Strictly Christmas special: FULL line-up revealed
We’re feeling all festive 🎄
Last updated 27th Nov 2021
Strictly Come Dancing has announced all of the celebrities who will be heading to the dancefloor in the Christmas special to be crowned the Christmas champion 2021.
Rylan Clark-Neal confirmed the news on this week's episodes of Strictly: It Takes Two.
He shared: "It's official – the Strictly Christmas special is coming back to your screens, guys.
"And I'm going to be exclusively revealing the first two celebs taking part."
The first two celebrities were revealed on Monday: First Dates star Fred Sirieix, who will be partnered with Diane Buswell and Repair Shop presenter Jay Blades, who is in the professional hands of Luba Mushtuk. The pair are the first of six celebrities that will be competing on the festive dancefloor.
On Tuesday, Rylan announced that former Great British Bake Off presenter, actress and writer Mel Giedroyc was the third celebrity who has signed up for a spin on the dance-floor. She will be partnered with professional dancer Neil Jones.
Mel said: “I don’t think I’ve been this excited about Christmas since I got my first guinea-pig from Santa in 1978”
On Thursday, pop singer Anne-Marie, who will be partnered with Graziano Di Prima and journalist Moira Stuart OBE, who is in the safe hands of Aljaž Škorjanec joined the line-up, with Anne-Marie admitting that she couldn't "turn down a dance with Graziano!"
The sixth and final celebrity was then announced as Adrian Chiles on Friday 26th November.
Check out the celebs taking to the dance floor for the Strictly Christmas special 2021:
Jay Blades
Jay Blades MBE is a modern furniture restorer and presenter. He is best known for presenting The Repair Shop, Jay's Yorkshire Workshop; Money for Nothing and Jay Blades' Home Fix.
Fred Sirieix
Fred Sirieix is a TV personality, author and maître d'hôtel, known for his role on Channel 4's First Dates and the spin-off show, First Dates Hotel.
Mel Giedroyc
Mel Giedroyc is an actress, comedian, writer, television and radio presenter. Famously she has presented BBC's Children In Need, Eurovision and The Great British Bake Off with comedy partner Sue Perkins.
Anne-Marie
The award-winning pop singer is famous for her hits '2002' and 'To Be Young'. In 2021, she dropped her second studio album, 'Therapy'.
Moira Stuart
Moira Stuart is a multi-award-winning newsreader, and programme presenter on TV and radio. Her career in radio and television spans five decades.
Adrian Chiles
TV presenter Adrian Chiles was the final celeb announced for the festive line-up!
Fred revealed: "I absolutely love Christmas so I’m delighted to be taking part in the Strictly Christmas special and to be partnered with the magnificent Dianne. I hope my dance moves bring some Christmas joy to everybody watching at home and don’t make the judges say “Bah, Humbug!”
Jay also said: “I’m super excited, times two! One, because I’m going to learn a new dance apart from the ‘Dad’ dance, and two because I’m going to be on Strictly! It’s a show that I’ve always admired, and I can’t wait to see how I perform!”
The celebrities have already been training for the big day, with Jay admitting that he was “aching” already.
Speaking to Rylan on It Takes Two, he said: "I never knew I had muscles in my toes.
"My toes are killing me! Did you know you have muscles in your toes? It's unbelievable!"
Another star of the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2021 will be revealed on Strictly: It Takes Two tonight.
Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special will air on BBC One on Christmas Day.
Celebrities who turned down Strictly Come Dancing:
Michelle Keegan
Despite bosses being eager to get Michelle Keegan on the show, the former Coronation Street actress had to turn down the proposition due to her ITV contract at the time.
She's since revealed she's been asked a number of times to appear, but she's always turned it down because she's too 'nervous' with the live audience.
However, she was in the audience when her husband Mark Wright appeared in 2014.
Noel Gallagher
Noel Gallagher was approached by bosses not long after Oasis split. However, much to EVERYBODY'S disappointment, the singer turned them down. Now that Oasis have reunited, we very much doubt we will see Noel on the show anytime soon!
Jodie Comer
Killing Eve actress Jodie Comer was reportedly asked to sign up for the show in 2018, but the Liverpudlian said she didn't want to 'embarrass' herself!
Fast-forward to 2020 and Jodie was also favourite to appear, but that didn't happen either!
Louis Walsh
After being axed from The X Factor by Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh was offered a slot on Strictly. He said in an interview at the time, "The day before the call from The X Factor, I got a call to be a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing. I thought, 'I'd love to do it, just to annoy Simon'."
Piers Morgan
There's no doubt that controversial TV host Piers Morgan would get people talking on the show. But he's previously turned it down saying, "They've offered me vast sums of money to go and humiliate myself on national TV. But I prefer to do it with a bottle of Jack Daniel's in the privacy of my own home."
Mel C
Former Spice Girls singer Mel C reportedly turned down an offer for Strictly due to the 's--t pay'. She said, "The problem is if you do Strictly it's so high profile and you'll find yourself in the news every day. And the money's s---."
Nadiya Hussain
She's the Queen of Bake-Off, but star baker Nadiya Hussain turned down a spot on the 2018 series after admitting she likes to enjoy the show with her family.
Sir Patrick Stewart
Actor Sir Patrick Stewart admitted he would have taken part in the show in the early years, but not so much now.
David Harewood
Homeland actor David Harewood turned down the show in 2013, the reason... because he didn't fancy wearing spandex!
Maya Jama
Love Island host Maya Jama was a firm-favourite to appear on the 2018 series of Strictly. However, Maya turned it down after admitting "now isn't the right time".
Pippa Middleton
After stealing the show at her sister Kate Middleton's wedding to Prince William, Strictly bosses were keen to sign up Pippa, even offering her a five-figure sum. However, she declined.
Bradley Wiggins
Olympic legend Bradley Wiggins is used to wearing tight-fitting clothing for his sport, but the cyclist didn't seem keen on sparkly lycra!
Mel Giedroyc
Former host of The Great British Bake-Off Mel Giedroyc is such a big fan of Strictly, she admitted she didn't want to 'spoil it' by taking part.
Alan Titchmarsh
Popular TV personality Alan Titchmarsh has turned down the show a number of times, adding, "I'd rather be either interviewing someone or teaching people how to grow things or whatever".
Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill
After her amazing success for Team GB at the Olympics, Strictly bosses were keen to get Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill on the show.
However, she turned it down, adding, "I've been asked to do it a few times and I love watching it, but I'm not sure. I would be terrible. I'm not ready for Strictly. I'll stick to my cycle and a bit of running here and there, I think."
Noel Edmonds
Former Deal or no Deal host Noel Edmonds turned down a slot on the show due to the famous 'Strictly curse'.
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