Here’s The Full Line-Up For This Year’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special

All six stars competing in this year’s Christmas Day special of Strictly Come Dancing have been confirmed.

Over the past two weeks, Strictly bosses have been slowly teasing the festive line-up, which includes celebrity contestants from across the world of comedy, sport, TV and beyond.

These celebs will each be paired with a dancer from Strictly’s resident troupe of professional dancers, in the hope of securing the Silver Star trophy in the show’s annual festive episode.

Here’s the full list of stars taking part…

Josh Widdicombe

Josh Widdicombe is a stand-up comedian known for his appearances on shows like Taskmaster, Have I Got News For You and Live At The Apollo.

He and fellow comic Rob Beckett also present the hit podcast Parenting Hell.

“I am utterly terrified this will end in humiliation and worried I’m going to be so bad I will ruin Christmas for the nation,” he joked, questioning: “Why have I done this?”

He has been paired with Karen Hauer on the Christmas special.

Tayce

Tayce is best known for her appearance on the second season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, where she made it all the way to the final.

She’s making history as the first drag performer to compete in the Strictly ballroom, where she’ll be dancing alongside Kai Widdrington.

“I cannot wait to sleigh on the Strictly ballroom floor,” Tayce said. “My partner and I are going to dance for our lives!”

The Welsh performer added: “In all seriousness, it’s an incredible honour to be the first drag artist to be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing.

“I hope I do all of my Drag Race and Welsh fans proud! Sign me up for all the glitz, glam and disco balls.”

Vogue Williams

As well as co-hosting the podcast My Therapist Ghosted Me and the documentary series On The Edge, Vogue Williams has also appeared on the reality shows Bear Grylls: Mission Survive, The Jump.

She’s no stranger to the dance floor, either, competing on the short-lived ITV show Stepping Out with then-husband Brian McFadden, as well as the Australian version of Strictly, Dancing With The Stars.

Despite this, Vogue said that her professional partner Carlos Gu has “more of a chance of winning a Nobel prize than turning me into a good dancer but I am determined to try my very best!”.

“I’m loving it so far, bring on the ballroom floor,” she added.

Harry ‘Nitro’ Aikines-Aryeetey

After initially being rumoured for the main series, Harry – known to Gladiators fans as Nitro – is actually one of this year’s Christmas contestants.

Before joining the Gladiators squad, he was an Olympic sprinter, representing Team GB in Rio back in 2016.

“Nitro’s blasting onto the Ballroom floor this Christmas!” he declared. “I’m swapping my trainers for dancing shoes, and trust me, I’m bringing the power, the energy and the moves!

“This December I’m gonna light up that dance floor and crank the Christmas spirit all the way up. Let’s do this!”

He’ll be paired with Nancy Xu in the Christmas Day broadcast.

Tamzin Outhwaite

EastEnders favourite Tamzin Outhwaite will be performing with Nikita Kuzmin on the Christmas Day special.

As well as originating the role of Mel Owen in EastEnders, Tamzin has appeared in Doctor Who, New Tricks, The Fixer and Red Cap.

She said: “I’m so excited to swap the stage for the Strictly ballroom this Christmas. I’m used to performing in front of a live audience, but this is a whole new experience.

“I can’t wait to immerse myself in all things glitter and sequins, let’s hope the judges show Nikita and I some extra festive cheer this Christmas!”

Billy Monger

Completing Strictly’s Christmas line-up for 2024 is Formula 3 racing driver Billy Monger.

As well as his racing career, Billy is also a sports commentator and disability activist, having had both his legs amputated after an accident during a race in 2017.

“I’ve spent the last 12 months training 20 hours a week for an Ironman world record attempt, but the thought of donning sequins in front of Craig Revel Horwood fills me with a fear I’ve never experienced before,” he admitted.

“This is about as far from my comfort zone as it can get! My family are big Strictly fans, so I’m doing it for them and to raise awareness for what I’m doing for Comic Relief next year. I’m just hoping my leg doesn’t fall off mid-dance!”

Billy – who will be performing with Nadiya Bychkova in the Christmas special – previously competed on the first celebrity special of Race Across The World alongside his sister Bonny.

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RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Favourite Tayce Joins Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special

Tayce is set to make history as the first drag performer to compete on Strictly Come Dancing.

On Tuesday evening, it was revealed that the RuPaul’s Drag Race UK finalist will be one of six celebrities taking part in Strictly’s annual Christmas special next month.

She’ll be performing in the one-off special alongside professional dancer Kai Widdrington.

Kai Widdrington
Kai Widdrington

via Associated Press

“I cannot wait to sleigh on the Strictly ballroom floor,” she enthused. “My partner and I are going to dance for our lives!”

Tayce added: “In all seriousness, it’s an incredible honour to be the first drag artist to be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing.

“I hope I do all of my Drag Race and Welsh fans proud! Sign me up for all the glitz, glam and disco balls.”

Tayce will be competing on Strictly's Christmas special next month
Tayce will be competing on Strictly’s Christmas special next month

The Welsh queen first rose to prominence on the second season of Drag Race UK back in 2021.

After winning fans’ hearts with her brilliant one-liners, amazing looks and iconic lip syncs to the likes of Memory, You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me and Last Thing On My Mind, Tayce wound up finishing as runner-up behind eventual winner Lawrence Chaney.

She and Lawrence also formed half of the girl group the United Kingdolls, alongside Bimini and A’Whora, who even managed to crack the UK singles chart with their musical offering UK Hun.

Tayce is the second star to be announced for this year’s Strictly Christmas special, following on from comedian Josh Widdicombe on Monday.

The other four celebrities on the line-up will be announced later this week.

Josh Widdicombe is taking part in this year's Strictly Christmas special
Josh Widdicombe is taking part in this year’s Strictly Christmas special

Traditionally, the Strictly Christmas episode features six new celebs competing in a one-off special for the Silver Star trophy.

However, two of the contestants on this year’s regular series of Strictly are former Christmas champions.

JLS singer JB Gill triumphed on Christmas Day back in 2012, while Jamie Borthwick’s festive win was a little more recent.

The EastEnders star came out on top during the 2023 Christmas special, during which he and Nancy Xu landed a perfect score for their Quickstep routine.

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RuPaul’s Drag Race UK: 18 Tweets About The Final That Are ‘Not A Joke, Just A Fact’

Warning! This article contains spoilers for the finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK series two. 

It’s fair to say that Thursday nights are not going to be the same for the foreseeable future following the conclusion of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK

The show that has kept so many of us going through the third national lockdown came to an end with a final that was full of shade, serves and surprises. 

Guy LevyBBC/World of Wonder/Guy Levy

Tayce, Ellie Diamond, Bimini Bon Boulash, Lawrence Chaney in the Drag Race UK final

The four finalists – Bimini Bon Boulash, Lawrence Chaney, Tayce and Ellie Diamond – each laid down their own verse for RuPaul’s track A Little Bit Of Love before putting on a popstar-worthy performance for Ru, Michelle Visage, Alan Carr and Graham Norton.

For many, it topped off what has been a magnificent series that has firmly cemented the franchise’s place in the UK TV landscape… 

1. PREACH.

2. We’ve not been able to stop thinking about this tbh

3. Similarly hilarious

4. In fact, everything about Ginny’s return to the Drag Race stage was a serve

5. Including this reference to her infamous walk-off

6. Here’s the explanation behind that picture btw

7. Tia Kofi really took on Ru’s critiques and ran with them

8. We see no lies here

9. We’ll admit we let out a little cry

10. Alan Carr appreciation moment

11. Our life motto from now until 21 June 2021

12. That lip sync was properly iconic

13. Lawrence Chaney is now one step closer to making Morning Glory a real life actuality 

14. Real queens do not tear each other down

15. Understood?

16. Because it was clear to see there were actually four winners stood on that stage

17. Honestly, we don’t know what we did to deserve all of this

18. The London Mayor tweeting about Drag Race UK? We love to see it. 

The complete boxset of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. 

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