2023 - Series 21
Strictly Come Dancing returned for its twenty-first series with a launch show on 16 September 2023 on BBC One, with live shows beginning on 23 September. Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman returned as hosts, while Janette Manrara returned to host Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, alongside Fleur East, who was announced as the new co-host after Rylan Clark's departure in April 2023. In April 2023, the BBC announced that Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse, and Craig Revel Horwood would return to the judging panel.
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24
Number of shows
8.55*
Av. viewers (m)
15
Couples
129
Total scored dances
3,945
Total points scored
7.65
Av. judge score (10)
30.58*
Av. total score (40)
70
Total 10s awarded
5*
Perfect scores (40)
Ellie & Vito
Winning couple
Couples & progress
| Couple | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12 | Week 13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strictly Come Dancing | |
|---|---|
| Series 21 | |
| Presented by | Tess Daly Claudia Winkleman |
| Judges | Shirley Ballas Anton Du Beke Motsi Mabuse Craig Revel Horwood |
| Celebrity winner | Ellie Leach |
| Professional winner | Vito Coppola |
| No. of episodes | 25 |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC One |
| Original release | 16 September – 16 December 2023 |
| Series chronology | |
2023 - Series 21 facts and stats
- Layton knocks Karim off the “Most Tens” for a male celebrity top spot as he receives 31 tens, 2 more than Karim earned in S17. He currently sits in joint 4th place for celebrity with the “Most Tens”, matching the 31 Faye Tozer received in S16, behind Alexandra & Ashley on 32 and Tasha on 33
- The S21 Final saw the youngest trio of Finalists ever: Bobby at 20 years 6 months is the youngest ever Finalist, Ellie at 22 years and 9 months is the youngest ever Winner but the combined ages of the 3 Finalists (including Layton’s 29 years 3 months), is still six years and 8 months younger than Angela Rippon, Strictly’s oldest ever competitor at 79
- S21 was a low point for ballroom brilliance: just two ballroom routines were awarded at least one ten (Layton & Nikita’s Quickstep, 40 and Bobby & Dianne’s Quickstep, 38). Not since S1 and 2 in 2004 have so few ballroom dances earned at least one ten
- Layton & Nikita performed a perfect Argentine Tango in the Final, the fifth time this dance style has appeared in one. Interestingly this style has scored perfectly every time on Final night: Harry & Aliona (S9), Simon & Kristina (S12), Louise & Kevin (S14) and Debbie & Giovanni (S15)
- Vito’s first two Series on the show mark the most successful start to a Strictly career for any pro. Ian (S2, S3), Pasha (S9, S10) and Kevin (S11, S12) all made back-to-back Finals in their first two years on the show but they all finished as Runners-up both times; only Vito has won in one of these consecutive Finals. Will he beat Kevin’s record of 4 straight Finals in a row?
- Amanda Abbington’s withdrawal before W6, together with Nigel Harman’s injury during Quarter-Final rehearsals makes S21 the second in which two couples withdrew; the other was S19 (Robert & Dianne and AJ & Kai)
- Due to Nigel’s withdrawal at the Quarter-Final stage, Musicals Week saw no elimination and all four couples proceeded to the Semi-Final; a similar outcome had occurred back in the Semi-Final of S6 though for different reasons. When the Leaderboard rankings then meant Tom & Camilla could not avoid the dance-off despite the public vote, the scheduled elimination that night was cancelled and Tom, Lisa and Rachel all went on to the Final
- Actors make up the largest contestant group on Strictly, and Ellie becomes the seventh winner with an acting background (Jill, S2; Tom, S6; Kara, S8; Joe, S15; Kelvin, S17; Rose, S19; Ellie, S21)