22 November 2023 , 19:00
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Strictly Come Dancing have announced the first three names for their Christmas 2023 special.
An EastEnders star, a BBC Breakfast icon and a history broadcaster have all signed up for the upcoming festive special of the hit BBC Latin and ballroom show. There will be six couples in total, with three already confirmed this evening.
The celebrities will be partnered with six professionals whilst Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, and head judge Shirley Ballas all give their verdict on the routines, alongside the voting studio audience, as one star is named Christmas champion.
Dan has signed up for the show (BBC)Broadcaster Dan Snow has been confirmed for the show and will dance alongside Nadiya Bychkova. He worked for the BBC for 15 years, whilst also starring on the History Channel and Discovery. He also founded History Hit in 2016, and it went on to win UK's best Specialist Channel in 2023. Dan also took part in a special expedition to Shackleton’s Endurance shipwreck in Antarctica in 2022.
Dan said ahead of his Strictly appearance: "I am absolutely terrified about hitting the dance floor. But I love getting out of my comfort zone and I’ve always wanted to learn how to dance properly. So I thought it was now or never!"
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BBC Breakfast star Sally Nugent will be hoping to impress the Strictly judges (BBC)Sally Nugent has also signed up for the BBC Christmas special. She will be paired with Graziano Di Prima, and is best known for leading the coverage on BBC Breakfast for the last two decades.
Speaking about joining the show, Sally revealed: "I am thrilled and slightly terrified to be taking part in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special. I'm hoping the judges will be kind - and filled with Christmas spirit. And I hope everyone watching at home will enjoy a little bit of Strictly magic on Christmas night."
Jamie Borthwick is heading for the Strictly dancefloor (BBC)Actor Jamie Borthwick - who plays Jay Brown on EastEnders - has also been confirmed for the Christmas show. He has been on the show for over 17 years, and has been part of some huge storylines as of late including the death of his on-screen wife Lola Pearce-Brown and also the horrifying car crash, which nearly saw him die.
Jamie said ahead of his stint on Strictly: "I am so excited to be joining the cast of this years' Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special. From Walford to a Waltz, I can’t wait to learn a new skill and put my dancing to the test. I’m hoping to spread Christmas cheer and have a good laugh with my professional dancer…get me on that dancefloor!"
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