Strictly Come Dancing returned for its twenty-second series with a launch show on 14 September 2024 on BBC One, with the live shows beginning on 21 September. A special episode to commemorate the programme's twentieth anniversary was also confirmed. Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman returned as hosts, whilst Janette Manrara and Fleur East returned to host Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two. Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke returned to the judging panel for their 22nd, 6th, 8th, and 4th series respectively.
Comedian Chris McCausland and his partner Dianne Buswell were announced as the winners on 14 December, while Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola, JB Gill and Lauren Oakley, and Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec were the runners-up.
Contents
Format
The couples dance each week in a live show. The judges score each performance out of ten. After all the couples have danced they are then ranked according to the judges' scores and given points according to their rank, with the highest ranked couple receiving a number of points equal to the number of couples dancing that week e.g. 7 points where there are seven couples dancing. When there are no tied scores the lowest scored couple will receive one point. However in the event of a tie where two or more couples obtain the same judges score, the couple below those in the tie will be awarded one point below the points awarded to each of the tied couples. So, for example, if two couples obtain the same rank and obtain 7 points each, the couple immediately below them will be awarded 6 points. When couples are ranked equally by the judges the scoring of all other couples underneath will follow in the same descending order. Should there be any tied scores the lowest scored couple will therefore receive more than one point from the judges scores. The public are also invited to vote for their favourite couples, and the couples are ranked again according to the number of votes they receive, again receiving points; The couple with the most votes receiving the most points. Again in the unlikely event of a tie in the public vote the points are awarded in the same way as the points from the judges score.
The points for judges' score and public vote are then added together, and the two couples with the fewest points are placed in the bottom two. If two couples have equal points, the points from the public vote are given precedence.
As with the previous series, the bottom two couples have to perform a dance-off on the results show. Based on that performance alone, each judge then votes on which couple should stay and which couple should leave, with Shirley Ballas, as head judge, having the last and deciding vote, if needed.
Professional dancers
In June 2024, the BBC announced that Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Vito Coppola, Graziano Di Prima, Amy Dowden, Carlos Gu, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Márquez, Luba Mushtuk, Lauren Oakley, Jowita Przystał, Johannes Radebe, Michelle Tsiakkas, Kai Widdrington and Nancy Xu would be returning to the series. It was confirmed that Giovanni Pernice would not be returning to the show, following misconduct allegations regarding his dance teaching methods. Pernice, however, denied "any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour".
In July 2024, it was announced that Aljaž Škorjanec would be returning as a professional after a two-year hiatus, following his departure in March 2022, having last appeared in the nineteenth series. Later that same month, despite initially being confirmed to return for the series, it was subsequently announced that Graziano Di Prima would not be returning to the show, following allegations of misconduct against him towards Zara McDermott, his partner from the previous series. In a statement, Di Prima said that he "deeply regretted" the events that led to his departure from the show.
During the launch show, Michelle Tsiakkas received a celebrity partner for the first time, while Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley and Kai Widdrington did not receive a partner. The rest of the pros were paired to a celebrity, including Neil Jones, who did not have a celebrity partner for the last two series.
On 4 November 2024, it was announced that due to a foot injury, Amy Dowden would no longer compete in the series. Oakley took over from Dowden as JB Gill's professional partner.
Couples
On 1 August 2024, prior to the official BBC announcements, Tom Dean confirmed himself as the first participant in the series, during an interview at the 2024 Summer Olympics after competing in the 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay. The official announcements began on 5 August, with Chris McCausland and JB Gill announced, the former becoming the first blind contestant to appear on the show. Celebrity contestants continued to be revealed until 12 August 2024, when the full line-up was announced.
Scoring chart
The highest score each week is indicated in bold green with a dagger (†), while the lowest score each week is indicated in italicized red with a double-dagger (‡).
Color key:
Average chart
Additional points received for the Samba-thon in Week 10 are not included in this chart.
Weekly scores
Unless indicated otherwise, individual judges scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke.
Launch show
Musical guests: Clean Bandit & Anne-Marie — "Cry Baby"
Week 1
There was no elimination this week; all scores carried over to the following week. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
Week 2
Musical guests: Ezra Collective & Yazmin Lacey — "God Gave Me Feet for Dancing"
Couples are listed in the order they performed.
Judges' votes to save
Horwood: Toyah & Neil
Mabuse: Toyah & Neil
Du Beke: Tom & Nadiya
Ballas: Toyah & Neil
Week 3: Movie Week
Musical guests: Alexis Ffrench — "The Heart Asks Pleasure First" (from The Piano)
Couples are listed in the order they performed.
Nick and Luba announced that they would be unable to perform on the live show after Nick sustained a knee injury. Under the rules of the show, they were granted a bye to the following week.
Judges' votes to save
Horwood: Paul & Karen
Mabuse: Paul & Karen
Du Beke: Paul & Karen
Ballas: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Paul & Karen
Week 4
Musical guests: Snow Patrol — "Everything's Here and Nothing's Lost"
Couples are listed in the order they performed.
Judges' votes to save
Horwood: Shayne & Nancy
Mabuse: Shayne & Nancy
Du Beke: Shayne & Nancy
Ballas: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Shayne & Nancy
Week 5
Musical guests: Sophie Ellis-Bextor — "Freedom of the Night"
Couples are listed in the order they performed.
Judges' votes to save
Horwood: JB & Amy
Mabuse: JB & Amy
Du Beke: JB & Amy
Ballas: Did not vote, but would have voted to save JB & Amy
Week 6: Halloween Week
Musical guests: Lady Blackbird — "Reborn"
Amy Dowden didn't appear in the results show due to her collapsing backstage following the main show, so JB appeared alone. She was transported to Barnet Hospital as a precautionary measure, but was later reported to be feeling better.
Couples are listed in the order they performed.
Judges' votes to save
Horwood: Shayne & Nancy
Mabuse: Shayne & Nancy
Du Beke: Shayne & Nancy
Ballas: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Shayne & Nancy
Week 7: Icons Week
Musical guests: Dear Alice — "Best Day of Our Lives"
Each couple danced to a song by a popular musical icon, with the celebrity appearing in the guise of their icon. Due to an illness, Amy Dowden was unable to perform. Lauren Oakley therefore danced with JB Gill instead.
Couples are listed in the order they performed.
Judges' votes to save
Horwood: Montell & Johannes
Mabuse: Montell & Johannes
Du Beke: Montell & Johannes
Ballas: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Montell & Johannes
Week 8
Musical guests: Michael Ball & Alfie Boe — "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"
After being unable to perform last week, Amy Dowden was confirmed to withdraw due to injury. Lauren Oakley continued to dance with JB Gill for the remainder of the series.
Couples are listed in the order they performed.
Judges' votes to save
Horwood: Shayne & Nancy
Mabuse: Shayne & Nancy
Du Beke: Wynne & Katya
Ballas: Wynne & Katya
Week 9: Blackpool Week
Musical guest: Pet Shop Boys — Medley of their hits and "All the Young Dudes"
This week's episode was staged in the Tower Ballroom at the Blackpool Tower in Blackpool, Lancashire. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
Judges' votes to save
Horwood: Montell & Johannes
Mabuse: Montell & Johannes
Du Beke: Montell & Johannes
Ballas: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Montell & Johannes
Week 10
Musical guest: Sugababes — "Overload", "Freak like Me" & "Push the Button"
Each couple performed one routine and then all couples participated in a samba marathon for additional points, during which they were asked by Horwood to leave the floor once eliminated. The winners were announced separately from the floor. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
Judges' votes to save
Horwood: Montell & Johannes
Mabuse: Montell & Johannes
Du Beke: Montell & Johannes
Ballas: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Montell & Johannes
Week 11: Musicals Week (Quarter-final)
Musical guests: Hamilton — "The Schuyler Sisters"
Couples are listed in the order they performed.
Judges’ votes to save
Horwood: Tasha & Aljaž
Mabuse: Tasha & Aljaž
Du Beke: Tasha & Aljaž
Ballas: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Tasha & Aljaž
Week 12: Semi-final
Musical guests:
Becky Hill — "Indestructible"
Raye — "Genesis Pt III."
Couples are listed in the order they performed.
Judges' votes to save
Horwood: Tasha & Aljaž
Mabuse: Tasha & Aljaž
Du Beke: Tasha & Aljaž
Ballas: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Tasha & Aljaž
Week 13: Final
Musical guest: Raye — "Oscar Winning Tears"
Each couple performed three routines: one chosen by the judges, their showdance routine, and their favourite dance of the series. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
Dance chart
Weeks 1–9 and 11: One unlearned dance
Week 10: One unlearned dance and Samba-thon
Week 12: Two unlearned dances
Week 13 (Finals): Judges' choice, showdance & favourite dance of the series
Ratings
Weekly ratings for each show on BBC One. All ratings are provided by BARB.