UPDATE: The highly anticipated Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special aired on December 25, 2025, captivating fans with unforgettable performances and emotional farewells. This year, six celebrity contestants took to the dance floor, each paired with a professional dancer, aiming to win the festive trophy.
The special comes just days after Karen Carney and Carlos Gu were crowned the overall champions of the 2025 season. The competition showcased stars like Balvinder Sopal, La Voix, Alex Kingston, Lewis Cope, and Amber Davies, all vying for the coveted Glitterball.
During the Christmas episode, viewers watched in awe as the six couples performed holiday-themed routines to impress judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, and Head Judge Shirley Ballas. The celebrity lineup featured Scarlett Moffatt, Melanie Blatt, Jodie Ounsley, Nicholas Bailey, Babatunde Aléshe, and Brian McFadden.
In a bittersweet twist, this Christmas special marks the final appearance of beloved hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. The duo announced their departure in a heartfelt joint statement on Instagram, sharing that hosting the show was “an absolute dream.” They added, “We will cry when we say the last ‘keep dancing,’ but we will continue to say it to each other.”
In a standout moment, Tess performed a stunning Argentine Tango with professional dancer Alijaz, leading to an outpouring of praise on social media. Viewers declared this performance the “TV highlight of 2025.” Fan reactions flooded in on X (formerly Twitter), with one user, @RyanSoapKing25, exclaiming, “Tess Daly dancing an Argentine Tango with Alijaz has just become my TV highlight of 2025. INCREDIBLE!”
Other fans echoed similar sentiments, reminiscing about Tess and Claudia’s memorable hosting. User @xlouclifton96x commented, “Loved seeing Tess on the dance floor with Alijaz doing her favourite dance. Not going to be the same next year without Tess and Claudia,” while @Steph832 noted, “Tess and Aljaz is a pairing I’d love to see.” Many fans are already hoping for Tess to return as a contestant next year.
The Christmas Special was filmed on December 9 and is now available for streaming on BBC iPlayer. As the show wraps up its festive celebrations, fans will undoubtedly feel the absence of Tess and Claudia in future seasons.
As viewers continue to express their affection for the duo, the future of Strictly Come Dancing remains bright, with exciting new developments anticipated ahead. Stay tuned for updates on next year’s competition and the potential return of fan-favorite contestants!
