Strictly enthusiasts are eagerly ticking off the days until the show’s seventh Christmas special, which is slated for a festive December broadcast – with one celebrity already securing their spot in the line-up.
Before Jamie Borthwick hit the Strictly Come Dancing stage alongside professional dancer Michelle Tsiakkas, he had gracefully clinched the Silver Star trophy dancing with Nancy Xu, who sadly recently exited the show alongside Coronation Street‘s Shayne Ward.
However, in December, we’ll see a new set of celebrities vying to pirouette to victory on BBC One’s Christmas special, hoping to follow in EastEnders star Jamie’s footsteps.
Fleur East, hosting the Strictly spin-off programme It Takes Two this Monday (November 11, 2024), couldn’t contain her excitement as she halted the show to reveal that comedian Josh Widdicombe would be joining next month’s festive dance extravaganza.
At 41 years old, Josh is widely recognised from Channel 4’s comedy panel The Last Leg, seen with Adam Hills and Alex Brooker, as well as presenting the comical Dave panel show Hypothetical, reports the Mirror.
Josh will peform in the Strictly Christmas special alongside professional partner Karen Hauer.
“I have been toying with it for years, the Christmas special and then I thought I’d do it this year and now this is the most scared I have been on a TV show,” Josh admitted to Fleur after the host made the announcement.
Voicing his trepidation, the comedian expressed: “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?”
But will he be able to win over judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas, who along with the studio audience votes, will determine the Christmas special winner?
Sunday night’s episode of the BBC show saw Shayne and Nancy exit the competition after performing their rumba to Cyndi Lauper’s Time After Time once more.
They were up against Wynne Evans, 52, and Katya Jones, 35, in the dance-off, who were saved after repeating their American smooth to Mika’s Grace Kelly.
The judges were divided on who to eliminate, leaving head judge Shirley, 64, with the final say. She opted to save radio host Wynne over actor Shayne, telling them: “Both of you had hiccups […] but one of you displayed a much more powerful and joyous routine for me.”
Strictly’s It Takes Two airs weekdays at 6.30pm on BBC Two.