscious so this will be a great opportunity for me to overcome those things! Plus, I get to learn to dance which I am incredibly excited about. I’m really looking forward to the training too, I’m quite competitive as my family and friends will tell you. I can’t wait to start!”

Amanda has quit Strictly Come Dancing, with the news being announced on It Takes Two.

A Strictly spokesperson said: “Amanda Abbington is unable to continue in Strictly Come Dancing and has decided to withdraw from the competition. The show wishes her all the best for the future.”

Angela Rippon - eighth to be eliminated

Angela Rippon, who has been paired up with Kai Widdrington, was bound to end up on Strictly one day as a former presenter of Come Dancing between 1988 and 1991.

She currently presents BBC's Rip-Off Britain and is a regular on Morning Live and The One Show .

Angela shared her excitement about taking part in the show: “Having been a fan of Strictly since day one, and as a former presenter of Come Dancing , this will be quite an adventure for me. A scary one, considering I’m about to be 79. But I’m really looking forward to the challenge, and perhaps being able to learn to dance the Argentinian Tango!!”

So far Angela is wowing the judges with her impressive footwork and fans can't get enough of her pairing with Kai — the pair did end up in the dance-off on Sunday, November 5 against Adam and Luba, but the judges voted to keep Angela in the competition.  Angela landed in the dance-off for a second time on November 11 after facing Krishnan Guru-Murthy.

Sadly it was third time unlucky for Angela and she left Strictly in Blackpool Week after landing in the dance-off against Bobby and Dianne. 

Layton Williams - finalist 

Layton, who is dancing with Nikita Kuzmin, is best known as a stage and screen actor and has performed in London’s West End, giving performances as the title role in  Billy Elliot  and  Everyone’s Talking About Jamie. He also appeared in the hit British sitcom Bad Education alongside comedian Jack Whitehall.

He said: "Absolutely buzzing to confirm that I will be taking part in THE most iconic dance competition in the UK! It's time to bring it to the Ballroom. So excited to learn new skills from the best. Bring on the sequins… ALL the sequins!"

Layton reached the final, winning some impressive scores from the judges throughout the series and performing some iconic dances that will go down in Strictly history. 

Krishnan Guru-Murthy - seventh to be eliminated

Award-winning journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy is best known as the main anchor of Channel 4 News, as well as reporting for the foreign affairs series  Unreported World  and hosting live debates for Channel 4 during elections, referendums and major crises. Krishnan is dancing with Lauren Oakley.

He said of joining the show: “I’m surprised, delighted and slightly confused to find myself taking part in Strictly on the basis of ‘you only live once!’ and I can’t wait to start learning to dance, but I am slightly worried about my general decrepitude. I know I’m going to love it and have a brilliant time and just hope I’m not the only one enjoying my participation.”

Krishnan and Lauren left the show on Sunday, November 12 after facing Angela and Kai in the dance-off. Speaking of his time on the show, Krishnan told Tess: "This has been the most incredible experience. I said it has been life-changing and it genuinely has. It’s right I am going out this week and I have got to get back to life. The thing that has made Strictly really special is Lauren. She is going to go a long way and I am very proud of her."

Eddie Kadi - fourth to be eliminated

Stand-up comedian and radio presenter Eddie Kadi, who is dancing with Karen Hauer, was the first British black comedian to headline the O2 Arena in London and has hosted a number of prestigious red carpet shows. 

Eddie has also made appearances on Blankety Blank, The National Comedy Awards, Tonight with Target and more . 

Eddie also fronts The Official Afrobeats Chart Show on BBC Radio 1Xtra and is a Team Captain on ITV’s entertainment format  Sorry I Didn’t Know. 

Eddie revealed: “WOW. Anyone who knows me, understands that music and dance is so important and central to who I am. I’m so unbelievably proud and honoured that Strictly and the BBC have asked me to join the 2023 Team."

Eddie received the first 10 of Strictly 2023 after Shirley awarded him and Karen the top mark for their Couples Choice dance in week 3. 

Unfortunately, Eddie was the fourth celebrity to be eliminated after an "extremely close" result following their dance-off with Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima.

Angela Scanlon - ninth to be eliminated

TV presenter Angela Scanlon is an Irish TV presenter for the BBC and RTÉ and is dancing with Carlos Gu. 

Angela said of joining the line-up: “I’m terrified, I’m excited and I have so many questions. Will they make me tan? How itchy are sequins?! Do they do flesh-coloured sports bras? Well — there’s only one way to find out, right!? Now I’m panicking a bit… but also secretly thrilled about the prospect of all that glitter. Let’s go!”

She hosts the hit interior design show  Your Home Made Perfect  and  Your Garden Made Perfect  on BBC Two and is the only woman in the UK and Ireland to have their own Saturday night chat show with  Ask Me Anything  on RTÉ One.

Last year, Angela published her first book Joyrider, part empowering guide and part memoir, all about the importance of bringing gratitude into everyday life. 

Starting off as a stylist, she worked in fashion TV in Ireland, before beginning her career in the UK as the new presenter of  Robot Wars  alongside Dara Ó Briain in 2016. 

Angela has also hosted a number of documentaries for the BBC, including  Angela Scanlon's Close Encounters, Trump's Unlikely Superfans, World's Oldest Family  and a narrator for  Tourettes: Teenage Tics.

Angela was the ninth celebrity to leave the competition after coming head-to-head with Layton in the dance-off.  Layton and Nikita performed their American Smooth to It’s Oh So Quiet by Björk, and Angela and Carlos then performed their Cha Cha to I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor. Motsi, Anton and Craig all voted to save Layton meaning Angela would be going home. However, despite it not making a difference in the result,  head judge Shirley said she would have chosen to save Angela and Carlos. 

Zara McDermott - fifth to be eliminated

After working as a government policy advisor for the Department of Energy and Climate Change and Department of Education, Zara McDermott became a contestant on Love Island 2018. Zara is dancing with Graziano Di Prima.

Now, she is a broadcaster and content creator, who makes documentaries that inspire conversation and educate young people on hard-hitting issues. She has presented five successful BBC documentaries so far, including  Revenge Porn ,  Uncovering Rape Culture ,  Disordered Eating ,  and Gaia: A Death on Dancing Ledge . She also presents the entertainment show  Love In The Flesh  on BBC Three. 

Zara was the fifth celebrity to leave the show after finding herself in the dance-off against Adam and Luba on Halloween Week. Speaking of her time on the show, Zara said: "I have had the time of my life. Just to be here is incredible. Thank you to the judges and my amazing partner obviously.

"My fellow contestants are just incredible. It has been the most amazing experience. I can't believe it's over but I am going to be here in spirit every week supporting them." 

Adam Thomas — sixth to be eliminated

Soap star Adam Thomas is best known for playing Adam Barton in  Emmerdale for nine years until he left the soap in 2018 and recently reprised his role as Donte Charles in Waterloo Road . Adam is dancing with Luba Mushtuk.

Adam appeared in I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here in 2016, and went on to co-host the spin-off I’m a Celebrity: Extra Camp .

Adam said of joining: "I am so excited to be joining the cast of this year's Strictly Come Dancing . I've been such a big fan of the show for years, I can't believe I'm actually doing it! I can't dance to save my life but I'm buzzing to learn and have a good laugh with my pro. Get me on that dance floor...I can't wait!"

On whether he thinks he has a chance of winning the show, Adam said: "You know what, I am going to be honest, when I first joined the show, I thought I have got a shot at it. But now I have seen the competition and now I know what I am up against. But that has made me feel a lot more at ease because I am not necessarily in it to win it now, I know I am just here to enjoy it and have fun!"

Adam found himself in the dance-off in Halloween week against Zara McDermott, but all four judges voted to save him and Luba. 

Adam left the show on Sunday, November 5 after he found himself in the dance-off once again, this time against Angela and Kai. Sadly Adam's rhumba wasn't enough to keep him in the competition and all four judges voted to save Angela. 

Nikita Kanda - second to be eliminated 

Nikita hosts the BBC Asian Network’s Breakfast show, after previously presenting the Saturday afternoon show. She has interviewed an array of star-studded celebrities and has also fronted regular reports on The One Show. 

Nikita was dancing with Gorka Marquez but sadly became the second celebrity leave the show. 

She said of joining the line-up: “I can’t believe I’m going to be on Strictly . This is a dream come true. I’m still pinching myself. I don’t think it will properly sink in until I step onto the dancefloor. I can’t wait to get glammed up and get out there. Throw the glitter on me!”

Ellie Leach - 2023 winner! 

Ellie is best known for playing Faye Windass on Coronation Street and was nominated for a number of British Soap Awards and Inside Soap Awards for her role and hard-hitting storylines. Ellie is dancing with Vito Coppola.

After a dramatic time in Weatherfield, Ellie recently left the soap after 12 years when her character reconnected with daughter Miley.

She said of joining the show: “It still doesn’t feel real that I’m going to be doing Strictly!! It’s always been a dream of mine so I guess dreams really do come true!!!!” 

Ellie and Vito became a firm fan favourite throughout the series with their amazing chemistry winning viewers over. But it wasn't just their infectious friendship that led to Ellie and Vito lifting the glitterball trophy, Ellie also had no dancing experience before she joined the show, and was, as Vito told everyone, 'what Strictly is all about'! 

Jody Cundy CBE - third to be eliminated 

Jody Cundy CBE is a decorated World and Paralympic Champion and was dancing with Jowita Przystal.

He has represented Great Britain at seven Summer Paralympics winning eight Gold, one Silver and three Bronze medals across swimming and cycling events. 

Jody has also competed in multiple World Championships, winning 23 world titles. The most recent win came at the World Cycling Championships in Glasgow.

After competing at Tokyo 2021, Jody became the first man in Paralympics GB history to win medals at seven different games. 

In 2009 he was awarded an MBE for his services to Disability sport, in 2017 this was upgraded to an OBE for his services to Swimming & Cycling and in 2022 he received a CBE for services to cycling.

He currently holds the world record in the Flying 200m and the 1km Time Trial. He also holds 14 consecutive world titles in the MC4 Kilo Time Trial.

Jody shared about joining the series: “Excited to be welcomed into the Strictly family and throw myself headfirst into the world of ballroom dancing. So far away from what I’m used to, but I’m looking forward to the challenge and pushing myself way out of my comfort zone, especially as I’m always last on the dance floor. Can’t wait to get stuck in, bring on the glitter and sequins!”

Sadly, Jody and Jowita were the third couple to leave the show after he went head-to-head with Eddie Kadi in the dance-off. Speaking of his time on the show, Jody told Tess: "You know what, when I signed up for this I thought what on earth am I signing up for and we did that first live show and I loved every second of it. Just being able to dance and do something I've never done before and get completely out of my comfort zone and with Jowita has been great."

Bobby Brazier - finalist 

Bobby Brazier is another soap star added to the Strictly line-up... he is dancing with Dianne Buswell.

The 20-year-old son of late reality star Jade Goody joined  EastEnders  in September 2022 as  Freddie Slater  and has become a huge hit with fans since his first appearance.

Prior to landing his first acting role in  EastEnders,  Bobby modelled on the runway for world renowned fashion house Dolce & Gabbana at Milan Fashion Week and sat front row alongside Lewis Hamilton at London Fashion Week.

He has also featured on the cover of style magazine Man About Town and is a passionate advocate for positive mental health and well-being on social media.

Bobby said: “I’m so excited to be part of the  Strictly  line up, I can’t wait to start training like a professional dancer and adding a few moves to my locker. I'm looking forward to performing in front of everyone, it's going to be so much fun!”

Bobby and Diane were a huge hit with fans, with their dances putting a huge smile on viewers' faces each week. The couple got some amazing marks from the judges over the weeks, and even Craig couldn't help but be impressed with Bobby's snake hips! 

Nigel Harman - out due to injury

Nigel Harman , who is dancing with Katya Jones, became a soap legend after playing bad boy Dennis Rickman in EastEnders from 2003 to 2005 and won him multiple awards, including Most Popular Newcomer at the National Television Awards.

After  EastEnders,  Nigel went on to play valet Mr Green in  Downton Abbey   and now appears as  Casualty ’s  new clinical lead, Dr Max Cristie.

Nigel said: "I'm amazed, excited, and terrified to be doing Strictly . As an armchair fan of the show I have watched in awe as people have twirled and gyrated across the screen. And now it's my turn.....gulp!"

Annabel Croft - tenth to be eliminated

Annabel Croft is a former British Number One tennis player who at 15 years old was the youngest British player to compete at Wimbledon for 95 years. She also represented Great Britain in prestigious Wightman and Federation Cup competitions and continues to play an integral role in the coverage of Wimbledon.

Annabel is dancing with Johannes Radebe.

Outside of tennis, Annabel has presented entertainment shows such as Treasure Hunt and Inceptor and covers all the major tennis events worldwide. Her TV and radio career includes presenting, commentating, and working as a pundit for a number of broadcasters including BBC, Sky, Amazon Prime, ITV and Discovery.

Speaking of her preparations for the start of Strictly Annabel said: “I haven’t done anything differently, other than I went to make a cup of tea the other day and I went to try and do a ballet turn.... it was a bit clumpy and I almost fell over, so that wasn’t good!

"I keep saying I’m going to do a few stretches, so I do need to do that and loosen up. I was quite supple as a child and now I’ve stiffened up through tennis. I need to get my suppleness back."

Sadly Annabel left the competition in the semi-finals after finding herself in the dance off against Bobby and Diane. 

Les Dennis - First to be eliminated 

Les Dennis was dancing with Nancy Xu and was sadly the first celebrity to leave this year's show. 

TV legend Les has been in showbiz for over 50 years, including famously hosting  Family Fortunes  for 16 years.  

He started his career as a comedian on the Working Men’s Club circuit in and around his native Liverpool. He got his big break on TV Talent show  New Faces , and went on to star in sketch and variety show  The Laughter Show , forming a double-act with the late Dustin Gee.  

His TV career includes roles in  Extras ,  Brookside ,  Death in Paradise, Midsomer Murders  and two years in  Coronation Street as the character Michael Rodwell. On stage, Les has appeared in hit plays and musicals such as Hairspray, Legally Blonde The Musical and 42nd Street . 

Who has left Strictly Come Dancing 2023?

The first couple to leave the show in week 2 (because no one was eliminated in week 1) was Les Dennis and his dance partner Nancy Xu. The couple faced Nikita Kuzmin and Gorka Marquez in the dance-off, with all judges voting to save Nikita and Gorka. 

The second couple to leave the show was Nikita Kuzmin and Gorka Marquez after they faced Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima in the dance-off. Nikita and Gorka danced the Jive to Kids In America from Clueless, however, it was Zara and Graziano's Pasodoble to The Puss Suite from Puss In Boots that won the judges over. 

The third couple to leave the show were Jody Cundy and his dance partner Jowita Przystal. The pair faced Eddie Kadi and his dance partner Karen Hauer in the dance-off, with all four judges choosing to save Eddie and Karen. 

Speaking of her partnership with Jody, Jowita said: "I cannot even describe how proud I am of you Jody, because from day 1 till now, it's an enormous improvement. And I hope one day when you look back at all of this, you will say to yourself I'm proud of myself, because that will be my biggest achievement."

The fourth couple to leave the show were Eddie Kadi and Karen Hauer after they faced Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima in the dance-off.

All four judges chose to save Zara and Graziano, with Motsi Mabuse calling the result “extremely close”.

Speaking about the result, Kadi said: “I’ve really enjoyed this, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do — I love dancing. This has been the highest moment of my career. It’s the happiest I’ve ever been.

“More importantly, this little African boy, I just wanted my culture to shine. Everything I stand for, when it comes to my comedy, when it comes to my presenting, is based on my culture, is based on my upbringing and I wanted that to shine most importantly.”

Zara McDermott was the fifth celebrity to leave the show after finding herself in the dance-off against Adam and Luba on Halloween Week. Speaking of her time on the show, Zara said: ""I have had the time of my life. Just to be here is incredible. Thank you to the judges and my amazing partner obviously.

"My fellow contestants are just incredible. It has been the most amazing experience. I can't believe it's over but I am going to be here in spirit every week supporting them."

The sixth couple to leave the show was Adam Thomas and his dance partner Luba. The pair found themselves in the dance off with Angela and Kai, but sadly their rhumba wasn't enough to keep them in the competition. 

Speaking of his exit, Adam said: "What a journey it’s been. I honestly thought I was leaving in week two and the fact that I’ve got this far I’m so proud of myself.

“I’ve had an amazing time from start to finish. I came here to learn how to dance and I’ve learned so much more about myself. The confidence and self-belief I now have in myself, it’s out of this world I have to thank all these guys up here. What a bunch to be on this journey with. I’m just very, very lucky!”

The seventh couple to leave the show was Krishnan and Lauren after facing Angela and Kai in the dance-off. 

Speaking of his time on the show, Krishnan told Tess: "This has been the most incredible experience. I said it has been life-changing and it genuinely has. I am incredibly grateful to the entire production team, judges, my incredible Strictly family. It’s right I am going out this week and I have got to get back to life. 

"The thing that has made Strictly really special is Lauren. She is the most incredible teacher, partner and friend. She is the real Strictly star and I am so delighted I am the first partnership you have had. She is going to go a long way and I am very proud of her."

The eighth couple to leave the show was Angela and Kai. Unfortunately, Angela found herself in the dance-off against Bobby Brazier and Diane Buswell after performing at the iconic Blackpool Tower. All of the judges opted to save Bobby and Diane, so Angela was the eighth to leave.

Angela Scanlon was the ninth celebrity to leave the competition after coming head-to-head with Layton in the dance-off. Layton and Nikita performed their American Smooth to It’s Oh So Quiet by Björk, and Angela and Carlos then performed their Cha Cha to I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor. Motsi, Anton and Craig all voted to save Layton meaning Angela would be going home. However, despite it not making a difference in the result,  head judge Shirley said she would have chosen to save Angela and Carlos.

Speaking of her time on the show, Angela said: “It’s been honestly incredible, I’m gutted, really gutted that it’s finished now, but it has been the most wonderful experience. I have made the best friend in this man [to Carlos]. We have had so much fun, he is such an incredible guy. He has supported me and picked me up and made me laugh so much. I don’t know what to say, it’s been magical honestly – all of those people up there! My husband at home, my two little girls and all my friends!”

While no one left the show in Musicals Week, Nigel Harman was forced to bow out of the show after sustaining an injury during rehearsals.

He explained to Claudia: “I was leaping off a rostrum and was about to be caught by some very handsome men and, as I flew I was Peter Pan and as I landed, I was in A&E.

"I’ve done something to my rib and it’s quite painful.” Nigel continued to say that he “loved” his experience on the show, continuing "This really hasn’t sunk in. When I watched everyone come down the stairs, I was a bit like, 'Oh, this is real, I'm not a part of this anymore'."

Former tennis player Annabel and professional partner Johannes Radebe become the tenth couple to be eliminated after finding themselves in the dance-off against Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell.

Reflecting on her exit Annabel said: " Strictly  really has been so life-changing! When I think back to week 1, I was apprehensive and terrified… a bit like a rabbit in the headlights. But  Strictly  has brought me out of my shell and allowed me to discover things about myself that I never knew. I went through a lot of different emotions and I thank EVERYONE who has supported us both, along the way, because it's all of you, who have kept us going and enabled us to get this far. We really appreciate it."

What dances were on the Strictly 2023 final?

Each finalist danced three dances - two that they had performed previously and then their show dance. 

The dances for the finals were... 

Bobby and Dianne danced a couple’s choice to This Woman’s Work by Maxwell, a samba to Candi Station’s Young Hearts Run Free, and their show dance to a La La Land medley.

Ellie and Vito danced an American Smooth to Robbie Williams’ cover of Ain’t That a Kick in the Head, a paso doble to Insomnia by 2WEI, and their show dance to a Jennifer Lopez megamix.

Finally, Layton and Nikita performed an Argentine Tango to Tattoo by Loreen, a quick step to Gregory Porter’s cover of Puttin’ On the Ritz, and their show dance to Friend Like Me by Ne-Yo.

Semi finals - Saturday, December 9 

• Ellie Leach – Couple's Choice to Dua Lipa Medley and a Cha Cha Cha to Mambo Italiano by Bette Midler
• Layton Williams – Charleston to Fit as a Fiddle by Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor and a Rumba to Lift Me Up by Rihanna
• Bobby Brazier – Quickstep to Mack the Knife by Bobby Darin and a Paso Doble to Run Boy Run by Woodkid
• Annabel Croft – Salsa to You'll Be Mine (Party Time) by Gloria Estefan and a Viennese Waltz to Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want by Slow Moving Millie

Past dances for each celebrity 

Week 10 - Musicals Week on Saturday, December 2

• Ellie Leach – Quickstep to Belle from Beauty and The Beast
• Layton Williams – Paso Doble to Backstage Romance from Moulin Rouge! The Musical
• Bobby Brazier – Salsa to (I've Had) The Time Of My Life from Dirty Dancing
• Nigel Harman – Charleston to Step in Time from Mary Poppins
• Annabel Croft – Foxtrot to For Good from Wicked

Week 9 - Saturday, November 25 

• Ellie Leach – Argentine Tango to Bills, Bills, Bills by Destiny's Child
• Angela Scanlon – Cha Cha to I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor
• Layton Williams – American Smooth to It's Oh So Quiet by Björk
• Bobby Brazier – Couple's Choice to This Woman's Work by Maxwell
• Nigel Harman – Rumba to It's All Coming Back to Me Now by Celine Dion
• Annabel Croft – Paso Doble to España Cañi by Trad

Week 8 - Blackpool Special on Saturday, November 18

• Angela R and Kai: American Smooth to Tea for Two by Ella Fitzgerald
• Angela S and Carlos: Argentine Tango to Back To Black by Amy Winehouse
• Annabel and Johannes: American Smooth to Unchained Melody by Benedetta Caretta
• Bobby and Dianne: Jive to Wake Me Up Before You Go Go by Wham!
• Ellie and Vito: Charleston to Love Machine by Girls Aloud
• Layton and Nikita: Couple’s Choice to Ain’t No Other Man by Christina Aguilera
• Nigel and Katya: Quickstep to It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing by Duke Ellington

Week 7 - Saturday, November 11

• Krishnan Guru-Murthy – Samba to Bamboleo by Gipsy Kings
• Ellie Leach – Rumba to True Colours by Cyndi Lauper
• Angela Scanlon – Waltz to With You I'm Born Again by Billy Preston and Syreeta
• Layton Williams – Argentine Tango to Tattoo by Loreen
• Bobby Brazier – American Smooth to Ghost Of You by 5 Seconds of Summer
• Nigel Harman – Couple's Choice to Just The Way You Are by Bruno Mars
• Angela Rippon – Paso Doble to Hung Up by Madonna
• Annabel Croft – Samba to Whenever, Wherever by Shakira

Week 6 - Saturday, November 4

• Adam and Luba - American Rumba to Dancing On My Own by Calum Scott
• Annabel and Johannes - Couple’s Choice to Wings by Birdy
• Angela R and Kai - Waltz to Fascination by Nat King Cole
• Angela S and Carlos - Samba to Ain’t It Funny by Jennifer Lopez
• Bobby and Dianne - Argentine Tango to Sail by AWOLNATION
• Ellie and Vito - American Smooth to Ain’t That A Kick In The Head by Robbie Williams
• Krishnan and Lauren - Couple’s Choice to You Can Call Me Al by Paul Simon –
• Layton and Nikita - Jive to Shake Ur Body by SHY FX, T.Power, Di
• Nigel and Katya - Tango to Nothing Breaks Like a Heart by Mark Ronson ft. Miley Cyrus

Week 6 - Saturday, October 28, Halloween Week

• Adam and Luba — American Smooth to "Magic Moments" by Perry Como
• Annabel and Johannes — Tango to "Need U Tonight" by INXS
• Angela R and Kai — Charleston to "Murder She Wrote" (TV Theme)
• Angela S and Carlos — Paso Doble to "BLACK swan SWAN lake" by District 78
• Bobby and Dianne — Cha Cha to "Come-On-A-My-House" by Della Reese
• Ellie and Vito — Salsa to "Murder On The Dancefloor" by Sophie Ellis-Bextor
• Krishnan and Lauren — Viennese Waltz to "Kiss From A Rose" by Seal
• Layton and Nikita — Tango to "Vampire" by Olivia Rodrigo
• Nigel and Katya — Cha Cha to "I Was Made For Lovin’ You" by KISS
• Zara and Graziano — Charleston to "Jeepers Creepers" by Al Donahue and his Orchestra.

Week 5 - Saturday, October 21

• Adam Thomas – Couple's Choice to Backstreet Boys Medley by Backstreet Boys
• Zara McDermott – American Smooth to Can't Fight The Moonlight by LeAnn Rimes
• Krishnan Guru-Murthy - Quickstep to The Lady Is A Tramp by Frank Sinatra
• Ellie Leach – Paso Doble to Insomnia by Faithless
• Amanda Abbington – Cha Cha to Canned Heat by Jamiroquai
• Eddie Kadi – Samba to Calm Down by Rema ft Selena Gomez
• Angela Rippon – Tango to Tangier by Sexteto Mayor
• Layton Williams – Salsa to Quimbara by Johnny Pacheco and Celia Cruz
• Bobby Brazier – Viennese Waltz to Golden Hour by JVKE
• Nigel Harman – Foxtrot to I Just Want To Make Love To You by Etta James
• Angela Scanlon – American Smooth to Cherish by Madonna
• Annabel Croft – Charleston to Ladies Night by Kool & The Gang

Week 4 - Saturday, October 14 

• Adam Thomas – Waltz to I Wonder Why by Curtis Stigers 
• Zara McDermott – Viennese Waltz to You Don't Have to Say You Love Me by Brenda Lee
• Krishnan Guru-Murthy - Paso Doble to By the Way by Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Jody Cundy – Salsa to Samba de Janeiro by Bellini
• Ellie Leach – Samba to Copacabana by Barry Manilow
• Amanda Abbington – Fox Trot to Everywhere by Fleetwood Mac
• Eddie Kadi – American Smooth to Sex Bomb by Tom Jones
• Angela Rippon – Rumba to Rise Like A Phoenix by Conchita Wurst
• Layton Williams – Cha Cha to Million Dollar Bill by Whitney Houston
• Bobby Brazier – Tango to Fashion by David Bowie
• Nigel Harman – Salsa to Suavemente by Elvis Crespo
• Angela Scanlon – Viennese Waltz to You Are The Reason by Calum Scott & Leona Lewis
• Annabel Croft – Jive to Feel It Still by Portugal The Man

Week 3 - Saturday, October 7 Movie Week

• Adam Thomas – Jive to Take On Me from The Super Mario Bros
• Zara McDermott – Paso Doble to The Puss Suite from Puss in Boots
• Krishnan Guru-Murthy - Charleston to Money Money from Cabaret
• Jody Cundy – American Smooth to Married Life from Up
• Ellie Leach – Viennese Waltz to Waiting On A Miracle from Encanto
• Nikita Kanda – Jive to Kids in America from Clueless
• Amanda Abbington – Rumba to Out of Reach from Bridget Jones
• Eddie Kadi – Couple's Choice to Men in Black from Men in Black
• Angela Rippon – Quickstep to Do-Re-Mi from The Sounds of Music
• Layton Williams – Viennese Waltz to There Are Worse Things I Could Do from Grease
• Bobby Brazier – Samba to Young Hearts Run Free from Romeo and Juliet
• Nigel Harman – Jive to Batman Theme from Batman
• Angela Scanlon – Charleston to Who's Got The Pain? from Damn Yankees
• Annabel Croft - Waltz to Moon River from Breakfast at Tiffany's

Week 2 - Saturday, September 30

• Adam Thomas – Tango to Somebody Told Me by Maneskin
• Zara McDermot t  – Quickstep to Anyone For You by George Ezra
• Les Dennis – Samba to Rock the Boat by Hues Corporation
• Krishnan Guru-Murthy - Foxtrot to Love Really Hurts Without You by Billy Ocean
• Jody Cundy – Paso Doble to Thunderstruck by AC/DC
• Ellie Leach – Foxtrot to Perfect by Fairground Attraction
• Nikita Kanda – Charleston to Single Ladies by Beyoncé
• Amanda Abbington – Saldaq to One by Gloria Estefan
• Eddie Kadi – Cha-cha to Rie y Llora by Celia Cruz
• Angela Rippon – Foxtrot to You Make Me Feel So Young by Frank Sinatra
• Layton Williams – Quickstep to Puttin’ on the Ritz by Gregory Porter
• Bobby Brazier – Charleston to Do Your Thing by Basement Jaxx
• Nigel Harman – Viennese Waltz to Until I Found You by Stephen Sanchez
• Angela Scanlon – Jive to Trouble by Shampoo
• Annabel Croft – Quickstep to Walking on Sunshine by Katrina And The Waves

Week 1 - Saturday, September 23

• Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin – Samba to Touch by Little Mix
• Angela Rippon and Kai Widdrington – Cha Cha Cha to Get The Party Started by Shirley Bassey
• Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell – Foxtrot to All About You by McFly
• Jody Cundy and Jowita Przystał – Quickstep to I’m Sitting on Top of the World by Bobby Darin
• Angela Scanlon and Carlos Gu – Tango to Prisoner by Miley Cyrus and Dua Lipa
• Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola – Jive to Can’t Tame Her by Zara Larsson
• Annabel Croft and Johannes Radebe – Cha Cha Cha to Uptown Girl by Billy Joel
• Eddie Kadi and Karen Hauer – Quickstep to Two Hearts by Phil Collins
• Les Dennis and Nancy Xu – Tango to Don’t You Want Me by The Human League
• Adam Thomas and Luba Mushtuk – Cha Cha Cha to Waffle House by Jonas Brothers
• Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice – Viennese Waltz to Pointless by Lewis Capaldi
• Nigel Harman and Katya Jones – Paso Doble to Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana.
• Nikita Kandi and Gorka Marquez – Waltz to Run To You by Whitney Houston
• Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima – Cha Cha Cha to Crush by Jennifer Paige
• Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Lauren Oakley – Cha Cha Cha to Boom Chack-A-Lak by Apache Indian

Who were the professional dancers for Strictly Come Dancing 2023?

The female dancers returning were Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystal, Nancy Xu, Lauren Oakley and Michelle Tsiakkas. Sadly fan favourite Amy Dowden wasn't part of this year's line-up as she has been bravely battling cancer, however, fans were left thrilled when she made an appearance on stage with her fellow dancers in the final. 

Male dancers Graziano Di Prima, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Giovanni Pernice, Johannes Radebe, Kai Widdrington, Carlos Gu, and Vita Coppola all joined the 2023 line-up too.

Who were the judges for Strictly Come Dancing 2023?

Of course, the multi-award-winning competition is not complete without its fabulous judges.

The judging panel this year saw Craig Revel Horwood , Motsi Mabuse, Head Judge Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke all return. 

News that all of last year's judges will be returning came as a relief to fans after there was speculation Shirley might be leaving after she admitted the show has taken its toll on her mental health after being targeted by trolls on social media. 

During an appearance on  This Morning Shirley said: "I love the job, I love the actual critiquing. I love to get tips and help people along the way, to move forward to be beautiful dancers and all that they can be. 

"This year, I've got a wonderful gentleman called Harry Surplus who is doing my social media and he's getting rid of any of those messages. My son checks over everything because it really did take a little toll on my mental health   for a minute. What I'm realising is everybody gets it, I'm not the only one."

Who presented Strictly Come Dancing 2023?

Hosts Tess Daly  and  Claudia Winkleman also returned to the show for another series. The pair have been co-presenting the series since 2010 and we couldn't imagine anyone else at the helm of the nation's favorite dancing competition! 

The BBC revealed: "Presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will be back in the ballroom overseeing proceedings each weekend as a host of brand new celebrity contestants take to the floor in a bid to lift the coveted Glitterball Trophy."

Did Dave Arch return to Strictly Come Dancing?

Yes, fans were pleased to see Dave Arch and his wonderful band will once again provide the soundtrack to Saturday and Sunday nights all across the UK. 

Who presented Strictly spin-off show, Strictly: It Takes Two? 

Former Strictly professional dancer Janette Manrara returned for Strictly: It Takes Two 2023 , but sadly Rylan left the show after joining the Strictly : It Takes Two team in 2019. 

Replacing Rylan was Strictly 2022 star Fleur East . Speaking on her new role Fleur said, "I’m so excited to officially join the Strictly family! I had such an amazing time on the show last year and so cannot wait to be talking to the celebs each week on It Takes Two ."

Who won Strictly Come Dancing 2022?

Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal won Strictly Come Dancing 2022, beating runners-up Helen Skelton  and her dance partner Gorka Marquez, Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu and Fleur East with Vito Coppola to the glitterball trophy. After winning, Hamza said " Strictly Come Dancing is the best thing that has ever happened to me!". 

Strictly Come Dancing 2023 trailer

The trailer shows the professional dancers performing a stunning routine which will open the launch show with a glitter-filled bang. The trailer was filmed at the Tate Britain in London.

There is also a sneaky look at the new celebrities showing off their best dance moves in a clip shared on the official Strictly Come Dancing Instagram page, too. Take a look below... 

A post shared by BBC Strictly (@bbcstrictly) A photo posted by on

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Claire is Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch and has been a journalist for over 15 years, writing about everything from soaps and TV to beauty, entertainment, and even the Royal Family. After starting her career at a soap magazine, she ended up staying for 13 years, and over that time she’s pulled pints in the Rovers Return, sung karaoke in the Emmerdale village hall, taken a stroll around Albert Square, and visited Summer Bay Surf Club in sunny Australia. 

After learning some tricks of the trade at websites Digital Spy, Entertainment Daily, and Woman & Home, Claire landed a role at What’s On TV and whattowatch.com writing about all things TV and film, with a particular love for Aussie soaps, Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off . 

She’s interviewed everyone from June Brown — AKA Dot Cotton — to Michelle Keegan, swapped cooking tips with baking legend Mary Berry backstage at the NTAs, and danced the night away with soap stars at countless awards bashes. There’s not a lot she doesn’t know about soaps and TV and can be very handy when a soapy question comes up in a pub quiz! 

As well as all things soap-related, Claire also loves running, spa breaks, days out with her kids, and getting lost in a good book. 

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Strictly Come Dancing 2023, week 4, review: Strongest dances to date as contestants click up a gear

S even days ago, it was Movie Week. Now it was Mega-Score Week on Strictly Come Dancing (BBC One). After a slow start – did it really take Les Dennis that long to descend on a tinfoil anchor in episode one? 

Strictly was clicking up a gear – the contestants were at least. It was live show number four, but the digit that truly counted was eight. That was the score judges were flinging about like confetti as the competitors found their groove, with many turning in their strongest dances to date.

That, of course, is the real thrill of Strictly: watching previously shy and clumsy movers demonstrate steady improvement and finally learn to hoof from the heart. There were no gimmicks, just try-hard famous types giving it their all.

More than their all in the case of newsreader Krishnan Guru-Murthy, partnered with Lauren Oakley. Having dad-danced his way into viewers’ affections, now he was showing a more dramatic side. Snarling nostrils, growling noises and high-fives – and that was just the last five seconds of a paso doble sound-tracked by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

As he recovered his breath, he explained that his fiery paso persona was a character conjured with the help of Oakley. “After 35 years of being a London metrosexual, it doesn’t come naturally. She created “Juan”… “Juan” is ridiculously macho.”

There were also cheers for Angela Rippon, who celebrated turning 79 with a devilish rumba accompanied by flames, Eurovision winning power-balled Rise Like a Phoenix and a “shoe-malfunction” that saw a strap come loose. Not to mind – she sold the moment, misbehaving footwear and all.  

Top of the leaderboard were Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin, who brought high emotion with a cha cha cha that went way past eight to score three nines and a 10. The gloves were off and the dancing shoes on, and with the weaker contestants gone, the contest was clicking up a gear.

The judges were doing likewise. Craig Revel Horwood welcomed the audience’s boos – in fact, he invited them to do better at one point. But he was also uncharacteristically generous. “Absolutely beautiful - you look gorgeous,” he told Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima after their Viennese waltz. Squint, and he could have been a second Anton Du Beke.

Travelling in the opposite direction was head adjudicator Shirley Ballas. So buoyant is her persona, it is always a surprise when she has something negative to impart. And that was the case with feel-good contestant of the season, Eddie Kadi. Dressed in bright purple and smiling for all he was worth, the stand-up had the audience on their feet as he and partner Karen Hauer whizzed through an American Smooth.

But though the punters were pleased, Shirley saw through the show-boating and had harsh words. “For me the feet are flat,” she said ominously. A few tentative boos echoed around (were we allowed to boo Shirley? Potentially not). She tilted her head, and it felt like she was looking every last jeerer in the eye. “This young man has got to learn,” she said.

Eddie took the criticism in the correct spirit and didn’t appear too distressed to finish second bottom, ahead of Jody Cundy, whose waxed chest failed to woo the panel. But then that’s Strictly week four – the fun of Movie Week is over, and it will take more than raw pecs appeal to win over the judges. 

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Strictly live tour 2023 gets judging lineup change as tickets go on sale

And Janette is back to host again!

Having recently been made a permanent judge on the TV series after previously filling in for Bruno Tonioli, Anton du Beke will also succeed Bruno on the arena tour panel, joining Shirley Ballas and Craig Revel Horwood, who directs the live shows once again. Announcements about the celebrities and pros taking part will follow.

"I'm so excited to join my fellow TV judges on the Strictly 2023 tour and have the chance to enjoy all the fun of the live experience with audiences around the UK," said Anton.

And after compering the nationwide tour earlier this year, former Strictly pro and current It Takes Two co-presenter Janette Manrara will be your host once again in 2023.

Janette has teased the new tour in a promo video, promising appearances from "your favourite couples, doing your favourite routines that you've seen from throughout the series".

"I'm so excited to be returning to host the 2023 Strictly Live Tour!" Janette added. "It is the most incredible experience to be part of this epic production, bringing all we love about the TV series to hundreds of thousands of people around the UK."

Once again, while the judges will provide critique and scores for each routine, audiences at each show have the power to choose who will win that show's Glitterball Trophy by texting in.

Each performance on the tour will also feature a British Sign Language interpreter, who will appear on two large screens placed on either side of the stage.

Tickets for the Strictly Come Dancing live arena tour are available via Ticketmaster pre-sale now.

General sales start on Friday (September 30) at 9am, with prices ranging from £35 to £95. There will be slight differences in pricing tiers between each individual venue.

The tour will be made up of 31 shows across 9 different arenas in January and February, with afternoon and evening shows offered at all venues except Leeds, which hosts two evening performances. Meanwhile, Sheffield will host two shows in one day.

The full list of dates and venues for the Strictly live arena tour 2023 is as follows, and tickets will be available here :

January 20-22: Birmingham Utilita Arena

January 24-25: Nottingham Motorpoint Arena

January 26-27: Leeds First Direct Arena

January 28-29: Manchester AO Arena

January 31: Sheffield Utilita Arena

February 1-2: Newcastle Utilita Arena

February 3-5: London The O2

February 7-8: Belfast SSE Arena

February 10-12: Glasgow OVO Hydro

Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturdays and Sundays on BBC One, while spin-off show Strictly: It Takes Two airs on weeknights on BBC Two. Both shows also stream on BBC iPlayer.

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Strictly Come Dancing Live announces further celebrities joining the 2023 UK arena tour

Two more celebrities have been announced to join the scintillating line-up for next year’s hotly-anticipated Strictly Come Dancing Live UK Tour: singer, actor and presenter Molly Rainford and wildlife cameraman and Countryfile presenter Hamza Yassin.

They will join previously announced Will Mellor, Ellie Simmonds and Tyler West for 32 sparkle-filled shows kicking off in January.

Molly Rainford said: “I'm absolutely thrilled to be joining the Strictly Live Tour, performing for the huge arena crowds across the UK is going to be an incredible experience. I’m really looking forward to continuing my amazing Strictly journey and getting out on the road to meet all the fans."

Hamza Yassin said: “Strictly has changed my life in ways I never imagined, so to be doing the tour on top of it all is a dream come true! I’ve heard the tour audiences are unparalleled, so I’ll be relishing the atmosphere every night, and I’m so excited to share that experience with my fellow dancers – not to mention the judges.”

The celebrities and professionals will be joined on the road by Strictly TV judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke – who is part of the tour for the first time – with the sensational Janette Manrara as host.

Opening at the Utilita Arena Birmingham on 20 January, the tour will then waltz around the UK to some of the biggest entertainment venues: Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena, Leeds’ First Direct Arena, the AO Arena Manchester, Sheffield’s Utilita Arena, Newcastle’s Utilita Arena, London’s O2 Arena, the SSE Arena Belfast, before culminating at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow on 12 February.

The Strictly Live Tour showcases all the breathtaking choreography, stunningly sparkly costumes and fantastic live music synonymous with BBC One’s long-running and hugely loved Strictly Come Dancing TV show – which is currently on our screens, with the final due to take place on 17 December.

The 2023 tour will be directed once again by the A-MAZ-ING Strictly TV Judge Craig Revel Horwood. The show will feature many of the celebrities and professional dancers from the current series of the multi-award-winning BBC One show, together with the Strictly Live Band - a great way to celebrate the 20th series of this entertainment phenomenon.

Audiences around the UK can experience everything they love about the TV show live on stage, getting the chance to not only watch the spectacular stars in action as they perform roof-raising routines, but also the power to decide who wins the Gliderball Trophy at the end of each show. The tour judges will provide their invaluable wisdom, advice and scores at each performance, but the audience vote via text for their favourite couple, and it is ultimately their votes which decide who wins!

Each performance of the tour will host a British Sign Language interpreter, who will be displayed on two very large screens either side of the stage so that attendees can book tickets and sit almost anywhere in the arena to enjoy the experience with family and friends.

STRICTLY COME DANCING THE LIVE TOUR 2023

20 – 22 January               Birmingham Utilita Arena                                 

(Friday 20 th at 7.30pm, Saturday 21 st at 2.30pm & 7.30pm, Sunday 22 nd at 1.30pm & 6.30pm)

24-25 January                Nottingham Motorpoint Arena                         

(Tuesday 24 th at 7.30pm, Wednesday at 25 th at 2.30pm & 7.30pm)

26 -27 January                Leeds First Direct Arena                       

(Thursday 26 th at 7.30pm, Friday 27 th at 7.30pm)

28 -29 January                Manchester AO Arena                          

(Saturday 28 th at 2.30pm & 7.30pm, Sunday 29 th at 1.30pm & 6.30pm)

31 January                    Sheffield Utilita Arena                         

(Tuesday 31 st at 2.30pm & 7.30pm )

01-02 February             Newcastle Utilita Arena                                   

(Wednesday 1 st at 7.30pm, Thursday 2 nd at 2.30pm & 7.30pm )

03-05 February             London The O2 Arena  

(Friday 3 rd at 7.30pm, Saturday 4 th at 2.30pm & 7.30pm, Sunday 5 th at 1.30pm & 6.30pm )

07-08 February             Belfast SSE Arena                    

(Tuesday 7 th at 7.30pm, Wednesday 8 th at 2pm & 7.30pm)

10-12 February             Glasgow OVO Hydro                                        

(Friday 10 th at 7.30pm, Saturday 11 th at 2.30pm & 7.30pm, Sunday 12 th at 1.30pm & 6.30pm)

Tickets: £ 35 - £ 95 (bands differ between venues) 

All ticket prices are subject to a booking fee and may be subject to a venue facility fee

About BBC Studios

BBC Studios is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group with profits (EBITDA) of £226 million on sales of £1.6bn (21/22). Able to take an idea seamlessly from thought to screen and beyond, its activities span content financing, development, production, sales, branded services, and ancillaries across both its own productions, and programmes and formats made by high-quality UK independents, with three-quarters of its revenues from non-BBC customers including Discovery, Apple and Netflix.  Around 2,400 hours of award-winning British programmes made by the business are internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms, with brands like Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, Top Gear, Bluey and Doctor Who. BBC.com, BBC Studios’ global digital news platform, has 139 million unique browser visits each month .

BBC Studios | Website | Press Office | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram |

Strictly's Giovanni Pernice discusses 'future dreams' as TV future remains unconfirmed

The strictly come dancing star has a lot of irons in the fire….

• dianeshipley

Giovanni Pernice appears to be remaining positive, despite his former Strictly partners reportedly meeting to discuss the challenges of working with him and his apparent split from his girlfriend, model Molly Brown . 

According to a new review of the dancer's popular stage show Let Me Entertain You at Grapevine Live , the "fantastic all round showman" takes time out each evening to chat to the audience about "his past, his present, his future dreams…" 

The Italian has branched out in several directions recently. He filmed Anton & Giovanni's Adventures in Spain , the second series of his BBC travel show alongside close friend and co-star Anton Du Beke. 

He also launched a unisex fragrance called Vita and is about tour a new stage show with Anton in the next few months, titled Anton and Giovanni Together - The Live Tour . 

Gio shared the news on Instagram in an excited post earlier this week, which he captioned: "We have left Spain but we are back on the road together and I can’t wait. Brand new show coming up!! www.antonandgiovanni.com @mrantondubeke @strictlytheatreco." 

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Given his various interests outside of Strictly and the ongoing discussion about his teaching methods since his 2023 celebrity partner Amanda Abbington dropped out of the series , viewers have understandably wondered whether Giovanni will return to the dance show in the autumn.

However, the star has remained tight-lipped on the matter, and the BBC has not yet revealed which dancers will or won't be returning . 

On Wednesday, Mail Online reported that Giovanni, who danced to victory on the show in 2021 alongside Rose Ayling-Ellis, would be offered a contract for the coming series, amid rumours that he might not be asked back. The BBC has yet to make any official announcement. 

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Last month, Giovanni spoke about his feelings around Amanda's exit in more detail. In the months following the show, the Sherlock star revealed that she had been diagnosed with PTSD and had reportedly sought legal advice to gain access to training footage of her and the Italian-born professional dancer. 

Appearing on the Invite Only podcast, the dancer praised the star's dance ability while admitting to being a "perfectionist". "It's a shame because, in my opinion, she could have gone all the way," he said. 

Every Strictly Come Dancing winner so far

• 2004: Natisha Kaplinsky (partner Brendan Cole)
• 2004: Jill Halfpenny (partner Darren Bennett) 
• 2005: Darren Gough (partner Lilia Kopylova) 
• 2006: Mark Ramprakash (partner Karen Hardy) 
• 2007: Alesha Dixon (partner Matthew Cutler) 
• 2008: Tom Chambers (partner Camilla Dallerup) 
• 2009: Chris Hollins (partner Ola Jordan) 
• 2010: Kara Tointon (partner Artem Chigvintsev) 
• 2011: Harry Judd (partner Aliona Vilani)
• 2012: Louis Smith (partner Flavia Cacace)
• 2013: Abbey Clancy (partner Aljaž Škorjanec) 
• 2014: Caroline Flack (partner Pasha Kovalev) 
• 2015: Jay McGuiness (partner Aliona Vilani) 
• 2016: Ore Oduba (partner Joanne Clifton) 
• 2017: Joe McFadden (partner Katya Jones)
• 2018: Stacey Dooley (partner Kevin Clifton)
• 2019: Kelvin Fletcher (partner Oti Mabuse)
• 2020: Bill Bailey (partner Oti Mabuse) 
• 2021: Rose Ayling-Ellis (partner Giovanni Pernice) 
• 2022: Hamza Yassin (partner Jowita Przystał)

"I am a perfectionist, 100%, but it comes from a perspective of caring. "I think all of the professional dancers are in the same place. In every single part of the world, if you're a professional dancer on one of these shows, you have to get these people looking the best they can on Saturday night." 

"There's no specific way that you are, or have to be with your celebrity. You make the most of their strengths so the only thing that's constant is the fact that you have to do a show on Saturday night." 

Giovanni's comments about Amanda's dance abilities were echoed by Anton, who joined the pro dancer on the podcast. "I thought you and Amanda were marvellous. I thought you were terrific." 

Rumours about Giovanni and Amanda clashing began circulating in the show's first week, with Amanda denying claims at the time.

• Strictly Come Dancing
• Giovanni Pernice

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