With only three weeks to go before the Strictly Christmas special hits our screens, it seems the winner has already been outed online. The festive instalment, like the regular weekly results shows, is taped in advance. This year’s lineup boasts a range of celebs, from a beloved soap actor to a Drag Race sensation.
The tinsel-covered production took place Tuesday night at Elstree Studios, where pros Amy Dowden and Nikita Kuzmin joined the celeb contestants. Six pairs entered the ballroom hoping to wow the judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, and head honcho Shirley Ballas with their moves.
After each couple showcased their dance, the studio audience decided who deserved the festive title. Although whispers of the winner have begun to circle across social media since the early hours of the morning, we have chosen not to disclose the winner.
According to the Mirror, the line-up shining under the disco ball includes EastEnders’ Tamzin Outhwaite, broadcasting’s Vogue Williams, Drag Race’s own Tayce, athletic luminary Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, and comedian Josh Widdicombe.
Fans are dismayed over the leaked results: “I really don’t want to know,” bemoaned one, while another declared: “Can’t believe it.” A third remarked: “I was going to try and avoid the Christmas special result,” and yet another voiced their let-down: “Wanted XXX to win … but congratulations to XXX and XXX.”
Amy Dowden, the professional dancer, is set for a comeback on the show following her exit last month due to an injury sustained ahead of the live episode on October 26. The setback came as a blow, especially as Amy has been battling breast cancer.
She had no choice but to heed medical advice and take an indefinite break to allow her injury to heal. Lauren Oakley has taken over her dancing duties with star JB Gill in her absence
. In other news, the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special faced its own drama when 31-year-old professional dancer Carlos Gu was struck down with a serious ankle injury, forcing him out of the festive show. Originally paired with Vogue Williams, Carlos has now been replaced by fellow dancer Gorka Marquez.
The programme issued a statement: “Unfortunately, professional dancer Carlos Gu has sustained an ankle injury and cannot participate in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special alongside contestant Vogue Williams. Fellow professional dancer Gorka Marquez will step in for him and dance with Vogue. We all wish him a speedy recovery.”
During production, Vogue and her spouse, Spencer Matthews, invited Carlos into their home and even mentioned him on their podcast. Spencer humorously admitted he felt a bit usurped, quipping: “I got to meet the great Carlos who is stealing my wife away from me, all day, every day.”
Vogue playfully responded: “You must be delighted.” Sharing a humorous story about Carlos’ visit, Vogue disclosed how Spencer couldn’t resist parading around topless. She said: “When Carlos was over yesterday and Spenny obviously kept walking around with his top off. And Carlos was like ‘does he love himself’ and I was like ‘yeah, obviously, what do you think’. We had a great laugh, you’re so mad for yourself.”
Continuing to rib her partner, she remarked: “You always do that when people come over to the house, you make sure that somehow you are seen with no top on. It’s the strangest thing, you do it all of the time.”
Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special will air on BBC One on Christmas Day.