Strictly Come Dancing reveals second Christmas special celebrity after comedian Josh Widdicombe signs up
STRICTLY Come Dancing has revealed its second Christmas special celebrity after comedian Josh Widdicombe signed up.
This Christmas Day, six stars will take on the ballroom for a one-off episode to see if they have what it takes to impress the fierce judges.
Now, it has been confirmed that Welsh drag queen Tayce will be the second star putting on her dancing shoes this winter.
Welsh-born Tayce was a finalist on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Season 2.
Often dubbed the “Naomi Campbell of Drag”, she models across the world in runway fashion shows.
She has presented on BBC Radio 1, MTV and Sky too.
Tayce performs her drag act globally and has also released her own rap single.
Her participation was announced on Strictly: It Takes Two this evening, where it was revealed she will be paired with Kai Widdrington.
Tayce said: “I cannot wait to sleigh on the Strictly Ballroom floor. My partner and I are going to dance for our lives!
“In all seriousness, it’s an incredible honour to be the first Drag artist to be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing.
“I hope I do all of my Drag Race and Welsh fans proud! Sign me up for all the glitz, glam and discoballs.”
Meanwhile, Josh’s pro partner was yesterday confirmed as Karen Hauer – after she was knocked out of the main run of the contest earlier this series.
Karen was paired with pro footballer Paul Merson but they crashed out early into the contest.
She will be hoping that she can fair better alongside Josh and hopefully pick up the trophy on Christmas Day.
Speaking about signing up for the show, Josh said: “I am utterly terrified this will end in humiliation and worried I’m going to be so bad I will ruin Christmas for the nation.
“Why have I done this?”
Josh is most well-known for him time at the top of the British comedy circuit as well as his appearances on Channel 4 show The Last Leg.
He has been a team captain on the programme for over 30 series working alongside Adam Hills and Alex Brooker.
Josh also hosts the popular podcast Parenting Hell alongside fellow comic, Rob Beckett.
If his stint on the Christmas special is successful then Josh could more than likely find himself signing up to the main edition of the BBC programme.
Last year’s champ, actor Jamie Borthwick, is currently competing on the main programme alongside pro partner Michelle Tsiakkas.
He has his first taste of the ballroom last Christmas when he partnered Nancy Xu for a Quickstep that saw him earn a whopping 40 points.
Other celebs who signed up for the Christmas special of the show last year include popstar and Sugababes member Keisha Buchanan, BBC Breakfast host Sally Nugent and rugby hunk Danny Cipriani.
Strictly stars at risk of the axe in 2025
Gorka Marquez joined Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer in 2016 when he was partnered with EastEnders actress Tameka Empson. The following year he was partnered with singer Alexandra Burke. They reached the final and finished as one of the runners-up.
In 2020, he was partnered with actress Maisie Smith. Again, he made it to the final and finished as a runner-up.
He failed to make it third time lucky in 2022, finishing runner-up again with Helen Skelton.
Nadiya Bychkova joined the show in 2017 with EastEnders actor Davood Ghadami. The pair reached Week 11, finishing in 6th place.
Her best performance to date came in 2021 when she finished fifth with Dan Walker.
Neil Jones has been without a celebrity partner more times than he’s had one since joining in 2016.
His best finish was with ex-footballer Alex Scott in 2019, finishing in fifth.
Katya Jones was another 2016 addition and made an instant impression with politician Ed Balls. Their Gangnam Style routine is still a favourite to this day.
In 2017 she lifted the Glitterball with Joe McFadden.
The following year she was at the heart of a show scandal after snogging her dance partner, the comedian Seann Walsh.
Karen Hauer has been an ever-present since 2012.
Despite her lengthy association with the show, she’s never lifted the Glitterball. The closest she came was in 2020 when she finished runner-up with Jamie Laing.