Strictly Come Dancing 'having all-stars Christmas special'
Strictly Come Dancing bosses are set to welcome back former contestants for this year's Christmas special, according to reports.
Strictly Come Dancing is reportedly having an all-stars Christmas special.
The BBC Latin and ballroom dance show has not welcomed back past contestants since the 2019 festive special, in which performer Debbie McGee, now 68, and Kevin Clifton, now 44, won.
But bosses reportedly want to revisit the format to build on the success of the "alumni dance" during last year's Blackpool episode, which saw singers Ashley Roberts, 45, and Jay McGuiness, 36, and actors Layton Williams, 32, and Danny Mac, 38, return for a group performance.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "Strictly love sprinkling some magic over their Christmas show – and what better way than bringing back some old favourites.
"It’s been seven years since they last did this on the festive episode and after seeing how well the alumni dance went at Blackpool last year, they’re bringing it back this Christmas.
"They’re currently casting for six previous stars to return to the dance floor."
Bosses have a whole host of big names to choose from for the Christmas special, which is filmed weeks before it airs on December 25.
The source continued: "Loads of names are in their sights, with Denise Van Outen, Georgia May Foote and Maisie Smith all big names who could feature on the bookers’ Christmas wish-lists.
"The plan would be that each of the returning celebs would perform a brand new festive-themed routine with a professional partner, as well as taking part in opening and closing group numbers.
"The winner, as ever, will be handed the famous Christmas star trophy.
"It’s going to be a mammoth show, which is going to be filmed in December before being shown on Christmas Day."
Ian Waite, 55, who was a pro on Strictly Come Dancing from 2004 until 2010, recently called for an all-stars series of the BBC show.
In August 2025, he exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "It’s definitely something that they could look into because there’s so much nostalgia.
"Everybody loves the old pros from Strictly and the nostalgia that goes around it with certain couples, let’s say Darren (Bennett) and Jill Halfpenny and me and Zoe Ball, Vincent (Simone) with Rachel Stevens.
"There’s a lot of couples that could possibly come back and yeah, an all-stars would be a great thing to do I think."
