Strictly Come Dancing

Development

Producer Richard Hopkins, who had produced the first British series of Big Brother, unsuccessfully pitched the idea of a modern Come Dancing to the BBC under the title of Pro-Celebrity Dancing in 2003. Later, entertainment executive Fenia Vardanis also suggested reviving Come Dancing, so Jane Lush, the then head of BBC Entertainment, put Hopkins and Vardanis together to develop the show.

Hopkins then called in Karen Smith, who had previously produced Comic Relief Does Fame Academy for BBC One and The Games for Channel 4, to help lead the development of the show and launch the series. Smith was the show-running Executive Producer of the first three series, and of sister show It Takes Two. She then became Creative Director of BBC Entertainment whilst still overseeing series 4 and 5.

Hopkins later took the format to America himself when the BBC dismissed the idea of selling it abroad, as they felt it was too British, establishing the format internationally as Dancing with the Stars.

The title is an amalgamation of the titles of the 1992 Australian film Strictly Ballroom and Come Dancing.

Format

The show is broadcast live on BBC One on Saturday evenings, with a results show originally following later on Saturday, also broadcast live. For series five, six and eight onwards, the results show is pre-recorded on Saturday and broadcast on Sunday evenings. The final results continued to be shown live on Saturdays, and were combined with the main show from series 14.

From series 1 to 11, Sir Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly presented the pro-celebrity ballroom dancing competition. From series 8 to 11, Forsyth only presented the main show and was replaced for the results show by Claudia Winkleman, at which point Daly assumed Forsyth's role as main presenter and Winkleman assumed Daly's role as co-presenter. Winkleman joined Daly as full-time co-presenter for series 12 following Forsyth's departure after the 2013 series. Forsyth continued to present special editions of the show until 2015. Through telephone voting, viewers vote for who they would like to be in the next round, the results of the poll being combined with the ranking of the judges. For example, with ten contestants left, the judges' favourite would receive ten points, second favourite nine points, and so on, and similarly with the viewers' rankings. The bottom ranked couple gets one point. In the event of tied scoring from the judges by two or more contestants, the couple immediately below them gets one point below them, until the bottom ranked couple on the leaderboard who ends up getting at least 2 points instead of one. The profits from the telephone lines were donated to Sport Relief in series 1, and to Children in Need from series 2 until series 8.

The judging panel initially consisted of Bruno Tonioli, Arlene Phillips, Len Goodman and Craig Revel Horwood. Alesha Dixon replaced Phillips from series 7 to 9, after which she left the programme to judge Britain's Got Talent which led to retired ballerina Dame Darcey Bussell to replace her. Goodman left the show after the 2016 series and was replaced by Shirley Ballas who was promoted as Head Judge following a selection process which attracted many candidates. Bussell remained as judge until 2018 and was replaced by Motsi Mabuse in 2019. Up until 2020, Tonioli commuted weekly between Hollywood and London to judge both the American and British versions of the show simultaneously. However, due the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, he could not appear on both the British and American shows. No replacement was named for the 2020 series; but pro dancer Anton Du Beke took his place from the 2021 series, and has now replaced Tonioli full-time on the panel. The current judging panel consists of Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke, making Horwood the only judge to remain with the programme since its inception. Each judge gives the performance a mark out of ten, giving an overall total out of forty. The voice-over announcer is Alan Dedicoat.

The singers on the show are Tommy Blaize, Hayley Sanderson, Lance Ellington, Andrea Grant and formerly British dance music vocalist Tara McDonald. The music director is Dave Arch. Tommy Blaize has been part of Strictly since its beginning. Arch joined in the fourth series and Hayley Sanderson in the fifth. The original musical director from series 1 to 3 was Laurie Holloway. In the seventeenth series, the singers were joined by Mitchel Emms.

The show was broadcast from a specially constructed set at BBC Television Centre (primarily in the largest studio, TC1) until its closure in 2013, with the show moving to Elstree Studios' George Lucas Stage 2 from 2013 onwards. However, in the first two series, shows were also filmed at the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool, where the original Come Dancing series was filmed in the 1970s.

In the second series, two shows were filmed at the Tower Ballroom, show five and the Grand Final, which was broadcast live on 11 December 2004. In 2005, the BBC announced that they would not be returning to the venue for the third series because of "logistical problems". In October 2008, Craig Revel Horwood called for the series to return to the Tower Ballroom, saying, "The atmosphere was electric. It's huge and has so much history. The Tower Ballroom puts a lot of pressure on the professionals and the celebrities to perform to the best of their potential. What a wonderful place to go live to 12 million people. We have got to get the BBC to bring Strictly Come Dancing back to Blackpool." Eventually, for series 7, the show did return to the Tower Ballroom, where Blackpool-born Craig Kelly was eliminated. The episode was aired live on 7 November 2009. Strictly Come Dancing returned to Blackpool for the 2010 and 2011 series. After series 10, when Strictly Come Dancing did not go to Blackpool, they announced that they would return for series 11.

Cast

Presenters and judges

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;Notes

Professional dancers

: Each series, celebrities are paired with professional dance partners who instruct them in the various dance styles, design their choreography, and perform with them each week in the competition. ;Color key

Many of the dancers from the show have formed both professional and personal partnerships. Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova are married, as are James and Ola Jordan. Aljaž Škorjanec and Janette Manrara, who became engaged after joining the show in 2013, were married in 2017. Matthew and Nicole Cutler are divorced, but remain professional partners; Karen Hauer and Kevin Clifton were engaged when Clifton entered the show in 2013 and were married prior to the 2015 series, before divorcing in 2018, while Neil and Katya Jones entered the show as a married couple before separating in 2019. Anton Du Beke and Erin Boag have danced as a professional couple since 1997, while Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace are former Argentine tango world champions as a duo and have done multiple tours together. Brendan Cole and Camilla Dallerup danced together for many years, including a stint on the original series of Come Dancing; following their split in 2004, Cole and Katya Virshilas formed a professional partnership before splitting in November 2009. Other current and former professional partnerships featured on the show include Dallerup and Ian Waite, Paul Killick and Hanna Karttunen, Andrew Cuerden and Hanna Haarala, Brian Fortuna and Kristina Rihanoff, Rihanoff and Robin Windsor, Pasha Kovalev and Anya Garnis, siblings Kevin and Joanne Clifton, AJ Pritchard and Chloe Hewitt, and Gorka Márquez and Karen Hauer.

Presentation

Dances

On average, dances last for approximately 90 seconds. Musical accompaniment is provided by an in-house band, led by Dave Arch.

Themed Weeks

The show includes themed weeks during the competition. Since Series 20, Movie Week falls on the third week, Halloween Week falls on the sixth week, Blackpool Week falls on the ninth week, and Musicals Week falls on the eleventh week and during the Quarterfinals. Series 22 introduced Icons Week, which originally fell on the seventh week and then on the fifth week in Series 23.

Results show

From series 1 to 4, the results show was shown live on Saturday night one hour after the performances.

As of series 5, the results show is recorded on the Saturday night directly after the live show and incorporates the result of the viewers' votes, which are completed by 21:30. This was confirmed by the official BBC website in 2008:

Throughout the Sunday results show, the presenters refer to "Saturday night" in reference to the main show due to the timing of the Sunday programme, and the outfits of Tess Daly, Claudia Winkleman and the judges are changed to present an illusion of a second live broadcast while the couples wore the same performance outfits.

For series 7, the Sunday results show was cancelled and returned to Saturday nights as a result of a revamp of the show. It then reverted to Sundays from series 8.

Dance-off

A new system called the dance-off, which takes place in the results show, was introduced in series 5. It continued until series 7, but did not return in series 8. It was then reinstated in series 10 and has remained a feature of the show ever since.

The dance-off consists of the two couples who received the lowest totals that week from the combined judges' scores and public vote. The aim of the dance-off is for the couples to convince the judges that they deserve to go through to the following week's competition. Before they attempt their dance a second time, the couples sometimes get advice from the judges. The judges then decide which couple remains in the competition based on the dance-off performances. If three of the judges agree that one of the couples should be saved, that couple is through to the following week's competition and the Head Judge's vote is not counted. If one couple has two votes and the other couple has one vote, then the deciding vote is cast by the head judge, originally Len Goodman and later Shirley Ballas. As of series 23, the deciding vote instead rotates weekly between each regular judge. The Monday after their elimination, the elminated couple appear on It Takes Two to discuss their time on the programme. Series 23 contestant Balvinder Sopal and her partner Julian Caillon hold the record for the most dance-off victories, having been saved by the judges on five occasions.

On two occasions, the dance-off was cancelled due to a couple in the bottom two being unable to dance due to injury. Firstly, in series 14, Anastacia sustained an injury and was unable to compete in the dance-off as a result. Under the rules of the show, the couple with the lowest combined total was eliminated, and Anastacia continued in the competition. The second occasion in which the dance-off was cancelled was in series 20, again due to an injury sustained by Tony Adams. Tess Daly announced on the results show that Adams had decided to withdraw from the competition as a result of being unable to compete in the dance-off.

''It Takes Two''

Main article: Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two{{!}}''Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two''

During the run of Strictly Come Dancing, Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two is broadcast each weeknight on BBC Two. The series was previously hosted by Claudia Winkleman but, due to her pregnancy in 2011, she had to leave the series, and was replaced by Zoe Ball, who hosted the show from series 9 to 18. Rylan Clark joined as co-host in series 17. In May 2021, it was announced that Ball would leave the show after 10 years, and on 10 June 2021, her replacement was announced to be former professional Janette Manrara.

The show features reviews of the performances during the previous Saturday's show and interviews with, and training footage of, the couples preparing for the next show. The judges and other celebrities also provide their opinions on how the couples are progressing. It Takes Two replaced Strictly Come Dancing on Three, hosted by Justin Lee Collins, which ran on BBC Three during the first series. Prior to 2010, BBC Two Scotland aired the programme on four nights only, running its own Gaelic-language programming on Thursdays instead.

Series overview

Kimberley Walsh & Pasha Kovalev Susanna Reid & Kevin Clifton Simon Webbe & Kristina Rihanoff Kellie Bright & Kevin Clifton Louise Redknapp & Kevin Clifton Debbie McGee & Giovanni Pernice Gemma Atkinson & Aljaž Škorjanec Faye Tozer & Giovanni Pernice Joe Sugg & Dianne Buswell Karim Zeroual & Amy Dowden Jamie Laing & Karen Hauer Maisie Smith & Gorka Márquez Helen Skelton & Gorka Márquez Molly Rainford & Carlos Gu Layton Williams & Nikita Kuzmin JB Gill & Lauren Oakley Tasha Ghouri & Aljaž Škorjanec George Clarke & Alexis Warr

Series 1 (2004)

Main article: Strictly Come Dancing series 1{{!}}''Strictly Come Dancing'' series 1

In May 2004, Strictly Come Dancing began its first series. This was the only series to air in the spring; all subsequent series aired in the autumn.

Series 2 (2004)

Main article: Strictly Come Dancing series 2{{!}}''Strictly Come Dancing'' series 2

The second series began in October 2004. A new spin-off show, Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, presented by Claudia Winkleman, premiered and has continued to air alongside each subsequent series on BBC Two.

Series 3 (2005)

Main article: Strictly Come Dancing series 3{{!}}Strictly Come Dancing series 3

The third series began in October 2005.

Series 4 (2006)

Main article: Strictly Come Dancing series 4{{!}}''Strictly Come Dancing'' series 4

The fourth series began in October 2006.

Series 5 (2007)

Main article: Strictly Come Dancing series 5{{!}}''Strictly Come Dancing'' series 5

The fifth series began in September 2007. The first programme was a preview of the new series before the competition began. In a change to the previous format, the results show was recorded on Saturday and broadcast on Sunday, rather than shown live later on Saturday. Additionally, the two couples at the bottom of the table after the public vote were subject to a dance-off, where they performed their routine again for the judges, who decided which couple would leave the competition.

Series 6 (2008)

Main article: Strictly Come Dancing series 6{{!}}''Strictly Come Dancing'' series 6

A sixth series was confirmed after the dancers' pay dispute ended in June 2008. The sixth series began in September with a behind-the-scenes look at the new series, while the first live show aired on 20 September.

Series 7 (2009)

Main article: Strictly Come Dancing series 7{{!}}''Strictly Come Dancing'' series 7

The seventh series began in September 2009. Alesha Dixon joined the judging panel, replacing Arlene Phillips, who moved to The One Show.

Series 8 (2010)

Main article: Strictly Come Dancing series 8{{!}}''Strictly Come Dancing'' series 8

The eighth series began in September 2010.

Series 9 (2011)

Main article: Strictly Come Dancing series 9{{!}}''Strictly Come Dancing'' series 9

The ninth series began in September 2011. The couples were paired up for the first time on the launch show. This was the last series to feature Alesha Dixon as a judge; she left the show to become a judge on Britain's Got Talent.

Zoe Ball replaced Claudia Winkleman as host of Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two due to Winkleman having just given birth.

Series 10 (2012)

Main article: Strictly Come Dancing series 10{{!}}''Strictly Come Dancing'' series 10

The tenth series began in September 2012. Darcey Bussell joined the judging panel, replacing Alesha Dixon.

Series 11 (2013)

Main article: Strictly Come Dancing series 11{{!}}''Strictly Come Dancing'' series 11

The eleventh series began in September 2013.

Series 12 (2014)

Main article: Strictly Come Dancing series 12{{!}}''Strictly Come Dancing'' series 12

The series started on 7 September 2014 with a launch show, followed by the live shows starting on 26 and 27 September. This series was the first not to be presented by Sir Bruce Forsyth after announcing his departure from the live shows on 4 April (he made his final regular appearance in this series' launch show). However, Forsyth would continue to present special editions of the show, such as Children in Need and Christmas specials. It was announced on 9 May that Claudia Winkleman would join the main show as co-presenter and that her duties would mirror the existing result show format, with Tess Daly assuming Forsyth's role as main presenter and Winkleman taking Daly's role as co-presenter.

It was announced on 1 June 2014 that professional dancers Artem Chigvintsev, James Jordan and Anya Garnis would not be returning for the new series, although Garnis would remain on the show's choreography team. It was also announced that Tristan MacManus and Joanne Clifton would be joining the show's professional line-up. It was then announced in August that Robin Windsor had withdrawn from the competition due to a back injury. Windsor was replaced by new professional Trent Whiddon. In week three, entertainer Donny Osmond joined the four regular judges, making the maximum score that week 50 points. Due to Winkleman's absence in weeks 6, 7 and 8, It Takes Two presenter Zoe Ball co-presented with Daly.

Series 13 (2015)

Main article: Strictly Come Dancing series 13{{!}}''Strictly Come Dancing'' series 13

Strictly Come Dancing returned for its thirteenth series with a launch show on 5 September 2015, followed by the live shows starting on 25 and 26 September.

On 23 April 2015, the list of professionals participating in the thirteenth series was revealed. Professionals from the last series who did not return included Trent Whiddon, Iveta Lukošiūtė and Joanne Clifton. Clifton would remain involved in group dances and would feature on Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two as a dance expert. Robin Windsor, absent from the previous series because of injury, also did not return for this series. Three new professional dancers were introduced: Russian dancer Gleb Savchenko (from the American, Australian and Russian versions of Dancing with the Stars), South African dancer Oti Mabuse (from Germany's Let's Dance) and Italian dancer Giovanni Pernice.

On 3 October 2015, the judges performed The Strictly, a signature dance made up of some iconic moves from the show's history for fans to do at home when they hear the theme tune; subsequently, a tutorial for the dance was made available on the show's website and iPlayer hosted by Natalie Lowe and Tristan MacManus.

Series 13 was the last to feature Tristan MacManus, Kristina Rihanoff, Ola Jordan, Gleb Savchenko and Aliona Vilani as professional dancers. Jordan later announced that she had quit the show, claiming that the results were "fixed". Vilani announced three days after winning that she was leaving the show; however, she participated in the 2016 live tour. Savchenko announced that he was leaving the show on 28 June 2016.

Series 14 (2016)

Main article: Strictly Come Dancing series 14{{!}}''Strictly Come Dancing'' series 14

Strictly Come Dancing returned for its fourteenth series with a launch show on 3 September 2016 on BBC One. This was Len Goodman's final series as head judge.

On 28 June 2016, the list of professionals who were returning for the fourteenth series was revealed. Professionals from the last series who would not return included the previous series' champion and two-time professional winner of the show Aliona Vilani, former professional winner Ola Jordan and two-time professional finalist Kristina Rihanoff, as well as Gleb Savchenko and Tristan MacManus. Joanne Clifton returned after a one-series hiatus. The leaving professionals were replaced by Katya Jones, Burn the Floor dancer Gorka Márquez and former Dancing with the Stars US troupe member Oksana Platero. On 26 July 2016, three more new professional dancers (AJ Pritchard, Chloe Hewitt and Neil Jones, husband of new dancer Katya) were announced. Hewitt and Neil Jones did not partner a celebrity as the professionals outnumbered the celebrities, although they were still in group dances and appeared on It Takes Two.

Series 15 (2017)

Main article: Strictly Come Dancing series 15{{!}}''Strictly Come Dancing'' series 15

On 4 May 2017, it was announced that series 7 finalist Natalie Lowe would be departing the show. Five days later, on 9 May, Shirley Ballas announced that she would be replacing Len Goodman as head judge. On 21 June 2017, Oksana Platero and the previous series' professional champion, Joanne Clifton, announced that they would also be leaving. The new professionals replacing them were Australian Open champion Dianne Buswell, Welsh dancer Amy Dowden, and Ukrainian two-time world champion Nadiya Bychkova. On 7 August, Nick Grimshaw announced that Mollie King was the first celebrity known to be taking part in the series. This was the first series to be broadcast since Sir Bruce Forsyth's death in August that year.

Series 16 (2018)

Main article: Strictly Come Dancing series 16{{!}}''Strictly Come Dancing'' series 16

On 30 January 2018, it was announced that Brendan Cole would be leaving the show. On 30 May 2018, the full lineup of professional dancers was announced. Chloe Hewitt left the series and three new professional dancers ( Graziano Di Prima, Johannes Radebe and Luba Mushtuk) were announced to be joining the show. This meant that there were 18 professional dancers, the most in the show's history.