17 Strictly Come Dancing contestants you forgot were on the show

Strictly Come Dancing fever is in the air. With the first live show of 2023 taking place on Saturday, the excitement is palpable and we can’t wait to see the 21 series line-up in the ballroom for the first time.

Buzz for Strictly this year has caught up, take a trip down memory lane and look back at some of the other big names on TV who have previously appeared on the BBC’s Ballroom and Latin competition. Here are 17 names that have joined the lineup in the past that you may have forgotten about…

Naked Munchetty

2016 BBC Breakfast host Naga Munchetty appeared along with Pasha Kovalev to participate in the fourteenth series Strictly. However, her journey was cut short after the TV star was eliminated in third place after failing to make it through the dance-off. As well as Naga, other stars who appeared in series 14 were Melvin Odoom, Daisy Lowe and Ore Oduba – who would go on to win the series.

Emma Bunton

Baby Spice wowed with her moves on the Strictly dance floor back in 2006 for the fourth series. Emma teamed up with Darren Bennett and made it all the way to the semi-finals, finishing third. That year English cricketer Mark Ramprakash won along with Karen Hardy.

Aston Merrygold

JLS singer Aston Merrygold took part in Strictly series 15 which aired in 2017. Aston was partnered alongside Janette Marar and they quickly became favorites to win, but unfortunately after failing to dance in week 6, the judges sent the couple home. – in our opinion, far too early!

Anastasia

American singer Anastacia joined series 14 of Strictly 2016 and was paired with ex-pro partner Brendan Cole, but had the chance to dance with then-newbie Gorka Marquez in week five. The I’m Outta Love hitmaker made it to week six. That year, Ore Oduba was crowned the winner along with professional Joanne Clifton.

Alex Jones

TV favorite and host The One Show Alex Jones joined the ninth series of Strictly in 2011. The TV presenter from Wales, who gave birth to her second child in May this year, was partnered with former show pro James Jordan.

The two proved to be a popular couple and were voted into the semi-finals of week 11, during which the two performed two spots, a waltz and a salsa, before being eliminated in a dance match. Although the pair just missed out on lifting the iconic glitter ball trophy, they earned commendable marks from the judges, racking up plenty of eights and nines during the competition. We LOVED seeing Alex show off those moves!

Carol Vorderman

Countdown legend Carol Vorderman put on her dancing shoes in 2004 to take part in the second series of the BBC show. Teaming up with her partner Paul Killick, the queen of numbers impressed the crowd with a waltz in week one and a rumba in week two.

But her performance of the rhombus led to a lower score (it was later revealed that Carol had suffered a torn cartilage during the performance) and the two were eliminated in the second week. Her elimination came a lot earlier than we’d hoped – we’d love to see Carol cha-cha make it to the finals!

James Martin

TV chef James Martin joined the Strictly cast in 2005 for the show’s third series and was partnered with Camilla Dallerup. The host of Saturday Kitchen and the professional partner worked very well together, and it was even rumored that he would be part of the show.

Ballroom seems to have been his forte as he scored a 33 for his foxtrot, his highest scoring dance, although their steamy salsa made headlines. James didn’t always get the best marks from the judges, but the two were popular with viewers and voted through to week nine, becoming semi-finalists in the process.

Kate Garraway

Reader and presenter at Good morning Britain Kate Garraway teamed up with the king of the ballroom himself, Anton du Beke, for Strictly’s fifth series in 2007. Kate suffered an ankle injury shortly before the show began, but the TV presenter pulled through and was determined to continue competing.

Although Kate didn’t get the best marks for her Latin and dance performances, rarely scoring more than a 20, the audience and viewers loved her anyway and the two voted through to week seven without having to compete in one dreaded dance-off before – go Kate!

Jerry Hall

American model and actress Jerry Hall took to the ballroom with her pro partner Anton Du Beke for the show’s tenth series in 2012. The wife of Rupert Murdoch and former Rolling Stones rocker Mick Jagger, performed Latin and dance songs with Anton during her time on the show.

She may not have wowed the judges or topped the rankings, but she definitely dazzled the audience with her cha-cha-cha, quickstep and foxtrot. Jerry and Anton were evicted in week three and although she left the competition early, the blonde beauty certainly left her mark on the show.

Penny Lancaster

In 2007, it was Penny Lancaster’s turn to embrace the glitz and glamor for the fifth series of Strictly Come Dancing. The wife of rocker Rod Stewart took to the ballroom and was partnered with pro Ian Waite.

The former model and TV personality impressed the judges with her quickstep, samba and foxtrot, which earned her a top score of 35. The pair wowed the judges and viewers for five weeks before being eliminated in a dance-off against Matt Di Angelo and Flavia Cacaca. We’d love to see her rock for a few more weeks…

Fern Britton

Morning TV legend Fern Britton graced the Strictly dancefloor for its tenth series in 2012, two years after competing in the Christmas special. Fern was paired with former champion Artem Chigvintseva and the two made a great team, learning Latin and dance favorites such as American smooth, Charleston and salsa.

Fern may not have gotten the best marks from the judges, but the public clearly loved it and voted her in by week six. We think she left too soon!

Christine Lampard

TV presenter and wife of footballer Frank, Christine Lampard (then Bleakley) swapped reading the news for tinsel and glitter when she joined the BBC’s sixth series in 2008. Christine was a partner with the then Strictly champion Matthew Cutler (Matthew won the previous series with Alesha Dixon).

The two were a great couple learning Latin and dance routines that impressed the audience and the judges, scoring a few eights and nines in the process. The two were voted off to week 11 after wowing viewers with their jive, foxtrot and more. Christine may have just missed the finals, but she certainly brought glam and class to the ballroom.

Matt Baker

Previous Blue Peter Host Matt Baker cha-cha-cha’d into the ballroom in 2010 for the eighth series, in collaboration with Aliona Vilani. The two received consistently high marks from the judges, often scoring in the 30s.

Although you may have forgotten that the first one The One Show presenter once wore sequins and open tops for a BBC competition, who could forget those hips? Matt and Aliona’s snake samba won a near-perfect score in week eight at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom and they performed it again in the final, where the pair came runners-up to Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev. We’d love to see Matt shake his hips again, maybe a Christmas special?

Simon Webbe

Blue singer Simon Webbe joined the competition in 2014 for series 12 and was immediately tipped as a potential finalist. Simon was partnered with Russian beauty Kristina Rihanoff and the pair rarely scored below 30 in their scintillating routines. Simon and Kristina were also a hit among the viewers who voted and danced the waltz all the way to the final.

You may have forgotten that Simon appeared on the show, but his performances were certainly memorable – remember THAT Argentinian tango in week eight that put him on top of the charts for the first time? In the grand finale, Simon and Kristina reprized their incredible Argentine tango, scoring a perfect 40 and securing their rightful place as runners-up.

Rachel Stevens

S Club 7 beauty Rachel Stevens joined the sixth series of the BBC show in 2008, partnering Vincent Simone. Learning those S Club dance routines seems to have come in handy for the former pop star as the two have been getting top marks from the judges week after week, including tens for their rumba, foxtrot and Argentine tango.

Viewers loved her as much as the judges as they voted each week, sailing all the way to the final. Although the singer just missed out on first place to winner Tom Chambers, she certainly proved to be a true Strictly star and a worthy runner-up.

Michelle Williams

Yes, exactly! Destiny’s Child legend Michelle Williams took part in the eighth series Strictly Come Dancing In 2010, the American singer and Beyoncé’s best friend, in collaboration with professional dancer Brendan Cole, practiced tango, jive, foxtrot and others. Michelle’s hard work paid off and even earned her a few high fives from the judges.

However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing as the singer received a four from Craig Revel Horwood for her Paso Doble in week seven, which saw them finish in the bottom two places and voted off by the judges. Michelle didn’t quite make it to Blackpool Tower’s legendary ballroom, but she certainly brought some Bootylicious magic to the performance. We wonder if she could convince Beyoncé to participate one day…

Kara Tointon

EastEnders beauty Kara Tointon danced on Strictly dancefloor for the eighth series in 2010 and was paired with professional dancer Artem Chigvintsev. Kara and Artem wowed the judges by consistently winning high marks and were often at the top of the rankings.

Crowds and audiences also raved about their Argentine tango, Viennese waltz, salsa and more, and were voted on week after week. Kara and Artem became a part during the show and dated for a few years after that, but divorced in 2014. During the competition, the couple made it to the finals and became the happy couple who lifted the coveted glitter ball trophy in the grand series finale. Well deserved!

Categories: Entertaintment
Source: HIS Education

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