Strictly Come Dancing’s line-up for dazzling Christmas special as one star makes history-Sabrina Barr, Tori Brazier and Emily Bashforth-Entertainment – Metro

The Strictly Christmas special is shaping up nicely! (Picture: BBC)

The first three celebrities taking part in the Strictly Come Dancing 2024 Christmas special have been confirmed – and the latest is a very exciting edition.

Vogue Williams is set to join the dazzling cast in a totally new venture for the TV star and model, as confirmed on spin-off show It Takes Two.

Known for her presenting work, podcasting, DJing, and fitness expertise, Vogue, 39, will be paired with Carlos Gu, whose previous Strictly partners include Molly Rainford and Angela Scanlon.

The Irish star said she’s ‘so excited’ to join the Strictly family, with training already underway for her routine to Rock-In Robin by Bobby Day.

‘Carlos would have more of a chance of winning a Nobel Prize than turning me into a good dancer but I am determined to try my very best!’, she joked.

‘I’m loving it so far. Bring on the ballroom floor.’

Appearing on It Takes Two after the news was confirmed, Vogue told host Janette Manrara: ‘The only problem is, everyone thinks that I look like I’m a good dancer, and I really am not!’

Vogue Williams is a Strictly gal now! (Picture: Mike Marsland/WireImage)

Vogue’s broadcasting work ranges from presenting documentaries and hosting studio shows to appearing in her own reality series.

She is often seen presenting fashion and red carpet segments on ITV’s Lorraine, and is an established podcaster known for My Therapist Ghosted Me, Spencer and Vogue, and Never Live It Down. 

Vogue, whose husband is Spencer Matthews, was a regular presenter friend on Channel 4’s Steph’s Packed Lunch, hosted Virgin Media’s Saturday night extravaganza, and fronted her own Heart Radio weekend show.  

Her Strictly announcement comes after history was made earlier this week.

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK finalist Tayce will become the first drag artist to take part in the BBC dance show after she was announced for the Christmas episode, while the first confirmed participant was comedian Josh Widdicombe.

The Wales-born radio presenter and model said she ‘cannot wait to ‘sleigh’ on the Strictly ballroom floor’ where she will be paired with professional dancer Kai Widdrington.

Tayce is ready to ‘sleigh’ on the Strictly dancefloor this Christmas (Picture: BBC)

Tayce, 30, who was a finalist in series two of the drag-based reality series and has even released a rap single called Swagzilla, is also the child of former Wham! bass player Roger Radix.

Speaking about appearing on the show, Tayce promised that she and Kai were ‘going to dance for [their] lives’.

‘In all seriousness, it’s an incredible honour to be the first drag artist to be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing. I hope I do all of my Drag Race and Welsh fans proud.

‘Sign me up for all the glitz, glam and disco balls.’

Despite Strictly never having a drag artist as a contestant before, actor Layton Williams performed in drag as Betty Rizzo from the musical Grease with professional partner Nikita Kuzmin to the song There Are Worse Things I Could Do, during the show’s 2023 series.

She is the first drag artist to take part in Strictly (Picture: BBC)

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK judge Michelle Visage also appeared on Strictly in 2019, where she was partnered with Giovanni Pernice and was the eighth celebrity to be eliminated.

Tayce made a dramatic entrance onto It Takes Two on Tuesday night, where her participation was announced, with ex-pro Kevin Clifton twirling her over to host Fleur East.

When asked how ready she was, the lip-sync assassin quipped with a smile: ‘Oh Mama, I think the question is are they ready for me?’

She also promised to bring ‘the electric, the drama, the je ne sais quoi, the passion and the fashion – so get ready, darling’.

Tayce will be partnered with pro dancer Kai Widdrington, who danced with Angela Rippon last year (Picture: PA)

Along with her drag and music work, his Christmas partner Tayce has presented a number of BBC radio shows and has hosted MTV’s Queerpiphany alongside model Munroe Bergdorf.

As for dancer Kai, 29, he has been a pro on Strictly since 2021.

He shot straight to the final in his first series, paired with Big Brother host AJ Odudu, but they were forced to pull out of the competition after she injured her ankle.

In 2022, he and Loose Women panellist Kaye Adams were the first to be eliminated, while he managed seventh place with Angela Rippon last year and wasn’t partnered with a celebrity for this current series.

Comedian Josh Widdicombe is also throwing his dancing shoes on! (Picture: BBC/PA Wire)

Meanwhile, funnyman Josh is also hoping he can bring festive cheer on Christmas Day with his pro partner, Karen Hauer.

The announcement about Josh’s involvement in the Strictly special was also made It Takes Two, with the Taskmaster star admitting that he felt ‘terrified’ about the task that lay before him on Monday’s episode.

‘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,’ he said on the BBC Two programme.

‘Why have I done this?’

We’re sure Josh, 41, is going to have a jolly good time, especially with Karen, 42, at his side!

Karen Hauer was partnered up with Paul Merson on the latest series of Strictly (Picture: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire)

This year, Karen was partnered up with former professional footballer Paul Merson on the show, making it through to the fifth week before they were eliminated.

In the past, she made it to second place with Jamie Laing, and fourth place with Mark Wright and Chris Ramsey.

Josh is most often seen on The Last Leg, which he’s co-presented with Adam Hills and Alex Brooker since 2012.

He’s also appeared on TV shows including Mock the Week, his own eponymous BBC Three sitcom titled Josh, and he won the first-ever series of Taskmaster in 2015.

Josh with his The Last Leg castmates Alex Brooker and Adam Hills at the Bafta TV Awards (Picture: Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

Jamie Borthwick and Nancy Xu won the Strictly Christmas special last year (Picture: PA)

The comedian appeared on Celebrity Gogglebox last month with fellow comic and actor Stephen Merchant in a special episode for Stand Up To Cancer.

We’re yet to find out who the rest of the Strictly Christmas 2024 competitors are – with four more stars yet to be announced – but we can’t wait for their identities to be revealed.

They’ll be following in the footsteps of EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick, who won last year’s special with Nancy Xu and is currently a celebrity on the main Strictly Come Dancing.

Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday at 6.45pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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