Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special 2021 line-up revealed

Written by on 2nd December 2021

Image Credit – BBC

This year’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special line-up has been announced.

On Christmas Day, six celebrities will take to the Strictly ballroom to entertain audiences.

Unlike the normal show, the Christmas special will be pre-recorded rather than being live, which will allow the studio audience to vote for the winner.

As ever, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas will be there to judge the celebrities on their festive routines.

The line-up is set to offer a variety of television and media personalities.

Adrian Chiles

Image Credit – Russell Moore / Alamy Images

British television presenter Adrian Chiles, 54, who is best known for football coverage on ITV Sport from 2010 until 2015, and presenting BBC One’s The One Show alongside Christine Lampard from 2007 to 2010, will be hitting the dance floor on Christmas Day.

Talking to Rylan Clark-Neal on It Takes Two, Chiles said: “I’m actually quite a good dancer, as long as nobody is watching me.

“In my own bathroom with nobody there, I’m about eight out of 10. But in any other situation, on any dance floor, I’m about one out of 10.”

The only “real concern” that Chiles has is the smiling.

“I can just about do it but I can’t smile while I do it. I don’t smile much anyway, but to actually dance and smile at the same time is quite beyond me.

“They’ll have to paint something on me or something.”

Chiles will be paired with Polish ballroom dancer, Jowita Przystał.

Anne-Marie

Image Credit – Alamy

Singer-songwriter Anne-Marie, 30, known for her charting singles Alarm, Friends and 2002, and most recently for becoming a coach on ITV’s The Voice UK, will be showing off her dance skills on December 25.

In a conversation with Janette Manrara on It Takes Two, she said: “I’m very competitive.

“If it all goes wrong, I might just wack out a song quickly, and hope that gets me a few points, but I’m trying hard and I’m learning so much.”

Anne-Marie will be partnered with Italian dancer and choreographer, Graziano Di Prima.

Mel Giedroyc

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Comedy legend Mel Giedroyc, 53, best known for co-hosting The Great British Bake Off for the BBC with comedian and actress Sue Perkins, will no doubt bring humour to the special.

Talking of her appearance on It Takes Two, she said: “It’s so exciting.”

But along with her excitement, comes “worries about the bunions, the hernia, the pelvic floors and going totally blank”.

Giedroyc’s dance partner for the special will be British dancer and choreographer, Neil Jones.

Jay Blades MBE

Image Credit – Alamy

The Repair Shop’s Jay Blades MBE, 51, will be challenging himself when he shows off his dance moves this Christmas.

Chatting to Rylan on It Takes Two, he said: “I love to challenge myself; to do something I have never done before.

“I can do a dad dance, but I can’t do formal dancing. Just dive in there, let’s have a go!”

Blades will be dancing with Russian dancer and choreographer, Luba Mushtuk.

Moira Stuart OBE

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British presenter and broadcaster Moira Stuart OBE, 72, the first Caribbean female newsreader to appear on British national television, having worked on BBC News since 1981, will be back on our screens for the holidays.

She said: “I am really looking forward to the Strictly Christmas special.

“I have loved dancing for as long as I can remember.”

Stuart will be partnered with Slovenian dancer and choreographer, Aljaž Škorjanec.

Fred Sirieix

Image Credit – Channel 4

French maître d’hôtel Fred Sirieix, 49, who’s probably best known for appearing on Channel 4’s First Dates and BBC Two’s Million Pound Menu, will be serving up some fun and excitement when he takes to the dance floor.

He said on It Takes Two: “I’m so excited.

“I got the phone call, and I was as excited as I was scared. Because I was so scared, I thought: ‘I’ve got to do this.’

“There is no way I’m going to turn this down.”

Sirieix will be dancing with Australian dancer and YouTuber, Dianne Buswell.

The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special airs on Christmas Day at 5.10pm on BBC One.


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