Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2025 couples tease their festive routines and reveal their first impressions of each other

The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2025 sees 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.

• Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2025 - Everything you need to know

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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.

Watch the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special on iPlayer and BBC One from 5.30pm on Christmas Day.

GK

Meet the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas 2025 Couples

Babatunde Aléshé and Nancy Xu

Babatunde and Nancy are dancing a Charleston to Santa Claus is Coming to Town by Bing Crosby

Tell us about your dance. What can we expect to see from you both on Christmas Day?

Babatunde: We are dancing the Charleston, and the theme is inspired by Elf On The Shelf. I'm a naughty elf that's trying my hardest to convince Nancy to join in with the mischief and be naughty with me, and cause chaos. And in doing so, I kind of get her into trouble throughout the dance.

Nancy: It is so much a fun! But my gosh, I hope I never meet this elf in my life!

How have you found training? Is there anything that's pushed you out of your comfort zone?

Babatunde: The whole experience has pushed me out of my comfort zone as I'm not a dancer at all. I have sweated from day one, and it turns out I have more sweat to give. It's been a challenge! I go to the gym and I box as well, and even then, I don't sweat like this. This is something else!

Nancy: But in Boxing you are just repeating certain moves, you don’t have to lift someone, or spin someone around a dancefloor! In our dance you’re having to clean the floor with somebody, spin me around, throw me in the air, that takes extra energy!

Babatunde: You're doing so many different things: one minute you're lifting, next minute you're pulling, next minute you're spinning, next minute you're bouncing on your feet and twisting, and it's fast. The Charleston is fast, fast, fast. There's not a lot of time for rest until you get used to it. And once you get used to it, you start to find pockets of like, okay, this is a breather. I remember when we first did it, I said “When do I get a chance to rest?” And it turns out the answer is “at the end of the dance!” But no, it's definitely fun.

Nancy: As Baba’s dance partner, I have seen him grow since the first day of rehearsals, and seeing how far he’s come now has made me the proudest teacher. It’s easy to think that because it’s the Christmas Special it’s all just a bit of fun, but there’s actually still a process you need to step into, and you have to build up confidence to believe that you can do it. Babatunde is amazing and amazing to work with. And now he's an elf! And do you know what? I think this character suits him perfectly.

Has anything surprised you about the experience so far?

Babatunde: Just how fun it is! My friend Eddie Kadi did the main show, and I remember him telling me how intense it is. And it is intense, but it's so much fun with it. I think that's the thing that’s stood out for me the most. It’s not just with my dance partner, but all the dancers. It’s such a good vibe. We're really having fun. How laid back everyone is and how helpful everyone is as well.

Nancy: I genuinely feel with this Christmas cast, everyone is just having a really good time together. They’re all having a laugh and a joke! They’re taking it very seriously too, but I think that’s a really healthy way to approach it and let themselves go. Christmas time is not about judgement, it’s about having fun dance with your friends.

What's the main thing that you've learnt from Nancy so far?

Babatunde: The main thing is believing in yourself, because she will always point out that I should push myself further, because she thinks I can do it. And I'm always like, “man, I can't do it!”. And then I'll do it, and then she'll be like “let's go further!”. I'm like “Slow down!”

What do you think you and Mo Gilligan would say about your Strictly dance if you were watching it on Gogglebox?

Babatunde: I think Mo would actually be very impressed. He would be impressed by my dancing. He'd make jokes because of my outfit – I'm dressed as a literal elf - but he would be like “You know what, bro? You done good!” And Eddie Kadi would be proud of me as well, because he was advocating for me to do this show. After he did it, he was just like, you've got to do it. Now! We just have to convince everyone else we know to do it now.

Brian McFadden and Michelle Tsiakkas

Brian and Michelle are dancing a Jive to Run Run Rudolph, by Kelly Clarkson

Please tell us about your dance. What can we expect to see from you both on Christmas Day?

Michelle: Brian is Rudolph in a kind of Elvis style. He's a cool Rudolph. There's going to be tricks, there's lots of jumps, you've got bit of everything in this dance. It's really fun, 100mph and Brian’s giving it 100% despite his crazy, busy schedule travelling around on tour.

Brian: It’s been a bit of a change from sitting on stools on stage, to doing a Jive! But a nice change. I’ve been watching the videos of our rehearsals, just to try and get the steps to stick in my mind. Last night I actually found myself doing the steps on stage! It’s been lots of fun.

How have you found training? Is there anything in particular that’s pushed you out of your comfort zone?

Brian: I think the hardest part of the training has been the physicality of it, because it's so fast and Michelle is super fit, but I'm not as cardio fit. So just trying to keep the energy levels up. Michelle hasn’t made it easy but she’s made it enjoyable.

Michelle: I've tried to make it fun because I want you to enjoy your time on the Christmas Special, but at the same time it's not one of those dances that you can just get in to. The Jive is so fast there needs to be precision. But most of all, just performing and enjoying it. Because when you enjoy doing it, people hopefully enjoy watching it.

Brian, what's the main thing you've learned from Michelle so far?

Brian: She’s so professional! One thing I really love is she knows when to push, and when to not. I always finish our training days feeling like I've done enough, but I'm also not broken in half.

Michelle: I'm happy you said that, because I always want the learning process to be enjoyable. I don't think it ever needs to reach the point where you're feeling like, Oh, I just want this to be over. Because that's not what dancing is about!

How did you find the rehearsals for the group dances?

Brian: I really enjoyed it! It was fun to spend the day with everyone else who's in the same boat. And you could see it took a bit pressure off everyone, and it was a really relaxed day. It's such a great cast of people, both the celebs and the professionals.

Which of your fellow celebrities or pros would end up on Father Christmas naughty list and nice list?

Brian: I actually think everybody might be on The Naughty List, except for Nicholas and Jodie. They’re on the Nice List, but the other four of us have a bit of work to do unless we want coal for Christmas.

What are your Christmas plans this year?

Michelle: I'm going to spend Christmas with my family, watching ourselves on TV! Then I think I'll go back to Cyprus after Christmas to see my other side of the family.

Brian: I’ll be spending it with family too, and obviously Santa Claus will be coming to our house to see Ruby. So we're all going to be having the normal Christmas at home with turkey dinner, and then we're all going away a for big family holiday in the sun.

What will you be taking away from your Strictly experience?

Brian: It's been an incredible experience. Working with Michelle and learning a new craft is an amazing thing. We don't have the same stress as you would do in the main show, because there's no next week for us. It's all leading up to this one night, and there's no pressure, as we're all going home! Everyone just seems just enjoying the experience. I'm absolutely loving it.

Brian, has your music career prepared you for doing Strictly in any way?

Brian: Absolutely, going out in front of a live audience can be the part of Strictly that gets to some people. But for me, it should be fine, because I'm used to performing every night, so that's definitely an advantage for me. I've had 30 years experience of performing to a live audience, but there's nothing from my music career that's going to help me dancing wise!

Any dancing I’ve done so far has been very much improvised! But now that I’m dancing Michelle’s dance I have to be true to her art, so that’s extra pressure!

Jodie Ounsley aka Fury and Neil Jones

Jodie and Neil are dancing Street Commercial to Red Christmas by Kylie Cantrall (from Descendents: The Rise of Red)

What we can expect to see from you on Christmas Day?

Neil: We’re dancing a commercial street dance - it’s high energy and lots of fun.

Jodie: It’s a great nod to Gladiators and there’s some coal carrying too. We’ve got some fun bits in there: I’m going to try and flip Neil!

Tell me about training. Is there anything in particular that's pushed you out of your comfort zone?

Jodie: All of it to be honest! I’ve been the most nervous about not getting through the whole routine, just remembering a full routine! I've actually really enjoyed it, and now I know the routine more, I've relaxed into it more.

Neil: I’m doing what I love doing! It's been great dancing with Jodie, it’s been so much fun. All you hope for when get partnered for the show is that you get someone that's gonna throw themselves fully into it, they're going to enjoy learning how to dance and give it their all!

What were your first impressions of each other, and have you discovered anything that’s surprised you?

Jodie: [To Neil] You have this persona and confidence when we see you on the TV, but you're actually a very caring and soft person, which has been really nice. In the training room, when things go wrong or I make a mistake it doesn't matter - you just find a way of having a laugh with it. It’s been such a nice environment. You’re such a softie.

Neil: Same here! It’s clear you're strong from what you can do in Gladiators, but the strength in your head is unbelievable. And I don't mean running into a wall or things like that! You’re mentally so strong, and so caring as well.

How were the group rehearsals for the opening and closing numbers?

Jodie: It sounds cheesy, but we actually do really help each other and want the best for each other! It would be easy to come into this environment and be competitive, but we've just really enjoyed spending time with each other. The other day Kai was helping us figure out one of our lifts – it was funny ‘cos Kai thought Neil was going to lift me, and I was like “no I’m lifting him!”.

Neil: It's funny as I think I actually feel safer with Jodie. She’s so much stronger!

What will you be taking away from your Strictly experience?

Jodie: I think having more confidence in myself. That’s the biggest thing coming into it. I am hard on myself, and I almost didn’t do Strictly at all as I just thought “Oh, I can't do that!”. But now actually coming into it, I've surprised myself. That's all down to Neil for giving me that confidence, and maybe I’m a little bit better than I thought I would be...

Jodie, you're a Gladiator doing Strictly - but how do you think Neil would fare as a contender on Gladiators?

Jodie: Whoa never mind a contender, we've been talking about Neil as a Gladiator! He’s going to be Ginger the Ninja.

Neil: And if they didn't like that name, we'd go with ‘Phoenix’ or something.

And Neil, other than yourself which Strictly Pro do you think would be the best on Gladiators?

Neil: I think Nancy! Nancy would be great, she would be so fierce and she would go at it. I feel like Vito would be good too - but he'd fall asleep during some of the events. Oh, and he’d be laughing too much the whole time. Kai could be a good all-rounder too.

Melanie Blatt and Kai Widdrington

Melanie and Kai are dancing an American Smooth to Santa Baby, by The Pussycat Dolls

What can we expect from your dance on Christmas Day?

Melanie: Lots of LOLs!

Kai: We’re doing Theatre Jazz, so it's very exciting. We've got some props...

Melanie: Or weapons, in my hands!

Kai: It's a fun dance that’s Christmassy and very feel good.

Melanie: I really enjoy dancing it, and there's a lot of side-by-side stuff so there's no hiding.

How have you found training?

Melanie: It was really daunting at first, but I've grown to love it. Kai's been amazing, so supportive, and I think he's been able to get the best out of me and help me showcase what I'm good at. It's actually become quite addictive - the excitement that you feel when you get it right.

Kai: Even though it's just the one dance for the Christmas special, it's like dipping your feet in the shallow end and I can imagine that after we do this, you'll want to learn more. It's the Strictly bug!

Is there anything that's pushed you out of your comfort zone?

Melanie: The whole thing! The main thing that I've had to overcome is the outfit side of things. I'm not a dress wearer, but I'll be wearing a long flowy dress for this. I'm very particular about the shapes and the things that I wear. So that's been quite challenging, but it's good to be challenged. And it's made me realise to just go for it and not care so much.

How has your music career prepared you for Strictly?

Melanie: We did do choreography in All Saints, but it was a very different sort of choreography. We just plodded around for years! Whereas now I've got to have my shoulders back, and a proper frame, which is the complete opposite. But I did already know how to count to 8, which has been helpful!

Has anything especially surprised you about your Strictly experience so far?

Melanie: The challenge of it, and facing insecurities to overcome them very quickly in order to be able to enjoy the process. I'm really happy with everything I'm getting from it, emotionally as well as physically.

Kai, what were your first impressions of Melanie and have you discovered anything about her that's surprised you?

Kai: I think Mel's surprised herself more than anyone. It's been such a short time rehearsing but the change has been there. And it's probably something that Mel never thought she'd actually be doing - and to such an amazing standard. I said to Mel at the start of our rehearsals: the more you commit to it, the more you just go for it, and the more you enjoy it, then the more you get out of the experience. And I think there was a moment in training when the penny dropped and Mel totally got that was what she needed to do, to just have fun with it. For every celeb on Strictly, particularly the Christmas special, it'll be over before you know it. So we've got to make the most out of this experience, and I think Mel's done a fine job.

How did you find the rehearsals for the group dances? And which of your fellow celebs or pros would end up on Father Christmas' naughty list or nice list?

Melanie: It was good to be with the others because everybody had the same amount of fear, and it was nice to know they all felt the same too. And then learning it all together was hilarious. I don't know who I'd put on the naughty list... actually? Brian. Let's chuck him on there! And you'd be on the good list, Kai. Nicholas will be on the nice list too.

Kai: Of the pros, Neil is 100% on the Naughty List. Just because it's Neil Jones. I'm sure Vito would make his way on there too.

What are your Christmas plans this year?

Melanie: My parents are coming over from Spain, so it's a family Christmas in London.

Kai: I'm spending it with my Mrs, and I’m very excited to vegetate in our Christmas pyjamas, drink lots of mulled wine, and cook a Beef Wellington for Christmas Day. I'm just not a turkey guy. It's everywhere at this time of year, but it’s a dry meat and it tastes like cardboard! And Gordon Ramsay says a Beef Wellington’s the best, so it is.

What do you think you’ll take away from you Strictly experience?

Melanie: To just to go for it, to not be in my head and worry about what other people are going to think. To just give it your all, get out there and do stuff that you're not initially comfortable doing. It's good for the soul and you can find out a lot about yourself. I think Strictly’s proven that over the years, with the amount of celebrities who come on the show who people might not initially think would go so far. But because they've gone inside themselves and committed to it, they do well – and it’s great to see. I think it's the same thing for everyone that does the Christmas special too.

Oh and how unfit I am. [laughing] That’s the main think I’ll take away! That I need to go to the gym more!

Nicholas Bailey and Luba Mushtuk

Nicholas and Luba are dancing a Viennese Waltz to It’s The Most Wonderful Time of The Year by Andy Williams

What can we expect to see from you both on Christmas Day?

Nicholas: We’re dancing a Viennese Waltz. It's a lot faster, I understand, than a standard Waltz. It has a real flow and a momentum to it, but it's still with the elegance of the Waltz. It's very disciplined in its form, but also it has moments of spice, a bit of activity. It's flirtatious, but also energetic.

How has training been?

Luba: For me, the most joyful part of this process is the rehearsal, because that's when we really put the routine together and find the version of this dance best suited to Nicholas. It's wonderful to explain the technical aspect and watch him slowly getting it; it starts as a project that is in my head, and then I get to see it come together in real life. Nicholas has been such a great student and has trusted me since day one.

Nicholas: It’s been very easy to trust you. Luba was good at seeing what was and wasn't working, both in terms of my ability, but also in terms of what the flow of it should be. I think we’ve found the sweet spot in terms of what takes me to the limits of my range, but also works really well as a dance. It’s been great fun – we’ve taken the work seriously, but not ourselves!

Has there been anything in particular that's pushed you out of your comfort zone?

Nicholas: Luba has opened the door out of the comfort zone!

Luba: And I didn't push you out! I walked by your side!

Nicholas: I don't think much magic happens in life without being out of your comfort zone. The question is, are you safely going outside of it or not? We progress by making mistakes and taking risks. So, although I didn't see myself as a dancer, I call myself a dancer. Because I'm dancing! I'm very clear on what I'm good at and what I'm not good at. I know that very well, but I'm always trying to push the envelope a bit and learn something new. I don't think you ever stop learning.

What were your first impressions of Nicholas? And is there anything that you have discovered about him that has surprised you?

Luba: Knowing that Nick's an actor, I thought that he would find it easier if I gave him a character. But he’s really, really surprised me with how much he wanted to feel like a dancer. And I think for people at home, the biggest surprise is actually his dance on Christmas Day - that's gonna be gorgeous.

How did you find the group dance as an experience? How was that for you?

Nicholas: [Laughing] Don't go there!

Luba: He did one wrong move in the group rehearsal earlier and now he's been disappointed about it all day!

Nicholas: I'm a bit of a perfectionist! It takes me quite a while to get things really bedded down, and I get frustrated with myself when things don't land or if I make a mistake. But I'm trying to just embrace the process and enjoy it! And really it was so much fun being with all the others, so joyful. The energy is incredible.

Which of your fellow celebs or pros would end up on Father Christmas's Naughty List and who on the Nice List?

Luba: I mean, I'll go to the naughty list any day. Who likes a good girl?

Nicholas: I think we’re all nice and we’re all naughty, and we should embrace that and just be whoever we want to be in that particular moment!

What will you be taking away from your Strictly experience?

Nicholas: Hopefully some shoes, and a very nice champagne-coloured velvet jacket that I’ve seen! And some sweets from the snack bar! In all seriousness, I’ll take the memory, the experience and - I think these things are always instructional - so I’ll take away from it a better sense of what I'm capable of and what I can achieve. And you know, excellence does not have to be brutal and hard and unhappy. That's what I'll take away.

Luba: You also take away from this my friendship!

Nicholas: We’ve also become part of an exclusive club. So when we meet pro dancers or judges, past or present, you just click. There’s a shared experience that you don't even need to discuss. It's like being in EastEnders, I’ve had 25 years in the show, and it doesn’t matter if somebody's been there 10 minutes or 25 years, you still have that instant connection.

Nicholas, how do you think Dr Trueman would do on Strictly?

Nicholas: Dr Trueman can cut some shapes! I think he would personally choose the Viennese Waltz, but would probably drop out of the show early because there wouldn't be enough time for him to perfect it. He's a passionate man, but I think he would want to do it on a closed set as a pre-record. He would be very demanding.

Scarlett Moffatt and Vito Coppola

Scarlett and Vito are dancing a Cha Cha to DJ Play A Christmas Song by Cher

Tell us about your dance. What can we expect to see from you both on Christmas Day?

Vito: Our dance is a Cha Cha Cha and is a pure celebration. I think we are the first couple in Strictly to dance to this song since Cher performed it on the show a few years ago. Honestly, the choreography is quite challenging. I have tried to challenge Scarlett. It's very quick. It's faster than a normal Cha Cha tempo, but we can do it! It's got momentum and we've crammed a lot in the short space of time that we have.

Scarlett: There's a lot of spins, a lot of silver, and it's just very camp! It's like a club scene, I spin around in a big bauble, I get thrown around - it's full on! But still very technical.

Vito: We have worked on technique to make it very precise, sharp and accurate and also just a big celebration to really try and get everyone involved. For me personally, when I choreograph a dance, I always look for moments when we can spread out some joy, happiness and sparkle to the people, a moment when we want to bring people into our bubble. We want people to feel that they can join in and dance with us - we want people to dance along at home!

How have you found training, and is there anything that's pushed you out of your comfort zone?

Scarlett: I’ve never moved this much! My favourite position normally is seated, but I have honestly loved it. It's fun finding out that you've got muscles that you didn't know you had. That's been quite cool. It’s made me feel so proud, because Vito will show me a move, and I think there's no way on this earth that I can do that, and then after a while, I'm like “Oh, I can do it!”. So there’s a big sense of pride.

What's the main thing you've learnt from Vito so far?

Scarlett: Well apart from the dancing (because obviously the dance is the main thing) for me, it's a bit like your first day of school at the beginning, you don't know anyone and I feel like Vito has pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me more confident in myself, actually.

Is there anything that's especially surprised you about just being on Strictly so far?

Scarlett: I don't think I ever truly appreciated how much effort goes into each one of those dances, from the choreography, to picking the music, to the set design, to the band, to the camera, everything! It's such a well-oiled machine. I'm just really grateful that I get to experience Strictly.

Vito, what were your first impressions of Scarlett?

Vito: My first impression of Scarlett was pure fun! Honestly, the best people I have in my life are people who require two important things, that Scarlett has: first, they need to love their food like I do. And second, to have a good sense of humour. You know, never take yourself too seriously, which obviously we don't! The days have been going so quick because we're just laughing.

Which of your fellow celebs or pros would end up on Father Christmas' Naughty List and Nice List?

Scarlett: I would say that, during the group rehearsal, Scarlett and Vito were probably the names the choreographers we’re having to say the most, so that probably puts us on the Naughty List. Babatunde would be on there too, and Brian. We’re probably the ones in the naughty corner.

What are your Christmas plans this year?

Scarlett: Watching Strictly, obviously! Then the King’s Speech, and then it’s Shaun The Sheep I think this year? I'm actually doing panto, so Scott and Jude are coming to Cheshire with me and we'll have Christmas just the three of us, and then we're all gonna do a group Face Time with my family to watch Strictly. We'll have a big fake Christmas in January with all the family and friends. Because Jude's only two he doesn't really understand the dates!

Vito: I'm going to Italy for Christmas, and maybe for the new year. I want to go somewhere to chill and get some sun.

Have you cooked for each other yet?

Scarlett: I want Vito to teach me how to make pasta. Obviously he's Italian and he's won MasterChef. I don't know if you know that, because he never mentions it! [laughing]

And finally, what will you take away from your Strictly experience?

Scarlett: A new friend. Yay!

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