TOGETHER with the Spice Girls, Emma Bunton had one of history’s biggest Christmas number ones.
So she seems like the perfect fit to bring some festive sparkle to Strictly’s Christmas special.
Spice Girl Emma Bunton is set to the the special guest performing on the Strictly Christmas Special this year[/caption]
Emma during her Spice Girls heyday[/caption]
Emma with the girls on the Spice Girls reunion tour[/caption]
Emma will croon through 1996 smash 2 Become 1 whilst the pro dancers twirl on the special spin-off competition airing on Christmas Day.
And if you experience a sense of deja vu, that’s because the whole girlband performed the song during the 2007 final.
But a Spice Girl has never danced on the show.
Emma will reunite with her good pal Tamzin Outhwaite, who is a contestant on the Christmas special.
She’ll compete against comedian Josh Widdicombe, Drag Queen Tayce, TV presenter Vogue Williams, Gladiator Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, and racing driver and paralympics host Billy Monger.
Elsewhere, Strictly hosts Tess Daly, Claudia Winkleman and the BBC gang have looked back fondly over the show’s 20-year history for a new celebratory special.
Head judge Shirley Ballas says: “I’ll forever love Ed Balls as a human being and for his Gangnam Style.”
Tess tells viewers: “The first that comes to mind is Ed Balls doing Gangnam Style and I bet Claudia agrees with me.
“We still talk about it to this day. Simply because it epitomised the spirit of the show, and what it’s all about i.e. throwing yourself into it with complete abandon and utter commitment.”
Ed and Katya felt it was only right to recreate the dance for the special lookback.
The one-off show Strictly Come Dancing: 20 Fabulous Years, which airs on Saturday at 7pm on BBC1, also features behind-the-scenes crew.
Elsewhere in the special episode, other beloved couples chat about their time on the show.
2020 winner Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse cuddle up, whilst 2023 finalist Fleur East and Vito Coppola had a go at remembering their Blackpool Couples Choice moves.
Lovebirds Dianne Buswell and Joe Sugg are still together after meeting on the ballroom series.
And Anton Du Beke and Judy Murray share laughs about her own comedic time as Mary Poppins on the show.
Tamzin Outhwaite will star in the Strictly Christmas special[/caption]
The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special will take place on Christmas Day[/caption]
Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special WINNERS
STRICTLY Come Dancing’s Christmas Special is rolling back around for 2024. Yet who has already scooped the festive Glitterball Trophy?
2005 Darren Gough & Lilia Kopylova
2006 Colin Jackson & Erin Boag
2007 Darren Gough & Lilia Kopylova
2008 Jill Halfpenny & Darren Bennett
2009 Ali Bastian & Brian Fortuna
2010 John Barrowman & Kristina Rihanoff
2011 Charlie Brooks & Vincent Simone
2012 J.B. Gill & Ola Jordan
2013 Rufus Hound & Flavia Cacace
2014 Louis Smith & Aliona Vilani
2015 Harry Judd & Joanne Clifton
2016 Melvin Odoom & Janette Manrara
2017 Katie Derham & Brendan Cole
2018 Aston Merrygold & Janette Manrara
2019 Debbie McGee & Kevin Clifton
2020 —
2021 Anne-Marie & Graziano Di Prima
2022 Alexandra Mardell & Kai Widdrington
2023 Jamie Borthwick & Nancy Xu
