Kitty Chrisp
Published November 24, 2025 8:33am
Updated November 24, 2025 8:50am
Share this article via whatsappShare this article via xCopy the link to this article.Link is copiedShare this article via facebook
Comment now
Comments
The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special is just around the corner – here are the confirmed stars so far (Picture: BBC)
Key Points
summary__ai-icon
- Melanie Blatt from All Saints confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special with Kai Widdrington
- Scarlett Moffatt and four more celebrities to compete in the festive episode judged by Strictly’s iconic panel
- Longtime hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly to bow out after this year’s Christmas special
While Strictly Come Dancing is in full swing – with injuries here, there and everywhere – the Christmas special isn’t far away, and a second celebrity has just been announced for the star-studded line-up.
All Saints star Melanie Blatt, 50, will be taking part in the festive special of the BBC show alongside professional dancer Kai Widdrington.
Melanie joins Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt in Strictly’s festive line-up, with the remaining four celebrities to be announced this coming week on Strictly: It Takes Two at 6:30pm.
This year six couples will dance their hearts out to be in with a chance of becoming the Strictly Christmas Champion, under the watchful gaze of judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke.
Get personalised updates on Strictly
Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro’s TV Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we’ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.
It will be long-time hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly’s last hurrah on the show, after they announced they would be stepping away from the series earlier this year.
The Christmas special will be Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly’s last outing on the show (Picture: BBC Studios/Guy Levy)
The Christmas special will air on Christmas Day, but will be recorded ahead of time. Last year, drag queen Tayce and her pro Kai Widdrington were victorious.
Christmas contestants have also become known to sign up for the main series, such as Jamie Borthwick in 2024 and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey in 2025, so perhaps these faces will re-appear in the future.
Who’s in the Strictly 2025 Christmas special? Here are the confirmed names so far…
Melanie Blatt
Melanie Blatt is the second star to be announced for the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special.
As part of 90s band All Saints – alongside original members Shaznay Lewis, and Simone Rainford – Melanie had five UK number one hit singles and won two BRIT awards, selling over 10 million albums worldwide.
Melanie Blatt has been confirmed as a Strictly festive star (Picture: BBC/Sarah Doran)
In recent years she’s pivoted to cooking, as Melanie founded a gourmet burger business and appeared as a Celebrity MasterChef finalist.
She was also in the second series of Celebrity Race Across The World and starred in Taskmaster’s New Year Treat.
On joining Strictly this Christmas, Melanie said: ‘If you can’t have a dance at Christmas, when can you?! I’m so excited to meet Kai and start training to make this a dance to remember.’
Scarlett Moffatt
Former Saturday Night Takeaway presenter Scarlett Moffatt, 35, will be paired with Vito Coppola, who won Strictly’s main series in 2023 with Ellie Leach.
She revealed the news during the live It Takes Two episode on BBC Two, appearing as a guest on the Friday panel.
Scarlett said of her casting: ‘Strictly has always held a special place in my heart, so being part of the Christmas special feels truly magical.
‘It’s the show that brings everyone together around the TV, and being part of that is a genuine personal and career highlight.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Up Next
Previous Page Next Page‘I’m sure it’ll also introduce me to a few muscles I didn’t know I had. I can’t wait to live my best life on that dancefloor.’
Having shot to fame as a sofa critic alongside her parents on Gogglebox on Channel 4, Scarlett has acquired plenty of TV experience in the years since.
The Geordie star captured the hearts of the nation during the 2016 series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, which she won.
Presenting-wise, her work includes six series of the BBC Sounds podcast Scarlett Moffatt Wants to Believe, alongside Streetmate, the Channel 4 documentary Britain’s Tourette’s Mystery: Scarlett Moffatt Investigates, and 30 episodes of the cookery show Love Bites.
TV personality Scarlett Moffatt was the first confirmed celeb for Strictly’s 2025 Christmas special (Picture: David Fisher/Shutterstock)
You might have also seen her on TV alongside Ant and Dec for I’m A Celebrity: Extra Camp, on the panel show Celebability, or on Crufts Extra.
Speaking to host Janette Manrara on It Takes Two, Scarlett was bursting with excitement that the secret was finally out
‘I just keep crying all the time,’ she joked. ‘I can say it out loud! I’m so excited.’
More Trending
-
Strictly Come Dancing's future 'confirmed' after another star's rape arrest
Channel: TV TV 23 hours ago By Rebecca Cook - Injured La Voix breaks down in devastating interview after withdrawing from Strictly
- Strictly star addresses withdrawal rumours after performing with rib injury
- Strictly Come Dancing viewers bewildered after Tess Daly suddenly 'malfunctions'
She described the gig as a ‘dream’ and at the ‘top of [her] bucket list’, saying she feels that she and Vito are ‘the same person’.
The new pairing have already started training for their performance, with the Christmas special involving just one dance from the celeb. Scarlett’s dance style is yet to be revealed.
‘We’ve just laughed from start to finish,’ Scarlett said, quipping: ‘Every day’s a school day!’
Deals of the Day
Dyson’s Black Friday sale is here! Save up to £550 on vacuums, Airwraps and hairdryers
Breakdown drama? There’s an app for that – and it gets you help in minutes
Emma is celebrating 10 years of better sleep with free bedding bundles worth hundreds!
Pack 60% more with these cubes that sell every 2 mins – and travel smarter, not heavier
Sick of shaving? This at-home device will save you hundreds on hair removal
The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer this Christmas.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Arrow MORE: Strictly Come Dancing star ‘almost died’ after choking minutes before show
Arrow MORE: Strictly Come Dancing viewers bewildered after Tess Daly suddenly ‘malfunctions’
Arrow MORE: Strictly Come Dancing star addresses withdrawal rumours after performing with rib injury
Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source TV NewsletterSign up and tell us which TV shows you love to watch to get personalised updates every morning.
Show Expand Options ? Select All Select All Big Brother Big Brother Britain's Got Talent Britain's Got Talent Celebrity Big Brother Celebrity Big Brother Doctor Who Doctor Who Great British Bake Off Great British Bake Off I'm A Celeb I'm A Celeb Love Island Love Island Netflix Netflix Strictly Come Dancing Strictly Come Dancing The Apprentice The Apprentice The Traitors The Traitors Email I agree to receive newsletters from Metro I agree to receive newsletters from Metro Sign UpSign UpThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy
