Meet the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special celebrity contestants! The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2025 will see six couples battle it out under the glitterball to be crowned the Strictly Christmas Champion.
Hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will oversee the festivities for their final time, while Head Judge Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke will all be on hand to dish out sleigh-loads of advice, Christmas cheer and the odd lump of coal – before the voting studio audience will decide who wins.
Expect a winter wonderland full of festive magic, dazzling group dances, live music and more in what will be the perfect antidote to the post-Christmas Dinner slump.
Scarlett Moffatt
Strictly has always held a special place in my heart, so being part of the Christmas Special feels truly magical. It’s the show that brings everyone together around the TV, and being part of that is a genuine personal and career highlight. I’m sure it’ll also introduce me to a few muscles I didn’t know I had. I can’t wait to live my best life on that dancefloor.— Scarlett Moffatt
Scarlett is a presenter and TV personality, who first rose to fame alongside her family on Gogglebox before going on to win I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! in 2016.
She will be paired with Strictly Come Dancing Professional Dancer Vito Coppola when she enters the Strictly Christmas ballroom this December.
Melanie Blatt
If you can’t have a dance at Christmas, when can you?! I’m so excited to meet Kai and start training to make this a dance to remember.— Melanie Blatt
Melanie is a singer and cook, who rose to international fame in the 1990s as a member of the multi-platinum-selling, award-winning All Saints.
Melanie will be paired with Strictly Come Dancing Professional Dancer Kai Widdrington when she enters the Strictly Christmas ballroom this December.
Jodie Ounsley aka Fury
I’m absolutely buzzing to be doing the Strictly Christmas Special. Being the first female rugby player means a lot to me too. I honestly can’t wait to get stuck in, I’m used to smashing into people so this is definitely going to be a challenge!— Jodie Ounsley
Jodie is a rugby player, athlete, broadcaster, and advocate for the deaf community.
She will be lighting up the Strictly Christmas ballroom alongside her Professional dance partner Neil Jones.
Nicholas Bailey
I’m really excited to be doing this, almost as excited as my wife and daughters are! Hopefully I’ll do them, Albert Square and Luba proud. Bring on the dancefloor.— Nicholas Bailey
Nicholas is an actor who will be swapping Albert Square for the Strictly Christmas ballroom alongside his Professional dance partner Luba Mushtuk.
Babtunde Aléshé
I used to do a little dancing when I was in college. I used to do Street Locking and Break Dancing, but then I found comedy and pursued that instead. At 39 I’ve accepted that a good two-step is all I need to get by at any function, but I know that won’t be enough for Strictly! Let’s hope the old moves come back to me in time for Christmas.— Babatunde Aléshé
Babatunde is an award-winning stand-up comedian, actor and podcaster. He’ll be paired with Strictly Come Dancing Professional Dancer Nancy Xu when he enters the Strictly Christmas ballroom this December.
The remaining celebrity taking part in the 2025 Strictly Christmas special will be announced this week on Strictly: It Takes Two at 6.30pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
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