This year’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special was the last to be hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, and they certainly made it a memorable finale.
Tonight’s show featured five celebrities and their professional dance partners spreading holiday joy, and it held special meaning for hosts Tess and Claudia.
Referencing a famous scene from the movie Love Actually, Claudia Winkleman opened a door to find Dave Arch waiting with cue cards.
Dave’s Christmas cards said, ‘Imagine it’s carol singers. Claud, because it’s Christmas, and this is the last time I’ll see you, you are perfect to me. Even though you’re orange, it’s always been you.’ Tess Daly laughed, and seemed to gather herself after getting a little emotional reading the message.
Winkleman then had some cards of her own, which read: “Rumba? Tess.”
Scarlett Moffatt and Vito Coppola finished the Christmas special with one last dance, and shared a hug before the show went on.
Last weekend’s show featured a touching video tribute to the hosts, with the production team sharing how much they’d contributed to the series and calling them beloved figures. Before they could fully react, judge Craig Revel Horwood surprised them by reading a heartfelt message from Queen Camilla, who thanked Tess and Claudia on behalf of the show’s millions of viewers as they prepared for their final performance.
I’ve always believed that ‘Strictly’ isn’t really about the dancing itself, but more about the friendships that develop. It’s about the connections people make, the challenges they face together, and the happiness they find in working towards a common goal.
“If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all.
What really made this show work, for me, was the genuine connection between the leads. Their warmth, kindness, and obvious joy with each other weren’t just charming – they were the driving force behind everything good about it. It’s that simple: their happiness was contagious, and it’s what kept me coming back.
Honestly, speaking as someone who absolutely loves movies, I think I can say for everyone that you two have been amazing. I really wish you all the best for whatever comes next, but if there’s one thing I hope you’ll do, it’s to keep dancing! It clearly brings so much joy, and I’ve always believed in the power of that kind of passion.
Tess and Claudia were visibly moved, both calling the moment incredible, as they said goodbye after the show ended.
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The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special is available to watch on catch-up on BBC iPlayer.
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I really enjoy following Katelyn Mensah’s work at TopMob. She’s their Senior Entertainment Writer and always seems to be on top of everything happening – from the biggest shows to the latest, most impactful documentaries. Before TopMob, she was writing about reality TV and showbiz at The Tab, and she has a journalism degree, so she really knows her stuff!
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2025-12-25 22:07