Strictly Christmas Special line-up unveiled!

What a mixture, no previous winners or current competitors.

Matthews there, good. Dot Cotton with Vincent, humm, odd choice.

Love John Barrowman he will be awesome and they've given him a good dancer in Kristina though would have preferred him with someone that is more popular....strange that a current member of parliment (and in the government no less) is taking part, but looking forward to it+++. Do we have a date yet?

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

Good to see Matthew Cutler back.



I do think that the writing is on the wall for John/Kristina to win. They look by far the strongest and best matched couple.



Roni Ancona and Anton du Beke? I think Vincent would have been a better partner, with June Brown going with Anton?



Still cannot get over Vince Cable like. Not so much because of the age but because he is someone who is still an acting MP and as such is in the midst of a very tough job trying to convince the public the ConDem partnership was right by doing the right thing at the right time. Surely Strictly Come Dancing should be low down on his list of priorities.

Really good to see Matthew back and always love to watch Anton. June and Vincent ... not sure about that partnership.

June and Vincent will be great. She's a lovely woman and so funny in real life,and anyone having seen her being interviewed will know how endearing she is.Good on ya June!

Great to see lovely Matthew back, really missed him. And Ian Waite. Bad decision to axe them I think.

Bring back Team Cola!

There is no one here that would have me rushing to the phone. Instead I will vote with my feet and not watch.

How great to see Matthew back !! think him and Fern could be a really good partnership.... both have a cheeky sense of humour.

Am appauled that Vince Cable is appearing. After being a party to serving up the worst cuts to the public sector in recent times, he has time to take out to appear on a dance show??? Its just plain insulting.

Great line up and so glad to have Matthew back!

Cable obviously hasn't got anything better to do. I don't want to see a politician who lied in their manifesto on an entertainment programme. Perhaps he thinks it will gain him some brownie points with the public and make them forget how many promises he has reneged on. It won't work in this household.

I agree that it is good to see that Matthew, Kristina and Erin will return to our screens at Christmas, what a pity that Darren, Ian and Lilia could not be in the line up as well.



SCDFanatic @5 please do not worry about our Education Minister, Dr Cable, as school will have broken up by then and he will only have the one routine to learn, in his own time.

I will be interested to see the lovely June Brown sail stately across the floor as proof that one is never too old to participate in SCD. As a Suffolk wench June should have been paired with Robin. I am just pleased that June represents another ex Doctor Who participant to keep Captain Jack company.



Keeeep Dancing!!!

I think you can find John in sequins and spray tan most weeks ;)

What a great show this will be, a wonderful mixture of our favourite dancers and loved, well known celebs. Thank you beeb, will look forward to this very much.

chaswick



june brown in doctor who? are you quite sure? i have every one on

dvd and do not remember seeing her, unless you mean one of the very old ones.

Hurraaahhhhh!!!! Lovely Matthew, how could you leave him out? Can't wait, bring on the Christmas Cha-Cha-Cha Darling!

Great to see June in the line up, she has a marvelous sense of humour and will be a huge asset to the show.



my older neighbour confirms that she was in dr who and has been in eastenders from the start.

How come there are none of the current crop of celebrities in the xmas special this time? I appreciate the desire to use untested celebs who perhaps couldn't commit to a full series, but surely xmas is traditionally when the finallists face off against some strictly gold legends?

Reply to Chaswick, posting number 15



Hello, maybe it was a joke that went over my head, but Vince Cable is the minister for business, not education?



However I have been told ballroom dancing is a hobby of his, so maybe he will spend just a bit of his spare time training.

pleased to hear that Vince Cable is dancing at Christmas, read that he is quite good, I think it will be a good programme.

June & Vincent will be a scream!



Don't underestimate Vince Cable - he's a very competent Ballroom dancer apaprently. I look forward to seeing what he can do.

Great to see Matthew Cutler is back - made up, miss him and others this year.

Just cannot believe Vince Cable has signed up for this, in the harshest economic climate and all the cuts - does he think it will get people behind the Coalation?



Think June Brown with Vincent Simone will be great, I am sure she is a good dancer. John Barrowman will, of course, be OTT and probably win it. Thank goodness, so far, no comedy acts like Ann W. :-(

Good to see Matthew Cutler back, i'm missing hem verry much in this edition from SCD

A hugh fan from Belgium

Good to see Mattheuw Cutler back

From a hugh fan (Belgium)

It would be so good to see Arlene back too!

In reply to elisabetta: Damn right! Arlene is sorely missed!

I don't see why, since they had Darcy last year, they can't have all 5 of the judges?

That way we can have Alesha's more modern audience viewpoint, but at least have it compensated with Arlene who can wave more of a dance flag along with Criag. Methinks she wouldn't have allowed some of the mistakes in performances Len Bruno and Alesha have allowed to still get 9s/10s

Sounds like an interesting show. I'm finding it hard to get my head round the idea of John and Kristina though. I just can't see them together.

Amazingdarling posting number 10.

As a rule the Christmas show is not live, and the voting is split between the judges and the audience, not phone votes.

so exited to be seeing kristina dance with john barrowman , love them both x

So good to see Matthew Cutler back, he has been missed nearly as much as the Fabulous Fortuna. Oh, it is too much to hope ..............

I wasn't looking forward to this Christmas Special,but suddenly Christmas has arrived.... Matt Cutler's back,at last... I'm sure Fern will do him proud.

Not a bad line up and good to see Vince Cable there,he loves ballroom dancing and I really think people who love the show, and dance, should be asked,not merely use it as a PR exercise.



Jenny

Glad to hear that Matthew Cutler has returned for the Christmas Special. He has been badly missed this series.



Why couldn't we have wonderful Mr Fortuna back as well? He does appear to have been erased from Strictly history. Some of us are missing him on our TV screens this series…



ps Bring back the Famous Five or should I say the Forgotten Five (Brian, Matthew, Lilia, Darren and Ian) for series nine!

It is a sad state of affairs that so many people object to someone like Vince Cable taking part in a pastime that he has been known for enjoying. Does being a minister mean that all other elements of their lives have to be stopped, do those who complain provide the same dedication in their own working life. I for one do not begrudge him one pleasure in a year that has meant decision making in some of the hardest cuts that any government has had to make in decades.

Good to see Cap`n Jack and Dot and all on the dancefloor.

But Surely vince cable should be stuck with anne widdecombe!

Vita1956 @23

Well done for spotting my hasty blog error regarding the Right Honourable John Vincent "Vince" Cable MP, Business Secretary. As the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills he has responsibility for higher education, including Universities, amongst other duties. It is in this capacity that I have heard him in debate just recently and in my rush to rattle off a quick blog, I did use the title "Education Minister", which should now belong to the Right Honourable Michael Gove MP who now holds the reinstated title Secretary of State for Education.

It just goes to prove that "Less Haste = More Speed" and as Peter Mandelson used to lead both areas before 12 May 2010, hence my confusion. I plead guilty as charged and throw myself at the mercy of the SCD court.



macclady @38

I must agree with you that although they are Public Servants, MPs are also human beings and Vince Cable is an Amateur Dancer as well as a fan of SCD, so I am still sure that he will indeed practice in his own time. He was after all one of the MPs who was not implicated in the Daily Telegraph's exposé of Parliamentary Expenses violations. So leave Vince alone Strictly Fans and let him entertain you for once, after all this isn’t the Parliamentary Channel!

Perhaps more MPs should reveal some of their private leisure activities to show that they have a human side to their character?



It therefore appears that I can keep better track of Dr Who characters and musicians than Ministers of State! I am not sure if that says more about me or my leisure time activities.



Keeeep Dancing!!!

Thank the lord !!!! Matthews back .........about time !!!!!

I agree with Wizzerandchips no. 12.



Strictly is loved by many ordinary people like myself who watch every year. This series our show has been ruined by Ann Widdecombe who demands separate rules for herself while everyone else has to abide by different rules. Meanwhile, one by one the good dancers leave while she remains.



Now we have to suffer another Tory in the Xmas show, adding salt to our wounds.



It's bad enough they cast a dark shadow over our lives with cuts which are going to affect every one of us, the young, the sick, the poor, the police, (but not them) now they have to invade our favorite TV show.



NO MORE TORY POLITICIANS PLEASE. We need TV as escapism, not as a reminder of our misrulers putting hardship on us all. If you don't agree then I guarantee you will in two years time once the changes they have imposed on the rest of us have kicked in.



The Christmas formula has worked well for seven years with old favourites appearing such as Jill Halfpenny, Kelly Brook, Mark Ramrakash etc, those who learned the ropes and excelled. We don't want beginners in the Christmas show.

"Am appauled that Vince Cable is appearing. After being a party to serving up the worst cuts to the public sector in recent times, he has time to take out to appear on a dance show??? Its just plain insulting"



Not as insulting as Samantha Cameron appearing in a £750 dress the night of the Con conference after her husband imposing harsh cuts on the poor, Mr. Whizzer.

17 Forgiven...Deary me, you are in a bit of a predicament now aren't you? After all your defensive posts regarding Mrs W how do you now feel about Vince Cable taking part? I refer to your post on the A2 thread on 17th November;"My vote still goes to Ann......a role she was offered year after year and of course could not accept whilst in office".I would be genuinely interested to see what your view is on Mr Cable's participation and would respectfully request that you resist the temptation to scurry off to the moderators and have a valid question removed just because it ruffles your feathers a bit. Before you answer a question with a question, I dont think the two politicians have a lot in common except their employment and I would be very surprised if Vince Cable displays the same arrogance and rudeness that AW has.Having said that,it would probably have been a good idea to leave politicians out of the mix, but obviously not so media attractive.

Vince Cable will be interesting to watch - And for those who don't know or seem to ignore the truth he was originally a Labour Party person who joined the SDP which then amalgamated with the Liberals to become the Liberal Democrats. He is STILL a Liberal Democrat doing something with the Conservative Government that Liberal Democrats have been wanting for years - Consensus politics with parties working together.



Looks like a brilliant line up and like others I am somewhat unsure about Kristina & John. Could possibly imagine him with Ola though.

strictly paul



thanks. you must have a great memory or a good video collection, i'm afraid its too long ago for me to remember but, to get back to the important issue, i am very much looking forward to seeing june as she is one of my favourites.

Sick and tired of the BBC messing things around this year. First, half my favourite dancers are missing, now there are new contestants in the Christmas Special - what's that all about? I have always enjoyed watching the current winner up against passed winners. Think I will be switching off until they start listening to the viewing public - if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Agree with post 45. Vince Cable will be good to watch, saw in the press that he is good at ballroom dancing. Seems like a good bloke. Is the dancing in aid of any charity or just for a laugh?

Ronni Ancona and June Brown! Now thats a tv date.

Bet Anton cant wait.The relief will be palpable.June Brown's great too, I agree.

So glad to see the wonderful Matthew Cutler back on SCD. He's been greatly missed this series.

I am very pleased to read which celebrities are to be involved. Like others, I am surprised to see Vince Cable's name on the list - but why not? I look forward to seeing him perform. Is it a coincidence that those who have written negative comments about his involvement are those that contain spelling and grammatic errors?

Hey Twinkletoes, you haven't even spelt your name correctly.



It's grammatical, not grammatic and a semicolan should be used instead of a dash.



There are no errors in my posts, apart from the missing 'p' in Mark's name but that was done on purpose to depict him as a ram!



Down with Tory MP's who have ruined this season by their unwanted presence. Off with their heads for treason!

Amond...it's semicolon not 'semicolan' ;-)

Just testing! Ha!



Are you sure you dwell in Winchester and not Cornwall?

deffo not a Cornish Pasty! Why do you ask?

The parish of St. Colan is situated in Cornwall. That's Colan by the way and not Colon!



Enjoy tonight's show. I'm rooting for Pamela and Matt to get 10's and I hope it's the final curtain for Ann Widdecombe.



I don't like Conservatives by the way.



a) for what they're doing to the poor, the young and the sick

b) for what they've done to Strictly.



They conserve nothing, but they do con. Strictly needs to be conserved. As no. 47 says: "If it ain't broke don't fix it." Think I'll give the Christmas show a miss.

I'm sure that I have read that Vince Cable has been doing ballroom dancing for many a year, is this true and if so, does he have an unfair advantage over the others?

What a lovely Christmas Present to give us - our lovely Matthew Cutler back to do the christmas special. It is a pity that they didn't bring Ian, Darren and Lilia back as well.



so glad that Matthew Cutler is back, I agree with trulymadlystrictly, he's been greatly missed this series.

Firstly I agree with the comment at 507. We need Matt,Ian,Darren,Lilia and Brian back in the show. Surely it says something when a celebrity dancer (Matt Baker)is much better than two of the new professional dancers and I don't mean Artem.I can forgive the introduction of silly props etc but not the dismissal of our favourite professionals.

I also support the Karen Hardy for judge campaign perhaps we should also start a "bring back our favourite professionals" campaign.

Len totally unprofessional tonight. He should be ashamed of himself and his treatment of Kara. Craig now only judge with any integrity. Yes, he is harsh but fair.

Anne's dance a complete farce but the public will vote her in again and this is exactly what the executive producer wants.

I now await the completely dreadful results show tomorrow evening. I wonder who will go? Certainly not the public favourite - Anne.

Comment No 60 posted on incorrect blog.

Well obvoiusly John Barrowman will win out of that line up...lovely to see celebs but disappointing .Won't be worried if I miss it really!

44 tippytappy



found the page in the end, via my browser.



Is the Christmas show a one off? I have never seen it before as this is usually a busy time. But will of course make time to see it this year.



I think the Right Honourable etc. must have been asked by the beeb and if it is just the one show, not the one on every night but just a one off show, then perhaps he was tempted. OR, could it be that he knew his arch enemy Lord M (annaholics song would have been appropriate for him!), had also been invited and he saw it as a battle of the ballroom?



I see that they used to bat for the same side, in political terms I mean, VC used to be on Labours team, then he swapped to LD and now of course he is with the C's side. Oh how confusing, that tequila has not quite worn off.



But he will just need the day off to do his filming, he could practice on Fridays and the weekends. No need for him to be committed, he has experience in this field.



I am not sure he will be the peoples favourite, he is receiving current bad press relating to his comments about uni funding, on the beeb today. So, alas, there will be no young voters, no middleys, some older ladies may find him sexy, especially if he wears a bow tie. Do we get to vote on this show?



Sorry I did not see your posting ealier, I don't often do much visiting.

Sounds a great line-up for the Xmas special. A fitting finale to a really ejoyable Strictly season. Long may they continue.

I agree with the other comments about the missing professionals. Although I watch Strictly, I'm not enjoying it so much this year and really miss Darren and Lilia, Ian and Matthew. I think they had a real rapport with the viewers.

What a lihe-up - let's hope it's not a DISASTER darlings! I'd like to know what has happened to Chris and Ola this year, I was hoping they would have performed at the beginning, as all others have in the past. Such a shame. I would have liked to see Aleysha Dixon perform again, as well as some of the past dancers. Well it all seems a big change this year all round - so long as they don't ask AW to do a turn :-)

Doesn't Vince Cable have more important things to do?

Just an idea,could the Christmas special couples have their own threads like the couples on the main show do ??

Might encourage more posters to come on the News Blogs ??

I'd like to know what has happened to Chris and Ola this year, I was hoping they would have performed at the beginning, as all others have in the past. Such a shame.



Agree with you, I'd would like too.

When is the christmas special filmed ?

Just had a look at the 'glittering' line up for the Christmas SCD Special. It will be a good opportunity to take the dog for a walk.

Thanks BBC

71 Kinwar....you dont have to wait till Christmas(poor doggy),.there'll be a 10 minute spot this saturday evening.:)

wait until Chrismas and the will be a 10 gallon spot - poor doggy!

sorry tippy don't really have a dog but might get one just to get out more.

74 Kinwar... I have and am ashamed to say that when I come on here I put off taking him out sometimes.Unfortunaely when I get into a squabble I'm more like a dog with a bone than my dog is!!:) But the knocking of my head against a brick wall usually works in Fido's favour(not his real name)and I give up.;)

To be honest with you, I'm not happy with the Christmas special line up. I always enjoyed the other one's in the past when they had the current top four of this year and the other winners or celebrities that have appeared in the 8 series of Strictly and are disappointed, they are not doing this, this year. What a shame!

What a desperatley disappointing line up. John Barrowman is already a professional and I have seen him dance in the West End. He is bound to win and why are there no couples from this series. The year the BBC seems determined to disappoint SCD fans in everyway possible.

Maybe they're worried about who will actually constitute the top four. They've stiched themselves into a corner possibly.

superior-weelassie @76

doctordancingdiva @77



I am afraid that I agree with you both in so far as tradionally it has always been six celebrities from previous SCD series that have competed at Christmas.

This year however the Suits & Floral Dresses have invited celebrities who "Do not have time to participate in the full show" and this may be a genuine attempt to improve the competition element and not make the result a foregone conclusion.

If that is the case then why are the celebrities so varied? Personally I hope that June Brown or Vince Cable leave John Barrowman standing in a pool of his own sweat, but the odds are against it.

Unless of course they are going to handicap the competitors based upon age, experience, fitness etc. but again that will be very unlikely.

Therefore Management has decided to throw tradition out of the window and have what is effectively a one horse race.

Perhaps Management could not find any ex-SCD celebrities that wanted to participate under the new regime of anything goes.

That is a pity because I got a thrill out of seeing Ali, Rachel, Gethin, Chris, Austin and Ricky having a go last year and wasn't it interesting that the Series 7 winner was beaten by the Series 7 Third placed dancer.

Still I must not be negative!



Keeeep Dancing!!!

Yay! Matthew is back! Do we know what dances the celebs have been given?



I would like to see June Brown doing a Vienese Waltz but with Anton.

John will not doubt blow us a way with a glitzy number, Fern will probably laugh her way through it all, Ronni may be the surprise and June will grace us with her infectious enthusiasm. It would be really nice if they all appeared in Dickensian costumes (so boo hoo to John's sequins). And then the other one can come on as Scrooge.

Erm .... maybe i'ts the late hour, but can anyone tell me when this show is on [I can't see when]. Cheers in anticipation ... :D x

Hi Aspenniel



The SCD Christmas Special is usually shown early evening on Christmas Day. It is pre-recorded and as stated by someone earlier, the studio audience vote rather than the TV viewers.



Hi Chaswick



'wasn't it interesting that the Series 7 winner was beaten by the Series 7 Third placed dancer.'



I don't post much on these blogs but I do tend to read them and I agree with a lot of your posts but I don't think it is particularly interesting that Ali & Brian won the Christmas Special over Chris & Ola.

The Christmas Special is one off and each couple gets one dance. Anyone can have a good dance or a bad dance on the day. The Christmas Special is also pre-recorded and the TV viewers do not get to vote. I see a big difference between attracting enough votes from the many thousands of voters amongst the multi-million audience of TV viewers to win the series and getting enough votes from a studio audience of a few hundred to win a one-off.



I'm looking forward to the Christmas Special. Whether old favourites or new people are in it, it is an hour of joyous dancing, music, gorgeous costumes and pure escapism that I anticipate being thoroughly entertained by.



KQ

Kalami Quickstep @83



I think that I could not have explained myself too well which sometimes happens when I know what I am commenting on, but others may not. My apologies for any confusion KQ, but I meant no harm in my reference to Ali & Brian.

I know that the Christmas Special is pre-recorded and that it is a closed vote, however it is great to see the celebrities get a second chance to prove themselves.

Last year there were competitors from Series 5, 6 & 7 who we the TV audience had seen progress within their various competitions and it was like seeing old friends coming out to entertain us once more.

Doubtless some had kept in shape more than others and because they had all been through the mill we knew what they were capable of, as they had all previously attained their rite of passage in SCD.

My point about Ali & Brian was that we knew there were good and on that day, performing that dance they managed to beat all the others with a perfect score of 40 performing their favourite Viennese Waltz.

Chris Hollins & Ola Jordan came in 6th with 33 points dancing the Foxtrot, it just was not their day but they had entertained us with a lovely, proficient dance.

It was unexpected and therefore interesting that on that day etc. it was Ali & Brian's turn to win the trophy.

That is the beauty of competition dancing that on a particular day everything works whereas on others it is not up to par.

Indeed any Golfer, Tennis Player or Athlete is aware that no matter how much you train and practice sometimes you win and sometimes you don't.

I try to avoid the term "lose" because anybody who can perform like those six couples did has not lost anything, they have gained my admiration.

Therefore I believe that we are actually in agreement and I hope that you realise I was not trying to disrespect Chris & Ola but just praise Ali & Brian upon that performance.

I try to embrace change where I see a need for it and I suppose my point was that this is yet another upgrade to the SCD programme that I fail to understand.

I read the official statement but I am concerned that the dancers selected for Christmas are all Dark Horses, which may be interesting but I suspect that JB has the advantage.

I stand by my previous statement that I hope the others give him a run for his money and that it would be veeery interessstink if he and his sequins were lower on the Leader Board than June, Vince,Fern or Ronnie.

Enjoy the "veritable selection box of tasty dancing treats" KQ and remember "There's No Business Like Showbusiness".



Keeeep Dancing!!!

Hi Kalami Quickstep



Thank you for your response :) x

good luck john b from one scott to another

omg! dot, is on strictly. woah! i dont watch it tbh so i wouldnt know, is she good ?

Have to agree with this posting: Bring back the Famous Five or should I say the Forgotten Five (Brian, Matthew, Lilia, Darren and Ian) for series nine! Brian, Matthew, Ian and Darren have magic footwork and such a shame we don't see them all that much on Strictly any more.

Well it's the usual suspects isn't it - theoretically John Barrowman should win hands down... he's a professional performer and if he can master the ballroom steps he'll be way in front.



But surely this is a wasted opportunity. Instead of bringing on yet another load of lack-lustre celebs, wouldn't it be far more exciting to pit the finalists of Strictly (whoever they turn out to be) against the finalists of Dancing With The Stars from the US? I'd be far more excited watching Jennifer Grey perform than any of this lot and if we want the Widdy factor, there's always Bristol Palin (although at least Bristol was half-way decent and with more practice might turn out to be quite good).



You could also think about bringing in Apollo Anton Ono and Joey Fatone from the Spring 2007 series - now they were amazing!



Come on BBC - be a bit more imaginative - think outside the box.

There's a novel idea, given it is the charitable season of reaching out to the needy - serve up the leftovers instead of the quality. What next - a pole in the middle of the dancefloor and complementary packets of kleenex?

Someone said that John Barrowman already a professional,dancing in the west end, he did dancing on ice, he didn't win that when he was in it, did he? No ofference to him. He is propabley the best one in the line up for the Christmas Special.

Bring back the Famous Five or should I say the Forgotten Five (Brian, Matthew, Lilia, Darren and Ian) for series nine! Agree with that bring them back, out of the five 3 of them were champions of Strictly. I would have loved to see Ian winning Strictly.

I for one like the christmas show because I like to see the celebrities, and professionals I have followed over all the series, and how they have progressed. As far as I'm concerned, the idea of putting in new celebs. just for one program, is not a show about dancing, but to let them make fools of themselves. The change in format for the present series is bad enough, but this christmas show is a serious disappointment.

dc @ 93



Well done, I completely agree.



Thank you for your more precise and easy to read version of what I was trying to say at post No.84.



It is like having old friends round for egg nog and mince pies.



Keeeep Dancing!!!

Keep your fingers crossed folks as the Christmas Special is being filmed tomorrow and with any luck Anton could make it a double award this year if his partners win both the Christmas and the main Competitions.



Go Anton, show them what you are made of!



Keeeep Dancing!!!

Good way to ease John B into the Strictly world, prepping him to take over from Brucie next year perhaps? He would be a great choice.

Please, please, please NOT John Barrowman!!!



That would be the last nail in the coffin.



We would have to call the show Dance With The Celebrities.



Keeeep Dancing!!!

Wonder how the training is going?

Post 97:



For once Chaswick, I agree with you wholeheartedly.

@ 92

I totally agree.

I would have LOVED to see Ian win last year.

Just a shame that Jade had to leave the show

early, they made a great team.