Does the Strictly winner get to keep the Glitterball Trophy?
EVERY year the winner of Strictly Come Dancing and their pro partner hoist that famous Glitterball high above their heads.
But fans often wonder if the champs get to keep the coveted trophy, or if they have to hand it back.
Does the Strictly winner get to keep the Glitterball Trophy?
So the answer is yes, and no – as it’s not as straight forward as you think.
After the Strictly winner gets handed the Glitterball by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, they have to hand it back after pictures are taken.
Instead both the celebrity and their professional dance partner are handed smaller versions of the trophy.
Chatting on Sunday Brunch, 2011 winner Harry Judd explained: “They give you the big [Glitterball] and then they take it straight off you and give you this tiny little one.”
Do the winners collect the same trophy each year?
As the celebrities have to hand it back each year, the same trophy is used.
Each year the winner’s name is added to the gold plague on the front of the Glitterball.
It is believed the same trophy has been used since Strictly started back in 2004.
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Has the Glitterball Trophy ever changed?
The Glitterball was slightly changed back in 2019 for the 17th series of the show.
The BBC confirmed that they altered the trophy so that it will be a mounted on a bigger base.
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This was done to accommodate all of the future winners’ names, and therefore ensuring that the Strictly champions’ names since 2004 will remain on the trophy’s base.
They did this as there was previously only room for 16 people on the gong.
When is Strictly Come Dancing on TV and how can I watch it?
Strictly’s live shows kick off on Saturday (September 25, 2021) at 7pm on BBC One.
After the first week, episodes will continue on both Saturdays and Sundays – with the results being read out on the second show.
If you miss any of the action, you can catch up on the BBC iPlayer.