In anticipation of Series 21, we take a look back to December 2020 when Covid scuppered the usual Strictly Christmas Special, and instead a show was broadcast counting down the top 25 most memorable routines in Strictly history to that point, which had been voted for online by the public.

It’s fantastic to be reminded of some of the Show’s most brilliant past performances – and interesting to discover that the favourite routine of viewers voting back in 2020 never achieved that elusive perfect score from the judges!

We think the countdown would look a bit different now in 2023 – is there any way that Rose and Giovanni’s Couple’s Choice routine from Series 19 (2021) wouldn’t top the list, or Fleur and Vito’s Couple’s Choice from Series 20 (2022) wouldn’t make the top 3? Here’s hoping that Series 21 will also deliver a few contenders to be added to any future countdown.

Now, time to revisit some amazing Strictly moments and let us know your most memorable routine in the Comments below. ENJOY!

25. Ashley Roberts & Pasha Kovalev’s Jive to “Shake a Tail Feather”

• Series 16, Week 9 Blackpool: 17 Nov 2018
• Jive to ‘Shake a Tail Feather’ by Ray Charles and the Blues Brothers
• Score 40 (10,10,10,10)
• A brilliantly sharp, diner-themed Jive (the first of six on this list) with some nifty dancing on tables and the only appearance in this countdown of Ashley, the celebrity with the highest average score (36.94) in Strictly history

24. Frankie Bridge & Kevin Clifton’s Paso Doble to “America”

• Series 12, Week 3 Movie Week: 11th October 2014
• Paso Doble to ‘America’ from West Side Story
• Score 45 (8,9,9,9,10)
• One 10 awarded by guest judge Donny Osmond

23. Debbie McGee & Giovanni Pernice’s Salsa to “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”

• Series 15, Week 8: 11th November 2017
• Salsa to ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’ by Boys Town Gang
• Score 35 (9,9,8,9)
• Notable both for Giovanni’s eye-test acting and that Craig scored this dance higher than Shirley

22. Alexandra Burke & Gorka Márquez’s Jive to “Proud Mary”

• Series 15, Week 4: 14th October 2017
• Jive to ‘Proud Mary’ by Tina Turner
• Score 39 (9,10,10,10)
• Such a mesmerising, powerful performance from Alexandra that you hardly notice Gorka at all

21. Alesha Dixon & Matthew Cutler’s Cha-Cha-Cha to “Crazy in Love”

• Series 5, Week 8: 24th November 2007
• Cha Cha Cha to ‘Crazy in Love’ by Beyoncé
• Score 39 (9,10,10,10)
• Alesha channeling her best Beyoncé here

20. Aston Merrygold & Janette Manrara’s Cha-Cha-Cha to “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”

• Series 15, Week 3 Movie Week: 7th October 2017
• Cha Cha Cha to ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling’ by Justin Timberlake from ‘Trolls’
• Score 35 (8,9,9,9)
• Superb costumes and styling as well as some slick footwork on this super-cute Trolls-inspired Cha Cha

19. Simon Webbe & Kristina Rihanoff’s Argentine Tango to “El Tango de Roxanne”

• Series 12, Week 8 Blackpool: 15th November 2014
• Argentine Tango to ‘El Tango de Roxanne’ by Ewan McGregor, José Feliciano and Jacek Koman from ‘Moulin Rouge’
• Score 38 (8,10,10,10)
• Worth watching for the final upside-down lift alone. Amazing

18. Abbey Clancy & Aljaž Skorjanec’s Waltz to “I’m Kissing You”

• Series 11, Week 1: 28th September 2013
• Waltz to ‘I’m Kissing You’ by Des’ree
• Score 32 (8,8,8,8)
• A super elegant and very accomplished Week 1 Waltz – looking straightaway like the winners they went on to be

17. Ann Widdecombe & Anton Du Beke’s Samba to “Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel”

• Series 8, Week 8 Blackpool: 20th November 2010
• Samba to ‘Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel’ by Tavares
• Score 13 (1,5,4,3)
• Aka the ‘sack of potatoes’ dance (you’ll see why) but Ann was loving it and the canary yellow costumes were fab. Unforgettable

16. Jake Wood & Janette Manrara’s Salsa to “Mambo No. 5”

• Series 12, Week 2: 4th October 2014
• Salsa to ‘Mambo No. 5’ by Lou Bega
• Score 35 (8,9,9,9)
• An a-maz-ing Week 2 (yes Week 2!) Salsa which included a few extremely risky, hold-your-breath drop moves which they pulled off superbly

15. Louis Smith & Flavia Cacace’s Salsa to “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”

• Series 10, Week 3 Movie Week: 20th October 2012
• Salsa to ‘(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life’ by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes from ‘Dirty Dancing’
• Score 30 (8,8,6,8)
• Memorable for that iconic final lift from the movie; Louis and Flavia improved their initial score by 9 points when they danced this Salsa again in the Final

14. Ore Oduba & Joanne Clifton’s Jive to “Runaway Baby”

• Series 14, Week 4: 15th October 2016
• Jive to ‘Runaway Baby’ by Bruno Mars
• Score 39 (9,10,10,10)
• Sassy kicks and flicks to die for here plus Ore and Joanne’s first of two appearances in this Top 25 – the only other couple appearing twice are Caroline Flack and Pasha Kovalev

13. Chris Hollins & Ola Jordan’s Charleston to “Fat Sam’s Grand Slam”

• Series 7, Week 11: 28th November 2009
• Charleston to ‘Fat Sam’s Grand Slam’ from Bugsy Malone
• Score 34 (8,8,9,9)
• Chris’ acting here is impressive and he looks like he’s having a ball; with good reason, when they danced it again in the Final it scored 50

12. Tom Chambers & Camilla Dallerup’s Showdance to “If My Friends Could See Me Now”

• Series 6, Week 14 Final: 20th December 2008
• Showdance to ‘If My Friends Could See Me Now’ from Sweet Charity
• No judges score (in the early series, showdances were not scored by the judges)
• Slick and stylish with elements of Charleston and Tango – a truly classy performance

11. Mark Ramprakash & Karen Hardy’s Salsa to “Hot Hot Hot”

• Series 4, Week 5: 4th November 2006
• Salsa to ‘Hot Hot Hot’ by Arrow
• Score 36 (9,9,9,9)
• A stunning Salsa with brilliant rhythm – worth watching for the microphone malfunction which saw them get to restart as well as Bruce dancing with a technical assistant who came to the rescue

10. Ore Oduba & Joanne Clifton’s American Smooth to “Singin’ in the Rain”

• Series 14, Week 3 Movie Week: 8th October 2016
• American Smooth to ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ by Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor and Gene Kelly from ‘Singin’ in the Rain’
• Score 35 (8,9,9,9)
• Wow – a tall order to take on this iconic Gene Kelly routine but executed with complete charm, style and sophistication by Ore and Joanne. Love the umbrella catch at the very end – too cool

9. Faye Tozer & Giovanni Pernice’s Charleston to “The Lonely Goatherd”

• Series 16, Week 11 Musicals Week: 1st December 2018
• Charleston to ‘The Lonely Goatherd’ from The Sound of Music
• Score 40 (10,10,10,10)
• The synchronicity and precision of this Charleston is outstanding – technically tricky but danced by both with sheer joy and effervescent enthusiasm plus adorable kooky costumes, what more could we want?

8. Caroline Flack & Pasha Kovalev’s Showdance to “Angels”

• Series 12, Week 13 Final: 20th December 2014
• Showdance to ‘Angels’ by Beverley Knight
• Score 40 (10,10,10,10)
• A dance brimming with beauty and emotion – and the first of two top 10 appearances in this Top 25 for this amazing partnership

7. Karim Zeroual & Amy Dowden’s Jive to “You Can’t Stop the Beat”

• Series 17, Week 11 Musicals Week: 30th November 2019
• Jive to ‘You Can’t Stop the Beat’ from Hairspray
• Score 40 (10,10,10,10)
• Karim and Amy make this exceptional jive seem effortless – and watching their reactions at the end of the dance hugging everyone is pure magic

6. Jill Halfpenny & Darren Bennett’s Jive to “I’m Still Standing”

• Series 2, Week 3: 6th November 2004
• Jive to ‘I’m Still Standing’ by Elton John
• Score 35 (8,9,9,9)
• The 5th Jive to make this countdown list and the first dance in Strictly history to score a perfect 40 (when they redanced it in the Final)

5. Caroline Flack & Pasha Kovalev’s Charleston to “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)”

• Series 12, Week 10: 29th November 2014
• Charleston to ‘Istanbul (Not Constantinople)’ by They Might be Giants
• Score 39 (9,10,10,10)
• Caroline shines here in a quirky, flawless Charleston, the highest placed of that dance in this countdown – best Charleston EVER?

4. Ed Balls & Katya Jones’ Salsa to “Gangnam Style”

• Series 14, Week 8: 12th November 2016
• Salsa to ‘Gangnam Style’ by Psy
• Score 25 (4,7,8,6)
• Never forget this man was a former Secretary of State in the UK government. Total respect for what remains one of the most entertaining and joyous Strictly routines ever seen

3. Kelvin Fletcher & Oti Mabuse’s Samba to “La Vida Es Un Carnaval”

• Series 17, Week 1: 21st September 2019
• Samba to ‘La Vida Es Un Carnaval’ by Celia Cruz
• Score 32 (8,8,8,8)
• Kelvin was a last-minute replacement for Jamie Laing – which with hindsight seems like the Strictly gods stepping in. A phenomenal Week 1 performance (with Shirley and Motsi on their feet) and the same routine scored 39 in the Final

2. Danny Mac & Oti Mabuse’s Samba to “Magalenha”

• Series 14, Week 10: 26th November 2016
• Samba to ‘Magalenha’ by Sérgio Mendes featuring Carlinhos Brown
• Score 40 (10,10,10,10)
• A double 40 for this magnificent Samba, confirming Oti as its Queen with two of her Sambas making the top 3 here (and Danny’s not bad either!)

1. Jay McGuinness & Aliona Vilani’s Jive to “You Never Can Tell/Misirlou”

• Series 13, Week 3 Movie Week: 10th October 2015
• Jive to ‘You Never Can Tell/Misirlou’ from ‘Pulp Fiction’
• Score 37 (9,9,9,10)
• Can 7.6 million views on YouTube be wrong? Surely the most underscored dance in Strictly history and even more magical because they never performed it again on the show proving sometimes less can be more

Photo credits: BBC embeddable video thumbnails from YouTube