The BBC have confirmed that Sir Bruce Forsyth will not be back to host this year’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special. Earlier this year bosses hoped that Brucie would be making a one off return to the dancing show but now it’s been revealed that due to a surgical procedure last month, the XX-year-old will not have recovered in time.
“The Strictly Christmas Special, which records next week, will be too early for Sir Bruce Forsyth to have made a full recovery from his recent operation,” a spokesperson from the BBC said. “Due to the long studio hours, he is unable to host the show but will still play a part in the production.
“Sir Bruce will record a special video message for this year's celebrity line-up and the viewers at home, which will play out when the Strictly Christmas Special airs on BBC One on Christmas Day at 6:15pm.”
SCD said our favourite Claudia Winkleman will take Bruce’s place alongside Tess Daly.
This year’s Christmas Special is set to be a very big event, with previous winners Abbey Clancy, Harry Judd and Tom Chambers coming back to dance. Alison Hammond, Lisa Snowdon and Cassidy Little – the first SCD people’s champion – will also take to the floor.
Strictly Come Dancing 2015: ALL the celebrity dancers!
1 of 15Peter Andre
Who: The living legend who bewitched the nation, and Katie Price, by crooning extraordinary romance-bomb Insania in the depths of the Australian jungle. Fascinating Fact: Ex-wife Katie has claimed that Peter’s manhood is the shape of a Sky+ remote. Might this prove a handicap during some of Strictly’s faster moves? Chances Of Winning: In terms of fanbase alone, Mr A has to be a firm favourite. (Yeah, we know, you’re still thinking about that Sky+ remote.)
2 of 15Jamelia
Who: Britain’s very own R&B whirlwind. Jamelia’s also presented TV docs – and even done some Strictly-style dance-judging on BBC Three’s 2009 show Move Like Michael Jackson. Fascinating Fact: She scored her first record deal at the age of 15 after writing her own tunes with a karaoke machine. Chances Of Winning: Jamelia’s dance experience, on both sides of the judge’s table, have to make her a real contender.
3 of 15Helen George
Who: Call The Midwife regular, playing glam (if alcoholic) nurse Beatrix “Trixie” Franklin. Fascinating Fact: Helen is married to TV/film actor Oliver Boot, who she met when they both acted in BBC1’s Hotel Babylon. Chances Of Winning: We’re not sure why, but instinct tells us Helen could be quite the mover.
4 of 15Carol Kirkwood
Who: BBC Breakfast’s weather presenter, also seen on The Weather Show and Radio 2’s Chris Evans Breakfast Show. Anything to do with weather, she’s all over it like rain on a roof. Fascinating Fact: Carol’s done bits of onscreen dancing here and there, including some ice skating for the BBC’s New Year’s Eve Special in 2006. Chances Of Winning: Her previous dance experience suggests Carol’s prospects are bright, with frequent showers.
5 of 15Jay McGuiness
Who: One fifth of rather popular boy-band The Wanted, who you may have heard of. Currently pursuing a solo career, like the rest of his bandmates. Fascinating Fact: Jay went to a dance school at the age of 13. Hmm, this just come in handy. Chances Of Winning: High in terms of fanbase and ability. Jay’s no stranger to pulling shapes, but how versatile is he? Only Strictly’s emotional rollercoaster can reveal the truth.
6 of 15Ainsley Harriott
Who: Former presenter of the first wave of BBC kitchen-based TV competition shows: Ready, Steady, Cook and Can’t Cook, Won’t Cook. Regular owner of infectious grin. Fascinating Fact: Before cuisine consumed his life, Ainsley was half of The Calypso Twins, a musical duo who scored an early 90s hit with World Party. Chances Of Winning: Low, unless Strictly inexplicably becomes a speedy-cooking championship.
7 of 15Kirsty Gallacher
Who: Scottish TV presenter of things like Kirsty’s Home Videos, Channel 4’s The Games, Sky1’s Gladiators and most recently Sky Sports News HQ. Fascinating Fact: While growing up in Virginia Water, Kirsty had former Strictly godfather Bruce Forsyth as a neighbour. What a Brucie Bonus. Chances Of Winning: High. Let’s not forget: Kirsty not only won The Games in 2005, but went on to present it. Look out, Tess, Claudia and Zoe!
8 of 15Jeremy Vine
Who: Radio 2 presenter with a legendarily direct interviewing style. He’s also an author and a BBC news presenter, having reported from war zones. But how will he survive on Strictly’s shiny dancefloor? Fascinating Fact: His favourite song is AC/DC’s Whole Lotta Rosie, so brace yourself for air-guitar elements in his performance. Chances Of Winning: We sense little magic in this man’s feet.
9 of 15Georgia May Foote
Who: She played Chesney Brown’s unfaithful girlfriend Katy Armstrong on Corrie from 2010 till March this year, when the character jetted off for a new life in Portugal. Fascinating Fact: Before her acting career really bloomed, Georgia specialised in portraying murder victims, including one in the BBC’s Life On Mars. Chances Of Winning: We have high hopes for the plucky 24-year-old.
10 of 15Iwan Thomas
Who: Brit sprinter and former European and Commonwealth Games champ. He retired from athletics in 2012, having suffered a string of injuries over the years. Fascinating Fact: You may have seen Iwan in various TV competition shows, like Celebrity MasterChef, The Real Hustle and Total Wipeout. Chances Of Winning: Provided old injuries don’t hamper him, Iwan has the physical prowess. But does he have the fanbase?
11 of 15Anthony Ogogo
Who: The Olympic boxer, who took a bronze medal home from the London 2012 Games. Claims he’s doing Strictly because of a shoulder injury which has made boxing impossible until December. Fascinating Fact: Anthony regularly shares sage wisdom with his 78K followers, in tweets such as, “Have a great day. Go and smash it whatever you’re doing!” Chances Of Winning: Pretty good in terms of the judges’ influence. Would tell Anthony Ogogo to his face that he’s rubbish?
12 of 15Katie Derham
Who: The journalist and presenter of various shows for TV and radio, having flitted from the BBC to ITV and back again. Enjoys a spot of violin-playing. Fascinating Fact: Katie has about 8000 Twitter followers and is a serial retweeter of anything to do with BBC Proms. Chances Of Winning: Fairly high, if she’s as obsessive about practising as she is about RT-ing.
13 of 15Daniel O'Donnell
Who: Wildly successful Irish singer, majoring in country and folk music. In 2012, he became the first artist to have a different album in the British charts every year for 25 years. Fascinating Fact: Among Daniel’s biggest celeb fans is author Marian Keyes, who tweeted, “I’m so excited about him being on Strictly I’ve gone temporarily BLIND”. Chances Of Winning: The man’s homeland fanbase would be a huge advantage, if only viewers in the Republic of Ireland were allowed to vote…
14 of 15Kellie Bright
Who: Acts in EastEnders as Linda Carter, wife of Mick (Danny Dyer). She’s done lots of other TV including Holby City, Casualty and Vera. Fascinating Fact: Kellie had a role in the 2002 movie Ali G Indahouse, as Ali G’s missus Julie, aka “Me Julie”. Chances Of Winning: Fair to middling – she could be this year’s Sunetra Sarker, who reached Week Nine last year.
15 of 15Anita Rani
Who: TV and radio presenter who’s worked for almost every UK broadcaster you could name. Her latest gig is the rural affairs extravaganza Countryfile. Fascinating Fact: Anita was one of the BBC’s presenters for the 2011 Royal Wedding. Seeing only her top half, viewers remained unaware that she was secretly dancing throughout. Possibly. Chances Of Winning: So-so. Anita claims to be “terrified” by Strictly – but could this just be a ruse, so she can blind us with her years of secret training?