Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special's full line-up confirmed

It wouldn't be Christmas without the Strictly Come Dancing special.

The full line-up of celebrities taking part in the festive edition of the show has been confirmed, with spin-off show Strictly: It Takes Two unveiling Josh Widdicombe, Tayce, Vogue Williams, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Tamzin Outhwaite and Billy Monger.

Head judge Shirley Ballas said: "As always, the cast is amazing. It’s great to have new celebrities dance for us at Christmas and I know for sure that we’re in for a real treat. We’ve got a comedian, a DJ, a Drag Queen and so much more. I can’t wait."

There'll also be a special performance from Spice Girl and former Strictly contestant Emma Bunton, who will be joined by dancers from the pro cast while she sings.

Often stars on the Christmas series will go onto star on the main series of the show, having got the bug for Strictly. This year's contestant Jamie Borthwick previously won the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special with professional dancer Nancy Xu, while JB Gill won in 2012. So keep your eye out for who might be a good fit for the 2025 Strictly series.

Strictly's Christmas episode is a festive favourite for many and every year the BBC ballroom is transformed into a winter wonderland, just weeks after the celebrity has lifted the Glitter Ball trophy in the main series.

In the festive special, six celebrities will compete for the Strictly Christmas Champion 2024 crown. There is no public vote at home and the show is pre-recorded ahead of airing on Christmas Day.

Instead, the winner is decided by the voting studio audience and the Strictly judges — Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and head judge Shirley Ballas.

Billy Monger

Racing driver and TV presenter Billy Monger has joined the festive cast as the final celebrity taking part in Strictly's Christmas special this year.

Monger, who took part in last year's Celebrity Race Across The World, will partner Nadiya Bychkova in the episode set to air on Christmas Day.

The driver and TV commentator had to have both legs amputated after a collision at the Donington Park track in 2017, but returned to racing and won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Helen Rollason Award for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity. He also recently took part in the Ironman World Championships, breaking the world record for a double amputee.

He said: "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. 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!"

Monger said of training for Strictly: "It's a very different environment to be in, I've gone from being this disciplined, three hours of training a day athlete (for Ironman) to getting jazzed up and dressed up in all sorts of costumes and outfits and learning how to dance from scratch. Physically, I hadn't thought it would be as demanding and tricky for me being a double amputee but it has as it’s such a different way of moving your body.

"I've been smiling quite a lot in rehearsals though which is probably a good sign. I'm a very plain and casual kind of clothing guy and I don't like to wear lots of glamorous, glitzy stuff but coming in to Strictly, it's obviously the polar opposite of that. I think if you're going to do Strictly, you just need to fully embrace it."

He admitted: "I'm trying not to think about the fact that it will be out on national TV on Christmas Day, and all my family will definitely be watching. I’ll be watching through my fingers."

Tamzin Outhwaite

Former EastEnders star Tamzin Outhwaite has starred in many a festive special from Albert Square, but she'll get a more lighthearted Christmas Day appearance this year as she joins the Strictly ballroom.

Outhwaite is also known for her roles in New Tricks and Hotel Babylon, and has recently appeared in theatre productions of Abigail's Party and Noises Off.

She will be dancing with Nikita Kuzmin and 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!"

Outhwaite couldn't be happier to be matched with Kuzmin, revealing: "We call him Prince Charming in our house. He just has the hair and face and the body and everything, he looks like Prince Charming."

She added: "I've always wanted to do Strictly because I want to learn to Ballroom and Latin dance but I know that at my age, I don't think my body would be able to do the amount of weeks that is required. So I said yes to the Christmas Special because it feels like a little snippet, a Strictly hors d'oeuvre. Like I could just dip in for a couple of weeks."

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey

Better known to many as Gladiators star Nitro, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey is forging ahead with his primetime TV takeover after a successful run on Celebrity MasterChef earlier this year.

The former Olympian and gold medal winning sprinter, who won BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year in 2005, is known for his competitive spirit so he could be one to look out for on the dancefloor this Christmas.

Aikines-Aryeetey was announced for the festive cast on It Takes Two and will be partnering Nancy Xu, who was knocked out of the main series with Shayne Ward.

The Gladiator said: "Strictly...are you ready?! Nitro’s blasting onto the ballroom floor this Christmas! 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 dancefloor and crank the Christmas spirit all the way up. Let’s do this!"

It sounds like the star is hoping for a callback for the main series, as asked what he would like for Christmas he said: "Well, Strictly! It's been on my to do list forever, they can feel free to invite me back so I’ll put that on my Christmas list..."

Aikines-Aryeetey is sure to benefit from some advice from Gladiators co-star and fellow former sprinter Montell Douglas, who competed in the 2024 series of Strictly alongside Johannes Radebe.

He added: "I’m an athlete at heart so training and learning new fundamentals is something that really excites me. There might be some moves I can bring but what I bring is the energy and there will be a smile on my face. I can’t bring Nitro’s cockiness to Strictly because the Gladiators arena is his home but the ballroom isn’t my domain."

Vogue Williams

Irish broadcaster Vogue Williams will take to the Strictly dance floor with Gorka Marquez for the Christmas special. She was the third celebrity announced for the festive edition. Williams was originally supposed to partner Carlos Gu, but he had to drop out due to injury.

The 39-year-old presenter, podcaster, DJ and fitness expert is a familiar face on ITV's Lorraine, Channel 4's Steph's Packed Lunch, who is married to Spencer Matthews.

Talking about taking part when she was still partnered with Gu, Williams said: "I’m so excited to join the Strictly family! Carlos would have 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."

This isn't Williams' first rodeo though. In 2012, she took part in Australia's Strictly equivalent Dancing With The Stars where she was eliminated in the third week of the competition.

In 2023, Williams said that competing in DWTS ruled her out of Strictly saying: "You're not allowed to do both. So I never ever get asked to do [Strictly]." She also said having three children meant she wouldn't have the time to train for it either.

Looking back at her time in the Aussie reality show she said: "I'm an absolutely crap dancer. I'm one of those ones that never got better. As the weeks went on, I think I might have got slightly worse. I cannot dance."

However, Williams is hoping to finally master dancing, now with Marquez rather than Gu. Before she was re-partnered, she said: "I got really lucky. I really wanted Carlos because I think he's such a fab dancer. I was absolutely delighted when it when I saw it was him.

"I think Carlos’ biggest feat will be if he's able to get me to dance. And dance well. I've always loved the look of dancing but I never in a million years thought I’d be able to do it. So, I'm putting my heart and my poor battered body into it. I'm trying my very best."

Tayce

Drag Race star Tayce was the second celebrity confirmed for the 2024 Strictly Christmas special, and she will be paired with professional dancer Kai Widdrington. The Welsh-born Drag artist, model and presenter was a finalist on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Season 2 in 2020.

Tayce said of dancing with Widdrington: "Kai is amazing and such an attentive teacher, we also get on extremely well which is a bonus and adds to such great connection when dancing together."

Read more: How Jamie Borthwick struck gold on Strictly's Christmas special

She is often dubbed the "Naomi Campbell of Drag" and she models across the world in runway fashion shows. She has presented on BBC Radio 1, MTV and Sky. Tayce performs her drag act globally and has also released her own rap single.

About taking part in the Christmas special, Tayce said: "I cannot wait to sleigh on the Strictly Ballroom floor. My partner and I are going to dance for our lives!

"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 later added: "It's such an honour to be part of this amazing and highly popular show, pushing the envelope and breaking boundaries as the first drag queen to appear on it.

"The response has been overwhelmingly positive, though there’s also been some negativity from trolls, but that’s nothing I can’t handle.

"I’m honoured to be the first and hopefully will pave the way to more drag icons partaking in the show."

Josh Widdicombe

Josh Widdicombe was the first name confirmed for the 2024 Christmas special and he will be paired with Karen Hauer who is the longest serving professional dancer on the series.

Asked how he felt about dancing with Hauer, he said: "Delighted, she’s a legend of the show and everyone I tell says ‘oh she’s the absolute best’. Not sure how happy she is to get me though!"

The comedian is best known for starring on thirty series of Channel 4’s The Last Leg and he co-hosts the podcast Parenting Hell with Rob Beckett. Now the dad faces an entirely different challenge with the Strictly Christmas special.

Widdicombe admitted he is terrified. He jested: "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. Why have I done this?"

Strictly is worlds away from Widdicombe's usual TV appearances on comedy panel shows including: Smart TV, A League Of Their Own, Have I Got News For You and Taskmaster.

But will Widdicombe waltz his way to victory? He has some famous pals from the world of comedy to ask for advice, including 2024 champion Chris McCausland, and shared the top tips he'd had from previous contestants.

He said: "Chris Ramsey told me the best thing is you can eat what you like and still get fitter. Chris McCausland was too busy being the nation's sweetheart to return my calls."

Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 3:55pm on Christmas Day.