The festive Strictly special has become a regular part of our Christmas TV schedule now and we're already looking forward to the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2023.
Each year, six brand new celebrities compete to be crowned the Strictly Christmas champion, and this year, the line-up is looking just fabulous darling!
Who is in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special?
Dan Snow
Broadcaster Dan Snow who is most famous for his work as a history broadcaster and author will be paired with Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova. After 15 years working for the BBC, History Channel and Discovery, he founded History Hit in 2016, a digital history broadcaster and publisher.
Dan Snow says: “I am absolutely terrified about hitting the dance floor. But I love getting out of my comfort zone and I’ve always wanted to learn how to dance properly. So I thought it was now or never!”
Sally Nugent
BBC Breakfast presenter, Sally Nugent will be paired with Graziano Di Prima. Over the course of her career, Sally has covered some of the biggest news and sport stories of the last 20 years.
Sally Nugent says: "I am thrilled and slightly terrified to be taking part in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special. I'm hoping the judges will be kind - and filled with Christmas spirit. And I hope everyone watching at home will enjoy a little bit of Strictly magic on Christmas night.”
Jamie Borthwick
Actor Jamie is best known for playing Jay Brown in the BBC soap EastEnders and has played the role of Jay for over 17 years, winning soap awards for "Best Dramatic Performance from a Young Actor or Actress" along the way. He will be paired with Nancy Xu.
Jamie Borthwick says: "I am so excited to be joining the cast of this years' Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special. From Walford to a Waltz, I can’t wait to learn a new skill and put my dancing to the test. I’m hoping to spread Christmas cheer and have a good laugh with my professional dancer... get me on that dancefloor!”
Tillie Amartey
Actress Tillie has appeared in a range of shows including CBBC’s popular show Almost Never, Channel 5’s four-part drama The Teacher alongside Sheridan Smith, and her most intense performance to date: “Marnie” in Jimmy McGovern’s Moving On. She will soon be hitting our screens as “Stace Neville” in BBC One’s hit series Waterloo Road. Tillie will be paired with Neil Jones.
Tillie Amartey says: “My family have been avid fans of Strictly since forever so no pressure! The nerves are real, but I am SUPER excited to bring some much-needed joy to the telly while I shimmy and sparkle my two left feet through the Christmas special!”
Danny Cipriani
Former England International and current professional Rugby Union player, Danny Cipriani, will be paired with Jowita Przystał. He most recently played for Premiership Rugby side Bath and previously played for Gloucester, Sale Sharks and Wasps in the Premiership and Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby.
Danny Cipriani says: “I’ve always enjoyed the concept of Strictly Come Dancing, it wasn’t something I ever thought I’d do. After addressing my own ideas and beliefs, I am very much looking forward to expressing myself through dance with no limitations. Strictly brings joy to everyone’s living rooms, being a part of that for Christmas Day will be special.”
Keisha Buchanan
Keisha is a founding member of platinum selling, critically acclaimed, girl group Sugababes who have just released their new hit single 'When the Rain Comes’. She will be paired with Gorka Márquez.
Keisha Buchanan says: "I am so excited to be taking part, and over Christmas too, my favourite time of the year! I am looking forward to learning some new moves and embracing the dancefloor!”
The Strictly judges talk Christmas!
The usual judges will also be returning for the Christmas special, with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, head Judge Shirley Ballas all bringing their festive cheer to the ballroom.
Find out what the judging panel will be doing over the festive period...
Shirley Ballas
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What do you love most about the Strictly Christmas Special?
The dressing up, the Christmas spirit and the fact that the studio is decorated with the trees, all the Christmas trim! And then, of course, we have these six celebrities that are going to take part in it! I just love it.
And what are you hoping to see from this year's Christmas celebrities?
I'm hoping that we some nice dancing, some lovely little footwork and some hip action. Normally when they only have to dance once everybody gets all nervous, but I'm hoping that they'll realise it is a Christmas Special, it's for fun!
How do you like to spend Christmas?
I'll be spending Christmas this year with my mum and hopefully my son and his wife and some close friends. I'm not doing panto this year, I've chosen to have a year off and just enjoy the festivities.
What's your favourite Christmas movie?
There are a few but I watch The Sound of Music every single year. For me it’s iconic, it’s a real staple in our Christmas calendar.
What's the best Christmas party you’ve ever been to?
When I was younger, my mum worked in the nightclubs as a barmaid and waitress, and in the afternoon on Christmas Day they'd have a big Christmas party with Santa Claus, a Christmas dinner and presents, and we were able to dance and sing on the microphone. Mum would take my brother and I and we just loved it. So those days when I was younger, I would probably say they were the best Christmas parties.
What is the best and worst Christmas present you've ever received?
The worst Christmas present was when somebody bought me some underwear and then I washed it and the whole elastic band broke! So really cheap underwear, one wash and it was just a rag you’d do your polishing with.
I think the best Christmas present was a Silver Cross pram my dad bought me when I was little girl. As I got older, any gifts that my mum buys me I treasure, she bought me a gold bangle and I wear it, and she wears one, we’ve both got the same one.
What’s your favourite Christmas?
White Christmas by Bing Crosby.
Do you have any Christmas traditions?
We always have a nice sit-down meal every year. We get all the nice china out and decorate the table beautifully.
Do get glammed up or wear a Christmas jumper?
I like to do my hair and make-up but I might get nice Christmas pyjamas for everybody this year.
What are you asking for Father Christmas for this year?
I just want to have it with my family really, the biggest present for me would be my son actually arriving at my front door, that’s all the gift I'd need.
Do you think you're on the naughty or the nice list?
My mum says I’m on the nice list!
Craig Revel Horwood
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What's been your most memorable Strictly Christmas moment?
Coming down the chimney as The Grinch!
What are you hoping to see from this year's Christmas celebrities?
I'm hoping to see talent and some absolutely fantastic dancing.
How do you like to spend Christmas?
Quietly, only because I get one day off in three months and that's Christmas Day and I'm super excited about having my turkey with all the trimmings.
What is your favourite Christmas movie?
Strictly Ballroom because it reminds me of Australia and home.
What has been the best Christmas party you've ever been to?
The best Christmas party I've ever been to was 17 years ago! Because I wasn’t in panto and I could party party party! That means I could have a drink and Boxing Day leftovers, but I don’t get to do that now as I have to do two shows every single day.
What is the best and worst Christmas present you’ve ever received?
The best Christmas present I've ever received was my GI Joe helicopter.
The worst was a tea-towel from Australia worth $1.99 and I had to pay twenty quid at the Post Office to get it out of customs!
Do you have any traditions you do on Christmas Day?
Yes, I get up and have a glass of champagne and some smoked salmon blinis. Then I get the Christmas meal ready, which takes a couple of hours and then I open my red wines that I buy from Australia and let those breathe. I watch the Queen's speech, which will now be The King's Speech, and then we sit down and have a full on main course at 4pm. Then we play games and have cheese and ham.
What's your favourite Christmas food?
Stuffing, and I do like Brussel sprouts actually.
What is your favourite Christmas song?
My own song, ‘Christmas Merry Christmas’ by Craig Revel Horwood and Rietta Austin, my number one hit single that didn’t make it to number one! It made it to number 25 which isn't bad, but I was up against Elton John.
Do you get glammed up on Christmas Day?
I wear a Christmas jumper in the morning and then I get dressed for lunch.
What are you asking Father Christmas for this year?
Money to do my renovations or, failing that, just love.
Do you think you're on the naughty or nice list this year?
I've got to be on the nice list because I’ve been naughty all year, I have to have one day to be nice.
Motsi Mabuse
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What has been your most memorable Strictly Christmas moment?
I remember coming to visit Oti and watching the Christmas Special where she was dancing with Tom Chambers, it was incredible to see!
What are you hoping to see from this year’s Christmas celebrities?
The Christmas special is the one that truly needs Christmas spirit and big Christmas show stoppers.
How do you like to spend Christmas?
Finally flying home to spend it in South Africa with family and friends.
What’s your favourite Christmas movie and why?
Love Actually! It’s just a classic, has the perfect feeling for me.
Best and worst Christmas present you ever received? Best present was my engagement ring and worst was a fitness package!
Do you have any Christmas traditions?
Flying to South Africa!
What is your favourite Christmas song and why?
All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey
Do you get glammed up or wear a Christmas jumper?
Glammed!
What are you asking Father Christmas for?
Health and happiness.
Do you think you’re on naughty or nice list this year?
Nice obviously!
Anton Du Beke
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What has been your most memorable Strictly Christmas moment?
I love them all – I haven’t got a most memorable one. I loved dancing on the Christmas special. I danced to some great singers, we danced to Tony Christie - he’s a great singer, and Erin and I danced to Michael Bublé once on the Christmas special - and that was really nice too. I love the Christmas specials.
What are you hoping to see from this year's Christmas celebrities?
More Christmas joyous fun.
That’s the thing about Strictly Christmas, it's joyous. It's just brilliant. I love the fantastic costumes, the 25 foot Christmas tree, the way they dress the studio. It really does feel like Christmas.
How do you like to spend Christmas?
I love Christmas and Christmas is even more special now with the children. I remember what it was like when I was a child, up at the crack of dawn, playing with presents, Christmas TV, Christmas lunch, all of the above. An abundance of Christmas trees, lovely.
What's your favourite Christmas movie and why?
We always watch the musical “Scrooge” on Christmas Eve, it’s become our Christmas tradition. I’m also a great fan of “White Christmas”, I think it’s a lovely old film.
What's the best Christmas party you've ever been to?
The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special is the best Christmas party.
What's the best Christmas present you've ever received?
I would say my best Christmas present was my wife saying yes when I asked her to marry me on Christmas Day!
What is your favourite Christmas song and why?
I love any of the old ones. Nat King Cole’s version of “The Christmas Song” just says Christmas doesn’t it?
Do you have any Christmas traditions?
We have a traditional sort of Christmas. We watch Scrooge on Christmas Eve, we do mince pies for Father Christmas and stockings. We do Christmas presents and roast turkey. We do it very traditional! And in the last couple of years pantomimes have been a new addition to my Christmas. There are upsides and downsides of that.
It’s been lovely to be able to do pantomimes on Christmas because it feels like a serene, strong tradition and I like anything that’s traditionally Christmas like that. But, on the downside, of course, you are away from home a lot, so you miss so much of it.
What are your favourite and worst Christmas foods?
I like the absolute traditional Christmas – turkey, the whole trimmings, mince pies, Christmas pudding. The worst Christmas food is anything that deviates from that.
Do you get glammed up or wear a Christmas jumper?
Jumper, absolutely a Christmas jumper. We all do. The children, me, Hannah.
What are you asking for this Christmas?
More of the same please and goodwill to all.
Do you think you're on the naughty or nice list this year? I’d like to think I was on the nice list. I've tried to be a good boy this year. But we will find out.
The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special will air at 4.40pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day.
For our pick of the best festive TV this season, visit our Yours Members site.
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Lorna White is a Senior Digital Writer at Yours.co.uk. She was previously a writer at Yours Magazine writing features and news stories before joining the digital team. Lorna loves the great British countryside and likes to spend her spare time out and about in her home of Nottinghamshire walking her dog, Pippin.