The Glitterball is ready to be won, and Dave Arch’s band is poised to play. That’s right; the countdown has begun for the 20th series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Now that the 2022 line-up has finally been released, there’s not long to wait until celebrities from all corners of showbiz will try to salsa, jive and foxtrot their way to victory. So, who will be gracing our screens this autumn? And who will make up the professional line-up? Check out our Strictly Come Dancing guide for all the info you need to watch this year’s show.
When can I watch Strictly Come Dancing 2022?
There’s not long to wait until we can welcome the ballroom into our homes. Strictly 2022 was set to return to BBC One on Saturday 17th September, though the launch show was postponed to 7pm on Friday 23rd September.
The first live show will be on Saturday 24th September. From then on we’ll be treated to a spectacle every Saturday for an incredible 13 weeks, with the finale during the festive season. As usual, the results show takes place on Sunday evenings on BBC One.
The nation’s favourite dance show will once again be presented by the iconic duo Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
Who are the celebrities on Strictly 2022?
Last season featured fabulous names like Robert Webb and Dan Walker, so expectations were high for this year. But Strictly producers have pulled out all the stops to craft a fantastic 2022 line-up, one fit for the 20th season!
As always, there was plenty of excitement and speculation surrounding this year’s line-up. But speculate no more; here are all 15 confirmed stars who are set to enter the glamorous world of dancing.
| Strictly Star | Best known for | Week eliminated |
| Hamza Yassin | Wildlife cameraman and presenter on Animal Park | Winner |
| Molly Rainford | CBBC presenter and Britain’s Got Talent finalist | Runner-up |
| Fleur East | Singer, X Factor finalist and co-host of Hits Radio Breakfast Show | Runner-up |
| Helen Skeleton | BBC Presenter for Countryfile and former Blue Peter presenter | Runner-up |
| Kaye Adams | Member of ITV’s Loose Women panel | Eliminated 1st on 2 October 2022 |
| Richie Anderson | Travel news presenter on Radio 2’s Breakfast Show | Eliminated 2nd on 9 October 2022 |
| Matt Goss | Lead singer of 80s band, Bros | Eliminated 3rd on 16 October 2022 |
| Jayde Adams | Comedian and actress known for her roles in Good Omens and Alma’s Not Normal | Eliminated 4th on 23 October 2022 |
| James Bye | Plays Martin Fowler on Eastenders | Eliminated 5th on 30 October 2022 |
| Ellie Simmonds | Paralympic swimming champion and BBC Sport presenter | Eliminated 6th on 6 November 2022 |
| Tony Adams | Former Arsenal and England football captain | Left due to Injury 7th on 6 November 2022 |
| Tyler West | Presenter on BBC Three, MTV and KISS FM | Eliminated 8th on 20 November 2022 |
| Ellie Taylor | Comedian, author, actress and presenter of Channel 4’s Great Pottery Throw Down | Eliminated 9th on 27 November 2022 |
| Kym Marsh | Former Coronation Street actress, member of pop group Hear’Say and presenter on BBC One’s Morning Live | Eliminated 10th on 3rd December 2022 |
| Will Mellor | Actor known for his roles in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Hollyoaks and Coronation Street | Eliminated 11th on 12th December 2022 |
Who are the Strictly 2022 professionals?
The celebrities might, quite literally, be the stars of the show, but the professionals have become fan favourites too. Although some may be disappointed that Strictly regulars Oti Mabuse and Aljaz Skorjanec won’t be participating this year, the likes of Johannes Radebe and Dianne Buswell will still take to the floor.
But there’s stiff competition as four newcomers set their eyes on the Glitterball Trophy. Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas, Vito Coppola and Carlos Gu will all grace the epic ballroom for the first time this year.
Here’s the full line-up of the Strictly Come Dancing 2022 pro dancers:
- Dianne Buswell
- Nadiya Bychkova
- Graziano Di Prima
- Amy Dowden
- Karen Hauer
- Katya Jones
- Neil Jones
- Nikita Kuzmin
- Cameron Lombard
- Gorka Marquez
- Luba Mushtuk
- Giovanni Pernice
- Jowita Przystał
- Johannes Radebe
- Kai Widdrington
- Nancy Xu
- Lauren Oakley
- Michelle Tsiakkas
- Vito Coppola
- Carlos Gu
Who won Strictly Come Dancing 2021?
As the first season to occur since the pandemic, 2021’s Strictly came with plenty of twists and turns. For the first time, only two contestants took to the stage for the final; Eastenders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis and John Whaite.
After a spectacular evening, Rose lifted the Glitterball Trophy alongside her partner Giovanni Pernice. The actress struck a chord with the public, especially after the couple’s choice performance which paid tribute to the deaf community. But Rose also managed to win over the judges during the competition, with head judge Shirley Ballas commenting:
“She’s melted my heart; the love you have for dance and for each other will last a lifetime. It will leave a mark on my heart forever; thank you for doing this competition.”
Dr Jill’s weekly Strictly Come Dancing Comment
We’ll be checking in each week with Dr Jill Rose Jacobs, who completed her PhD in Music focusing on Dance and Sports Science at Queen’s University, Belfast. Dr Jill was previously a professor of dance at New York University. We’ll be asking Dr Jill about her favourite Strictly performances of the week.
Dr Jill commenting on Hamza Winning series 20 of Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly fans know that the coveted Glitterball trophy goes to Hamza Yassin and his partner Jowita Przystal. In my opinion, if Hamza’s humility, uniqueness, and work ethic ultimately scored him above the other celebrity contestants, it is a powerful and positive statement from the Strictly-viewing public.
Hamza’s interviews were also notably different than the other contestants who expressed their desire to impress the judges and score ‘10’s’ from the panel. Fleur East and Vito Coppola received perfect scores for two of their three routines.
Helen Skelton and Gorka Marquez also received ‘40’ for their Couple’s Choice routine in which Helen’s Fosse jazz dance technique spotlighted professional level skills. Additionally, Hamza and Jowita’s Couple Choice embodied the pure uninhibited essence of African dancing also receiving perfect scores and phrase from the judging panel.
Overall, it was an emotional evening celebrating the contestants’ accomplishments and their professional partner’s mentorship supporting them through the Strictly finale. I cried often during the interviews. I cried for Hamza when nerves got the best of him and he made mistakes in his second routine. And my eyes teared when judge Motsi Mabuse compassionately responded, ‘We are all human’.
During the evening, an event was recounted by hostess Claudia Winkleman that perhaps best sums up Hamza’s character and endears him to us – Strictly viewers. ‘You shook my hand and said good-bye after week two performances’, she reported.
The series has taken us on a journey, a celebration of dance and joy spotlighting human resilience. Thank you Strictly for a truly entertaining, up-lifting, and inspiring series 20.
Dr Jill Rose Jacobs
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