Starting in 2011, the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas pro line-up has consisted of dancers that had either suffered an early elimination in that year’s Series, or (even worse) hadn’t been partnered with a celebrity at all.

This blog looks back at the previous ten Specials, to see whether a Christmas appearance led to bigger and better things the following year.

Big thank you to fellow “Strictly Statistician” James (Instagram: @drross365) for contributing this article to the StrictlyDB Blog.

I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday

There have been eleven instances in which a pro-dancer that competed in a Christmas Special didn’t receive a celebrity partner in either the Series that occurred before or afterwards.  This list includes multiple appearances from Ian Waite (in 2011, 2012 and 2013) and Robin Windsor (in 2014 and 2015).

The only dancer on this list who was victorious in their Christmas appearance was Flavia, who won in 2013, when partnered with Rufus Hound.

Last (place) Christmas

There have been four instances in which a professional dancer that competed in a Christmas Special, went on to be the first eliminated in the following Series.

Aliona has the unenviable record of following up successive Christmas appearances with a last place finish in both 2013 and 2014. The other pro-dancers to suffer this fate were Pasha (in 2017) and Luba (in 2019).

(They didn’t) Stay Another Day

There have been nine occurrences of a pro-dancer’s final Strictly Come Dancing appearance coming in a Christmas Special.

As well as Ian, Robin and Flavia, who were mentioned previously, this also applied to Katya V (in 2011), Iveta (in 2014), Chloe (in 2016), Brendan (in 2017), Kevin (in 2019) and Aljaz (in 2021).

Brendan and Kevin were however, both able to go out on a high note. Brendan winning when partnered with Series 13 finalist Katie Derham, and Kevin victorious with Series 15 finalist, Debbie McGee.

All I Want For Christmas Is… (a place in next year’s Final)

On nine occasions, a pro-dancer followed up a Christmas appearance by becoming a losing finalist in the following Series.

The only person to achieve this outcome twice is Gorka. This performance in 2016 with Series 12 finalist, Frankie Bridge, preceded Gorka’s partnership with Alexandra Burke.

Three years later in 2019, this dance with Gemma Atkinson (Gorka’s partner both on and off the dance floor) preceded a second trip to the Final, this time with Maisie Smith in 2020.

Wonderful Christmastime

Four professional dancers have followed up an appearance in the Christmas Special by winning the glitterball in the following Series.

First to do so was Pasha, who performed a Cha Cha with Elaine Paige in 2013, before becoming Series 12 champion in partnership with Caroline Flack.

A year later, Aliona did ‘the double’; achieving success in the Christmas Special (and scoring a perfect 40) with Louis Smith, before winning Series 13 with Jay McGuiness.

In 2015/16, Joanne matched Aliona’s accomplishment; lifting the Christmas trophy (and scoring a perfect 40) with Harry Judd, before going on to win Series 14 with Ore Oduba.

Finally, just a year ago, Jowita followed up this American Smooth with Adrian Chiles, by winning Series 20 with Hamza Yassin.

Merry Christmas (to almost) Everyone

Out of the 33 occasions that a pro-dancer has competed in a main series both before and after a Christmas appearance, 28 managed to achieve a better result in the second appearance, with ten of them making it all the way to the Final.

This statistic suggests that Amy, Giovanni, Kai & Nadiya can all look forward to Series 21 with renewed optimism.