Saturday night brings the twelfth Halloween Week Special to the Strictly ballroom and no doubt there’ll be some spooktacular performances in 2022’s trick-or-treat extravaganza. Without Giovanni, undisputed King of Halloween (since he’s topped every spooky special since joining the show in 2015), the floor’s wide open for a new star to shine but in the meantime celebrate some past highlights with our Halloween Hall of Fame.

With 120 supernatural dances to choose from, we’ve focused here on ones that topped the judges’ leaderboard. So many others have been memorable – either for the fantastical hair, make-up and costume transformations (Pixie Lott was unrecognisable in her 2014 Tango), or for the cute and kooky character-driven choreography (remember Tilly and Nikita’s 2021 Cha Cha Cha).

Others are hard to forget for different reasons; we’re thinking Ann Widdecombe being dragged around the floor (“like a hoover” according to Aleesha) by Anton in their 2010 Paso Doble! What unites them all is the creativity, originality and dedication of everyone behind the scenes as well as those out on the dancefloor. Halloween Week really showcases all this amazing skill and attention to detail, which is what makes Strictly so scarily special.

Enjoy this jaunt down Strictly Halloween Week’s Memory Lane – and remember to let us know which performances had you spellbound in the Comments below. Happy Halloween everyone!

Series 8 2010

Scott & Natalie – Viennese Waltz

• Scott Maslen & Natalie Lowe
• Scored: 39
• Music: I Put A Spell On You by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins

Certainly a spellbinding performance for Strictly’s first Halloween special – on the night it was the highest scoring Week 5 dance ever and remained in the top spot for Week 1-6 scores for five further seasons until Ore and Joanne scored 39 in their Week 4 Jive (2016).

A truly elegant Viennese Waltz, no gimmicks just pure style. Still think it’s a real shame Scott and Natalie went out in the Semi-Final.

Series 9 2011

Jason & Kristina – Quickstep

• Jason Donovan & Kristina Rihanoff
• Scored: 37
• Music: Bewitched by Steve Lawrence

Bruno described this as “bewitchingly brilliant and slightly barmy”.

We totally agree and Aleesha awarded a 10 even with a mistake. Loved Jason’s zany under-a-spell style and his green eye make-up too! Kristina had a cute Samantha nose wiggle and her choreography here was spot on.

Series 10 2012

Louis & Flavia – Tango

• Louis Smith & Flavia Cacace
• Scored: 35
• Music: Disturbia by Rihanna

Louis is probably best remembered for other dances (remember his Showdance and Charleston) but this was, according to Darcey “spookily good” even if Craig did moan about his thumb sticking up. (This usually means there’s not much for Craig to criticise).

His vampiric zombie character, combined with powerful but controlled moves, hinted he’d be a serious contender. And he was.

Series 11 2013

Natalie & Artem – Viennese Waltz

• Natalie Gumede & Artem Chigvintsev
• Scored: 38
• Music: Devil in Me by Natalie Duncan

Something about the elegance and flow of Viennese Waltz marries well with the more romantic Halloween numbers and this was no exception.

Natalie was a standout from Week 1, never scored below a 31 in the whole competition and topped the leaderboard 10 weeks out of 13.  She was the judges’ choice in the Final too but lost out to Abbey and Aljaž in the public vote. Unlucky.

Series 12 2014

Frankie & Kevin – Tango

• Frankie Bridge & Kevin Clifton
• Scored: 37
• Music: Defying Gravity from ‘Wicked’

A dramatic Tango – given a 10 by Bruno – which ends with Frankie ‘defying gravity’ as she’s lifted with her broomstick up to the rafters.

More superb green make-up (a Halloween Week signature style) and is that Jason’s green Bewitched costume that Kevin’s wearing? Well done to the BBC, clearly practising Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Series 13 2015

Georgia & Giovanni – Tango

• Georgia May Foote & Giovanni Pernice
• Scored: 35
• Music: Ghostbusters: Ray Parker Jr from ‘Ghostbusters’

The reign of Halloween King Giovanni begins here – and it’s the 3rd Tango in our Hall of Fame already.

A fast, focused performance with tonnes of Tango content and a little bit of green glitter lipstick. These two were a perfect pairing and finished runners-up to Jay and Aliona in the Final.

Series 14 2016

Laura & Giovanni – Tango

• Laura Whitmore & Giovanni Pernice
• Scored: 36
• Music: Paint It Black: The Rolling Stones

Claudia & AJ – American Smooth

• Claudia Fragapane & AJ Pritchard
• Scored: 36
• Music: Black Magic by Little Mix

In 2016 the top score was shared by two couples, and yes one of these was Giovanni, and yes he was dancing a Tango, this time with Laura. It was the highest score the pair received, but they were eliminated the following week.

We mustn’t forget Claudia and AJ’s American Smooth, which was classy with some lovely lifts and yes, green costumes made yet another appearance. This was one of 5 scores of 36 they earned and they went on to reach the Semi-Final where they were eliminated.

Series 15 2017

Debbie & Giovanni – Charleston

• Debbie McGee & Giovanni Pernice
• Score: 39
• Music: Frankie by Sister Sledge

Gio again, with a super synchronised partner in Debbie, dancing a Frankenstein-themed Charleston. This had the lot: sharp kicks and flicks, a cheeky costume change for Debbie, some (over-) ambitious lifts and yet more green make-up (Gio this time).

Series 16 2018

Faye & Giovanni – Couple’s Choice

• Faye Tozer & Giovanni Pernice
• Score: 39
• Music: Fever by Peggy Lee

Ashley & Pasha – Charleston

• Ashley Roberts & Pasha Kovalev
• Score: 39
• Music: Witch Doctor by Don Lang

Two treats topping the leaderboard here – the judges couldn’t split them and neither can we. Faye and Giovanni sizzled as super cool skeletons in shades (watch out for the bit where Faye has to adjust hers – maybe this is why Craig gave a 9?). Ashley and Pasha’s Charleston feels a bit overlooked with the all focus on Gio – it’s super fun, full of non-stop Charleston action, they look adorable together and Ashley really shines. A very contrasting pair of brilliant performances both worth a second look.

Series 17 2019

Michelle & Giovanni – Foxtrot

• Michelle Visage & Giovanni Pernice
• Score: 39
• Music: Theme from the Addams Family by Vic Mizzy

Michelle was fantastic here as Morticia Addams – perfect costume, make-up and characterisation and good to see a somewhat saucy Foxtrot topping the scores.

They made it to Week 9 where another character-driven dance (a Marie Antoinette-styled Couple’s Choice) saw them eliminated. Never fear though, it’s onwards and upwards for Gio’s show-stealing Halloween appearances (see Series 19 below).

Series 19 2021

Rose & Giovanni – Tango

• Rose Ayling-Ellis & Giovanni Pernice
• Score: 40
• Music: Shivers by Ed Sheeran

Rose was outstanding in this dance – it feels like the first time Gio is outshone by his partner and he’s an even better dancer after this.

Are there other Halloween dances that deserved a perfect score? Probably.

Are there other Halloween dances we loved more than this? Possibly – I certainly rewatched Aston and Janette’s 2017 Paso Doble more times.

That said, Rose’s command of this performance and the atmosphere of this mesmerising dance will be super hard to beat and it totally deserves its place at the pinnacle of the Halloween Hall of Fame and the earliest 40 awarded in Strictly history.