The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special is back.
And as the Ballroom is once again transformed into a magical winter wonderland, the final celebrity behind the all-star advent calendar doors this year has been revealed.
On Strictly: It Takes Two on BBC Two and iPlayer on Wednesday night, Billy Monger was announced as the final celebrity included in 2024’s Christmas line up.
He will be paired with Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova.
Billy is a racing driver and TV presenter and has scored podiums in British Formula 3 and followed in Lewis Hamilton‘s footsteps by winning the Pau Grand Prix in European Formula 3.
He was critically injured in a high-speed collision while racing in Formula 4 which left him with both legs amputated.
Despite this, Billy refused to give up on his racing career, lobbying to allow both disabled and non-disabled drivers to race alongside each other.
On Strictly: It Takes Two on BBC Two and iPlayer on Thursday night, Billy Monger was announced as the final celebrity included in 2024’s Strictly Christmas line up
He was critically injured in a high-speed collision while racing in Formula 4 which left him with both legs amputated
Billy won the BBC Sports Personality Helen Rollason Award and had a BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary made about his story. Billy is also a presenter and pundit on Channel 4’s coverage of Formula One and the Paralympics.
He recently beat the world record for a double amputee in the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii – the toughest endurance event in the world – a BBC documentary on this is being made.
Billy Monger said: ‘I’ve spent the last 12 months training 20 hours a week for an Ironman world record attempt, but the thought of donning sequins in front of Craig Revel Horwood fills me with a fear I’ve never experienced before.
‘This is about as far from my comfort zone as it can get! My family are big Strictly fans, so I’m doing it for them and to raise awareness for what I’m doing for Comic Relief next year.
‘I’m just hoping my leg doesn’t fall off mid-dance!’
In the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, each of the six couples will perform a festive fuelled routine in the hope of impressing the judges, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Head Judge Shirley Ballas, and the voting studio audience.
But who will emerge the Christmas star of the evening, and lift the sought after Christmas trophy?
Despite this, Billy refused to give up on his racing career, lobbying to allow both disabled and non-disabled drivers to race alongside each other
On Wednesday Tamzin Outhwaite (seen) was the fifth celebrity to join the line-up
Other stars who have been announced include Gladiator star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, 36, and Vogue Williams
On Wednesday Tamzin Outhwaite was the fifth celebrity to join the line-up.
The EastEnders actress, 54, was the penultimate star to be announced for the show, which will air on Christmas Day.
Tamzin and Billy join Gladiator star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, drag queen Tayce, comedian Josh Widdicombe and Vogue Williams on the show.
Tamzin, who has also starred as DCI Sasha Miller in the BBC’s New Tricks, is paired with Strictly professional Nikita Kuzmin.
Tamzin said: ‘I’m so excited to swap the stage for the Strictly Ballroom this Christmas. I’m used to performing in front of a live audience, but this is a whole new experience.
‘I can’t wait to immerse myself in all things glitter and sequins, let’s hope the judges show Nikita and I some extra festive cheer this Christmas!’
On Monday night’s Strictly‘s It Takes Two, Harry, also known as Nitro, was announced to be taking part in the 2024 lineup alongside professional dancer Nancy Xu.
Harry boasts a host of professional sporting achievements, including competing as a team GB Commonwealth and World gold medallist sprinter.
The athlete has competed at the highest level in the UK since his youth and has gone on to win gold 4 x in the men’s 100m European Championships and at the Commonwealth Games.
Harry said: ‘STRICTLY….ARE YOU READY?! Nitro’s blasting onto the Ballroom floor this Christmas!
‘I’m swapping my trainers for dancing shoes, and trust me, I’m bringing the power, the energy and the moves!
‘This December I’m gonna light up that dancefloor and crank the Christmas spirit all the way UP. Let’s do this!’
Vogue will be paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, Josh is partnered with professional dancer Karen Hauer, while Tayce is paired with Kai Widdrington.
The Irish star has presented documentaries, hosted studio shows and appeared in her own reality show.
She is often seen presenting the fashion and red carpet segments on ITV’s Lorraine.
Vogue is married to former Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews and the pair co-host the podcast Spencer And Vogue together.
The presenter is no stranger to the ballroom as she previously took part in the Australian version of Strictly, Dancing With The Stars, in 2012 where she was third eliminated.
Welsh-born Tayce shot to fame as a finalist on season two of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.
She has often been given the moniker as the Naomi Campbell of Drag and models across the world in runway fashion shows.
She has also done presenting stints on BBC Radio 1, MTV and Sky and even released her own rap single.
It comes after last Monday Josh joked that he may be ‘about to ruin’ Christmas for everyone with his participation, while Tayce confessed she was honoured to be the first drag artist to take to the Strictly dancefloor.
Speaking about the announcement, Josh said: ‘I am utterly terrified this will end in humiliation and worried I’m going to be so bad I will ruin Christmas for the nation. Why have I done this?’
Fans of Strictly and Josh alike went wild for the news, taking to X shortly after the announcement to share their delight he would be taking part.
They said: ‘Josh Widdicombe Strictly oh I’ve PRAYED for days like these’; ‘Oh my god Josh Widdicombe is doing Christmas Strictly this is huge’; ‘Josh Widdicombe is going to be on the Christmas Special of Strictly oh my god’;
Tayce was announced as the second celebrity for the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special
Josh Widdicombe was revealed as the first star to be taking part
Josh Widdicombe on the Strictly Special with Karen!! We looove to see it’; ‘Josh Widdicombe is going to be on the Christmas Special of Strictly oh my god’.
Over the course of his career, Josh has become known for hosting The Last Leg alongside Alex Brooker and Adam Hills for Channel 4 and has also appeared on the likes of A League Of Their Own, Have I Got News For You and Taskmaster.
Josh is currently best known for his popular parenting podcast, Parenting Hell, which he hosts alongside fellow funnyman Rob Beckett.
Josh and Rob release episodes twice a week and typically one of the episodes will include a celebrity parent who they interview for the show.
Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day.