Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special: what time does it start and full cast? Explained
Strictly Come Dancing has a Christmas treat for fans! 🕺💃📺
- Christmas is coming to the Strictly ballroom.
- Six celebs will be putting on their dancing shoes.
- But when exactly can you expect to tune in?
Strictly Come Dancing is about to put the fab-u-lous in Christmas. The iconic show might have recently crowned its 2025 winner, but it is back for a festive treat.
Six celebrities will be hotstepping-it onto the famous ballroom floor to keep you entertained this holiday. Might even help you burn-off a few of the calories from the Christmas feast!
But who can you expect to see taking part in the special? Here’s all you need to know:
What time is the Strictly Christmas special on?
Once again Strictly Come Dancing will kick-off the BBC’s Christmas evening schedule. It is set to be broadcast at 5.30pm sharp-ish today (December 25) and will run for over an hour.
It follows The Weakest Link and once the Strictly festive episode is over, viewers can tuck into a Christmas version of Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel.
Who is on the Strictly Christmas special?
The pairings for the festive episode were announced by the BBC just before the end of the main series. It includes some big name gets for the broadcast.
- Presenter and TV personality Scarlett Moffatt will be dancing with Vito Coppola
- Singer and cook Melanie Blatt will be dancing with Kai Widdrington
- Rugby player, athlete, broadcaster, and advocate for the deaf community Jodie Ounsley aka Fury with be dancing with Neil Jones
- Actor Nicholas Bailey will be dancing with Luba Mushtuk
- Award-winning stand-up comedian, actor and podcaster Babatunde Aléshé is dancing with Nancy Xu
- Irish singer-songwriter Brian McFadden dances with Michelle Tsiakkas
Christmas Special Song and Dance List
- Scarlett Moffatt and Vito Coppola - Cha Cha Cha to DJ Play A Christmas Song by Cher
- Jodie Ounsley aka Fury and Neil Jones - Street/Commercial to Red Christmas by Kylie Cantrall
- Nicholas Bailey and Luba Mushtuk - Viennese Waltz to It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams
- Melanie Blatt and Kai Widdrington - American Smooth to Santa Baby by The Pussycat Dolls
- Brian McFadden and Michelle Tsiakkas - Jive to Run Rudolph Run by Kelly Clarkson
- Babatunde Aléshé and Nancy Xu - Charleston to Santa Claus is Coming to Town by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters
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.
Is this Tess and Claudia’s last episode?
It will be a bittersweet Christmas special on the ballroom floor because it will be the last appearances of presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. The duo announced their departure earlier in the autumn and it was confirmed that their final episode would be the festive one.
Perhaps it might be sensible to have a hanky close by, just in case things get a bit teary. The end of an era!
Remind yourself of the elimination order in the main Strictly Come Dancing series. Here’s all you need to know.