BBC Strictly in crisis as Christmas special winner leaked weeks ahead of show airing: ‘Can’t believe this’

The winner of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special has leaked online, weeks before its scheduled broadcast on Christmas Day.

The festive results were shared on social media in the early hours of Wednesday morning, despite the episode not being due to air until December 25.

The pre-recorded special features six celebrities competing for the festive glitterball trophy, with judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Head Judge Shirley Ballas presiding over the competition.

Among those taking part are comedian Josh Widdicombe, podcaster and DJ Vogue Williams, and EastEnders actress Tamzin Outhwaite.

The line-up also includes RuPaul’s Drag Race UK finalist Tayce, Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and former racing car driver Billy Monger.

Each couple will perform a festive routine to impress the judging panel and be crowned the winner of the Strictly Christmas special 2024, lifting the Glitterball trophy.

The studio audience then voted for their favourite performance.

The BBC has confirmed that professional dancer Carlos Gu will not participate in the Christmas special due to an ankle injury.

Fellow professional Gorka Marquez will step in to partner with Vogue Williams for the festive show.

A Strictly spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, professional dancer, Carlos Gu, has sustained an ankle injury so is unable to participate in the Christmas Special alongside contestant Vogue Williams.

“Fellow professional dancer, Gorka Márquez will be stepping in for him and dancing with Vogue. We all wish him a speedy recovery.”

The festive special was filmed at Elstree Studios on Tuesday evening, with professional dancers including Amy Dowden and Nikita Kuzmin spotted on set.

The results were subsequently leaked on The Strictly Spoiler website, run by Dave Thorp.

“Ho ho ho and a very Merry Christmas to you all,” the website teased. “I hope you’ve all been good boys and girls because Santa has an early Christmas treat in the form of the festive spoiler.”

GB News has chosen not to reveal who the winner is, keeping the announcement under wraps for Christmas day, but fans on social media appeared pleased with the result.

One posted: “I’M SO HAPPY!! They’re the couple I wanted to win!!”

“Least I know I don’t need to watch that then,” another penned before a third added: “Wanted XXX to win … but congratulations to XXX and XXX.”

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A fourth added: “Congratulations to XXX. Would have liked XXX to win.”

And a fifth wrote: “I am glad to see who won it It should be a good show. I really like the Christmas special.”

Last year’s festive special saw EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick lift the glitterball trophy alongside professional dancer Nancy Xu.