Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Rachel Stevens and Louis Smith to return for Strictly Come Dancing's Christmas special

By BECKY FREETH FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 17:41, 13 November 2014 | UPDATED: 21:30, 13 November 2014

As if the Strictly Come Dancing contestants weren't feeling enough pressure with the forthcoming Blackpool show this weekend.

Now they're going to have to see if they measure up to past winners Louis Smith and Chris Hollins this Christmas, when the celebrities hit the dance floor again for the Christmas special.

They will be joined on the show - co-hosted by returning former presenter Sir Bruce Forsyth - by Sophie Ellis-Bextor and S Club 7's Rachel Stevens.

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Bringing it back: Previous contestant Rachel Stevens returns to Strictly Come Dancing this Christmas for a one-off special

The annual festive show usually chooses a field of new stars but this year bosses have chosen to bring back former favourites with the six-strong list of celebrities completed by Lisa Riley and Russell Grant.

Gymnast Louis Smith will rekindle his dancing flame with Aliona Vilani and set the dance floor alight when he returns.  

And on the presenting front, Sir Bruce - who bowed out of the show this year - will revive his partnership with Tess Daly for the programme. 

Putting on her dancing shoes: Sophie Ellis-Bextor will be putting her moves on show once again

Keeping him on his toes: Former winner Louis Smith has been invited to dance in this year's seasonal special

'You just gotta train' Louis on getting his HOT BOD back

At the time of his departure earlier this year, he said he would be back for the seasonal special and may be involved in other one-off shows.

Strictly has become a fixture in the Christmas Day schedule and is often one of the day's most popular shows. 

Contestants will this year perform a panto-inspired routine in the hope of getting their hands on the trophy.

The one to watch: Previous winners Louis and Chris Hollins will go head to head on the night

Also returning to the programme will be professional dancer Robin Windsor - reviving his partnership with Riley - after he stepped away from the BBC1 contest before the current series began.

Regular judges Len Goodman, Darcey Bussell, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood will each feature in the programme. 

Speaking on Lizzie Cundy's FUBAR radio show on Thursday, Bruno spoke about his favourite stars of this year's competition.

He said: 'I love Mark Wright because he puts everything into it and he's a lovely boy. Also, even though Judy Murray may not be the best dancer, she does everything with a smile on her face. 

Comedy material: Bruno Tonioli recently said nothing beats the comedic value of Russel Grant shoowing out of a canon

'She has the best attitude,' he added. 'Because even when getting low marks and bad comments she still is smiling.'

The excitable judge also spoke about his favourite moment from past series, saying he's looking forward to Russell Grant's return.

He said: 'Strictly's best comic moment can never be beaten by Russell Grant being shot out of a canon in a gold all-in-one.' 

Chatting up a storm: Lizzie Cundy spoke to Bruno Tonioli on Wednesday afternoon on her new show for FUBAR radio

New venture: Lizzie looked fabulous as she posed up a storm ahead of her first show

And Simon Webbe discussed his partnership with professional dancer Kristina Rihanoff.

He told Lizzie and Mark: 'Kristina rules with an iron fist. I've never been so scared in my entire life.

'Kristina is great and keeping me on straight and narrow. The way she does it I dont want to let her down. She rules with a Russian iron fist.' 

'My boys from Blue send me daily messages saying I can do better. I know I've got the dance moves inside me.

Listen to Hot Gossip with Lizzie Cundy and Mark Dolan onFUBAR radio every Thursday between 10am-1pm.

Confiding: Bruno told FUBAR's Lizzie that Strictly's best comic moment can never be beaten by Russell Grant being shot out of a canon

Dream team: Lizzie and Mark have combined their charms for their new radio show 

Read more:

• Hot Gossip with Mark Dolan and Lizzie Cundy | FUBAR Radio

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2833440/Sophie-Ellis-Bextor-Rachel-Stevens-Louis-Smith-return-Strictly-Come-Dancing-s-Christmas-special.html#ixzz3J0EA8kee
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The Muamba rumba… it’s Strictly Christmas

The Muamba rumba… it’s Strictly Christmas! Former footballer shows off fancy footwork as he takes to the dancefloor

By ALADAIR GLENNIE

PUBLISHED: 00:11, 18 December 2012 | UPDATED: 09:45, 18 December 2012

Sashaying across the dance floor with a broad grin on his face, he clearly had the time of his life.
Eight months after a cardiac arrest stopped his heart for 78 minutes, Fabrice Muamba was on top form for Strictly Come Dancing.

The first pictures of the show’s pre-recorded Christmas special show the 24-year-old footballer swaying his hips and spinning his partner Aliona Vilani with carefree abandon.

Muamba retired from football in the summer after collapsing during an FA Cup match for Bolton Wanderers against Tottenham Hotspur.

Shaking it up: Aliona Vilani gets down with footballer Fabrice Muamba

Fabrice shows that his footballing footwork has other uses

Despite suffering a cardiac arrest nine months ago forcing him into retirement, the 24 year old shows no sign of slowing down

Other contestants on the one-off BBC1 show – to be broadcast on Christmas Day – were just as enthusiastic.

Dressed as the Snow Queen in a feathery white gown and sparkling tiara, actress Sheila Hancock clearly embraced the programme’s kitsch ethos.

But the 79-year-old revealed she insisted on a clause in her BBC contract stipulating she would not be sprayed with fake tan before taking to the dance floor.

She said: ‘I’m much too old to be sprayed with fake tan. It would just go into all the wrinkles and be hideous. 

Back to win: Rachel Stevens will be hoping to take the crown after narrowly missing out on the trophy four years ago

She's got competition: Actor Tom Chambers beat Rachel Stevens four years ago but it's yet to be seen who will be crowned in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special

‘I made it absolutely clear when they asked me to do the show. I said “I’ll do anything you ask except fake tan.”

‘I wouldn’t have done it without that proviso.’

Miss Hancock added the tan worn by her professional dance partner Ian Waite was ‘extremely smelly.’

Showing her skills: Actress Chelsee Healey appears with her midriff on show in the festive episode

Set for a spectacular: All of the stars will battle it out to win the Christmas special

They're in a good mood: Even the judges get in the festive spirit and lighten up

She said: ‘He’s going to look deliciously brown and I’m going to look as though I’m dying. 
‘In actual fact I don’t think brown looks good in the winter. It is something about the light. It makes you look kind of yellow. 

‘And also Ian was extremely smelly because of his spray tan.’

Miss Hancock took a week’s dance classes before competing in the show, but said the practice sessions left her in ‘agony’.

He's had practice! JLS' JB Gill shows off his athletic moves as he takes to the dancefloor for the one off episode

Back again: New celebrities will take to the floor, while other stars will return from series gone by, like Chris Hollins

She said: ‘I love the show and it was nice to be part of it, but it was quite arduous. To learn a dance in a week when you’ve never done anything like it in your life before is hard. 

‘I don’t half have some aches and pains. It is agony. I don’t have any injuries as such but my intercostal muscles hurt. 

Actress Sheila Hancock is among the other stars taking part in the Christmas Strictly special

‘My body is slightly bending leftwards. It may be some time before I am upright, I suspect.’

Mr Waite was also partnered with Natasha Kaplinsky, 40, who won Strictly’s first series in 2004.

The newsreader showed she has kept her lithe figure in the intervening years, exposing her legs in a skimpy black and white frock.

Other contestants in the festive episode will include retired Olympic hurdler Colin Jackson, 45, who put his athleticism to good use by doing the splits in a mid-air leap.

Lady in white: TV presenter Helen Skelton will also give it her best on the Christmas special

Getting festive: Anton Du Beke sports a Christmas jumper as he dances with comedienne Katy Brand

The show’s winner will not be revealed before it screens on Christmas Day, but the judges were clearly impressed with one of the contestants.

Bruno Tonioli, Len Goodman and Darcey Bussell were all pictured holding perfect ten scores.

Only Craig Revel Horwood disagreed, giving the mystery couple nine points.

The hosts: Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly will of course preside over the show as usual

The judge – known as ‘Mr Nasty’ because of his cutting critiques – will join in the evening’s entertainments by dressing as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and pulling a sleigh across the studio.

Veteran rocker Rod Stewart, 67, will serenade the audience with a Christmas song.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2249733/Strictly-Come-Dancing-Christmas-Special-Fabrice-Muamba-shows-fancy-footwork.html#ixzz2FOd6rc3u
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Rachel Stevens takes on Tom Chambers in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special

Finally getting her second chance! Rachel Stevens takes on Tom Chambers in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special... four years after he beat her in the final

By JENNIFER RUBY

PUBLISHED: 23:57, 17 December 2012 | UPDATED: 01:22, 18 December 2012

Four years ago Rachel Stevens admitted that she was devastated after coming second to Tom Chambers in the Strictly Come Dancing final.

But now the former pop star has her chance to steal his crown, as both former contestants are to take part in this year's Christmas special.

Screened on Christmas Day, the one-off show will see newbies such as JLS star JB Gill, Sheila Hancock and footballer Fabrice Muamba take on returning contestants including Chelsee Healey, Natasha Kaplinsky and Chris Hollins.

Back to win the trophy: Rachel Stevens, who came runner-up in 2008, appears on the Strictly Christmas special with rival Tom Chambers

Runner-up Rachel admitted that she was a 'blubbering wreck' after actor Tom pipped her to the post in 2008, trying to fight off tears in front of 13million viewers.

Speaking to The Sun after the final, she said: 'Everything was too much. I bawled - I was a blubbering wreck.'

But it seems that, four years later, the former S Club 7 star has composed herself enough to return to the dancefloor and try her hand at winning the trophy.

The fight is on: Tom will be up against Rachel again, after he pipped her to the post four years ago

Last year's runner-up: Chelsee Healey will also be vying for first place in the special, to be aired on Christmas Day

Partnered again with Vincent Simone, the 34-year-old filmed the special festive edition of the show on Sunday, looking just as svelte as she did when she was on it the first time.

The singer took to the floor with her partner in a figure-hugging black and white dress, seeming just as confident as she was four years ago.

But Rachel could have competition from last year's runner-up, Chelsee, who also seems set on winning the festive trophy.

Taking to the floor: The line-up of new stars for this year includes Katy Brand, Fabrice Muamba and JB Gill

Newbies: Helen Skelton and Sheila Hancock both take to the dancefloor for the first time 

Back on form: Footballer Muamba, who collapsed last year during a match, seems to have found a new niche on the dancefloor

Impressed: The judges seem in great spirits as they rave about the dances

New stars including footballer Muamba will also be looking to impress judges Craig Revel-Horwood, Bruno Tonioli, Len Goodman and Darcey Bussell.

The Zaire-born player collapsed during a match last year due to a heart problem, and has since given up football.

Former winner: Chris Hollins, who proved a hit with the public, is back to win their hearts again

Having a laugh: Former contestants including Ann Widdecombe and Russell Grant return for a routine

He's got the moves: JLS star JB shows off his gymnastic skills, Louis Smith-style

He recently said during an interview on ITV: 'I'd do Strictly Come Dancing. I love my salsa, so I'd be well up for that.'

Even strictest judge Craig got into spirit of things, dressing up in a Rudolph costume for the show, while Rod Stewart took to the stage to perform.

As this year's contestants also had their chance to shine, past favourites including Ann Widdecombe and Russell Grant made an appearance on the dancefloor.

Getting festive: Tess Daly and Bruce Forsyth return for the one-off, while judge Craig Revel-Horwood dresses up as Rudolph

Getting into the spirit: Katy Brand wears a floating chiffon dress while partner Anton du Beke goes all out in a Christmas jumper

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2249586/Rachel-Stevens-takes-Tom-Chambers-Strictly-Come-Dancing-Christmas-special--years-beat-final.html#ixzz2FOcoUBQH
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