Strictly Come Dancing makes surprise announcement of first star for 2025 Christmas special

While Strictly Come Dancing 2025 is still very much ongoing, the Christmas special is right around the corner.

So, it’s about time we start announcing some celebrity contestants.

And tonight, on spin-off show It Takes Two, the first name was confirmed in a surprise reveal.

It’s none other than Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt, who will be taking to the dancefloor for a festive competition and hoping to lift the Glitter Ball.

The former Saturday Night Takeaway presenter, 35, revealed the news in an out-of-the-blue announcement during the live episode on BBC Two, appearing as a guest on the Friday panel.

She will be paired with Vito Coppola, who won Strictly’s main series in 2023 with Ellie Leach.

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.

‘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. 

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.’

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!’

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 we’ll see Scarlett back on the floor again soon…

Strictly returns to regular programming this weekend for a dazzling Blackpool special featuring Balvinder Sopal, Amber Davies, Lewis Cope, Karen Carney, Alex Kingston, and George Clarke, live from the Tower Ballroom.

Alas, Drag Race icon La Voix will not compete in the biggest show of the year and instead has been granted a pass to next weekend after suffering an injury.

The next celebrity taking part in the 2025 Christmas special will be announced on Monday on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show with Scott Mills. 

Strictly Come Dancing’s Christmas special airs on Christmas Day on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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