Welcome to the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special, and we're going Back To The Bauble! We've paired up six celebrities who didn't have time to commit to a full series with six of our professional dancers, and each couple will perform a festive routine tonight, hoping to impress our judges and you at home. You will have the chance to vote after all our couples have danced. Without further ado, let's meet the stars of our show...

EastEnders star Mimi Keene and her dance partner Kevin Clifton!
Impressionist and comedian Jon Culshaw and his dance partner Kristina Rihanoff!
Olympic gold medal winning athlete Christine Ohuruogu and her dance partner Ian Waite!
Actor and television presenter Christopher Biggins and his dance partner Natalie Lowe!
Journalist and television presenter Jennie Bond and her dance partner Pasha Kovalev!
And finally, singer Will Young and his dance partner Iveta Lukosiute!

First up tonight will be Will and Iveta!

Will Young & Iveta

Training: For the Christmas special, Will and Iveta will be dancing the American Smooth. Will tells us about the excitement of performing on Strictly; “I’m really excited to get into the festive spirit by performing on Strictly. I have a great partner in Iveta, our song is such a feel good, cheery number, and she’s put together a fantastic routine. I can’t wait to get out there and perform it.”

Costumes: Will, Iveta

Setting: A log cabin with a warm fire inside and snow outside

Dance: American Smooth - Leona Lewis - One More Sleep

Craig: I think you did a rather good job with that, actually. It was slick, stylish and classy, and the lifts were executed very well indeed. A Christmas surprise, I’d say.

Darcey: Wow, Will that was amazing! It was so graceful and elegant and it looked like you had been dancing for years. No wonder Iveta looks like a child on Christmas morning, superb.

Len: It was a very charming dance. I loved all the little kicks and spins you did to the accents in the music; the lifts were fantastic, and the storytelling was beautiful. Well done!

Bruno: Oh my, what a way to open the show! Your technique made you look like a professional and your performance skills are second to none. Will, you’re definitely not on my naughty list…

Scores:
Craig - 9
Darcey - 10
Len - 9
Bruno - 9

Total - 37/40

"How did you find that?" Claudia asks.
"I absolutely loved it, and I can't believe we got a ten from Darcey!" Will says.
"Fantastic! Back to you Zoe."

Thanks Claudia! Next up tonight are Christine and Ian. Let's see how they've been getting on with the festive spirit!

Christine Ohuruogu & Ian

Training: Christine and Ian have been training hard to perfect their Christmas special Waltz. “The Waltz is a tricky one,” Christine says. “I’m so nervous about performing this one, because it’s just so slow and you are able to see every time you make a mistake. It is worrying me a little, but I know I’m going to have fun and just enjoy myself.”

Costumes: Christine, Ian

Setting: Outside on a cold winter's night, with frost and robins on trees

Dance: Waltz - Julie Andrews - Away In A Manger

Craig: I thought the start was great, but it all began to fall apart towards the end. Your frame became loose, your footwork was quite sloppy and you went off balance, unfortunately.

Darcey: Christine, first of all can I just say how stunning you look in that dress. Strictly is difficult for sportswomen, and I know you’re no different. It did look a little unsteady, but I thought it was quite an enchanting dance.

Len: I thought it was stunning. I didn’t see any of the things Craig has been pointing out. Dancing is very difficult, and I think you did a very good job considering how nervous you were. It was lovely.

Bruno: Oh Christine love, don’t beat yourself up about it. We could tell you were quite nervous, but you did very well. I thought there was an air of vulnerability to it, which made the whole thing really endearing.

Scores:
Craig - 7
Darcey - 8
Len - 9
Bruno - 9

Total - 33/40

"I loved that, you look stunning! How did you find it, Ian?" says Claudia.
"I thought it was a lovely dance. You did very well and I'm so proud of you." Ian says.

Now we have Christopher and Natalie, who shall be performing a festive Charleston. But will it get Craig out of his Scrooge mood?

Christopher Biggins & Natalie

Training: Dancing the Charleston are Christopher and Natalie. Christopher tells us about their dance, saying “it’s set on Christmas day, while the whole family are having Christmas dinner. It’s going to be a full-on fun fest, and even features a real cooked turkey with all the trimmings!”

Costumes: Christopher, Natalie

Setting: Inside on Christmas day with a large family eating Christmas dinner

Dance: Charleston - Jona Lewie - Stop The Cavalry

Craig: Sadly I am feeling like Scrooge after that. I thought the whole thing was quite undercooked, if I’m being honest. It was slow, ploddy, and I was only smiling with anxiety throughout it, sadly.

Darcey: There certainly needed to be more attention to the technique - not everyone can be won over just by a Biggins grin! Seriously though, I thought you put a lot into the performance and the lifts were actually quite well executed.

Len: Well, it reminded me of eating Brussels sprouts - you’re nervous beforehand, it’s chewy and sticky at the start, and then it falls apart to mush by the end! It wasn’t my favourite, but you gave it a good go, so well done.

Bruno: Oh my, can I unsee that please? It’s a Christmas tragedy! It needed much more swivel, much better timing and much less gurning! I know it is Christmas, but tone down the excited toddler face please!

Scores:
Craig - 5
Darcey - 7
Len - 8
Bruno - 7

Total - 27/40

"Maybe the judges didn't, but we all loved it up here!" Claudia exclaims.
"Thanks Claudia, I just hope it hasn't put people off having turkey for their Christmas dinner."
"I'm sure it hasn't - Craig's a vegan anyway."

Oh Claud! Our next Christmas gift will be delivered by Jennie and Pasha, who are dancing a Salsa to Frosty The Snowman. Let's just hope it doesn't melt away...

Jennie Bond & Pasha

Training: Salsa-ing for the Christmas special will be Jennie and Pasha. Jennie tells us about her favourite Christmas memories; “I remember when I was five years old, running down the stairs with my older sisters to see what Santa had brought us, and in complete haste, we knocked over our Christmas tree in the hall and one of my sisters had to go to A&E! That certainly was an experience!” But will her Christmas Salsa mean another trip to A&E?

Costumes: Jennie, Pasha

Setting: Outside on a snowy day, building a (and sabotaging the other's) snowman

Dance: Salsa - The Jackson Five - Frosty The Snowman

Craig: You certainly exceeded my expectations with this Salsa, but it did require much more light and brightness to it.

Darcey: Jennie, I really, really liked that. I could tell you really enjoyed that dance and being lifted into Pasha’s arms must certainly help! Perhaps a bit more hip action, but a very polished Salsa.

Len: I think it was a bit rough around the edges, but everyone gets over-excited at Christmas, don’t they? I think you did a very good job with a difficult dance, so well done.

Bruno: Oh Jennie, you certainly ain’t frosty tonight! You were hot, hot, hot! Maybe you went over the thermostat limit with your enthusiasm, but I loved that performance.

Scores:
Craig - 7
Darcey - 8
Len - 8
Bruno - 8

Total - 31/40

"Are you pleased with the scores?" Claudia asks.
"Yes I am actually, because the total is my exact age!" Jennie jokes.
"So it is! The total is the number of lights on my jumper too!" **Claudia switches on the lights on her jumper**

Our penultimate couple tonight is Jon and Kristina. Now their dance features a lost and lonely puppy; let's just hope he doesn't feel even more lost after watching them dance!

Jon Culshaw & Kristina

Training: For the Christmas special, Jon and Kristina will be dancing a Quickstep set in a gift shop at Christmas. “I’ve always loved the song we’re dancing to,” Jon explains. “It’s a really fun routine, and involves a certain dog. I’ll play a shop assistant, and Kristina will be in to buy some presents, when she notices the lonely dog in it’s own. And then we Quickstep…”

Costumes: Jon, Kristina

Setting: In a gift shop, with a lost and lonely dog inside

Dance: Quickstep - Adam Faith - Lonely Pup In A Christmas Shop

Craig: You’re definitely the surprise of the show, Jon. In fact, I’d go as far as to say it’s a Christmas miracle! Your footwork was fantastic, your frame was spot on and I loved the characterisation.

Darcey: I loved this, Jon. It was fast, light, tight and bright and I can’t find any faults, other than a slight gap between you two at the end of the dance. I really loved the whole thing though.

Len: That pup may have been lonely, but you certainly won’t be tonight! It was everything a Christmas Quickstep needed to be; yes, there was a little mistake at the end, but your acting skills in that were fantastic.

Bruno: What I loved about this was that you really engaged with the audience. It was fun, I enjoyed it, the audience enjoyed it, and maybe even the dog enjoyed it!

Scores:
Craig - 8
Darcey - 9
Len - 9
Bruno - 9

Total - 35/40

"Wow! Three nines! You must be thrilled?"
"Absolutely. We've put in so much work and I think it's paid off. Thank you to the judges for some great comments," Jon says.
"Well done you two. Over to you Zoe!"

Our Christmas desserts will be served up by our final couple tonight - Mimi and Kevin! Now they'll be doing a Jive, with Mimi as an elf and Kevin as Santa. But will they deliver everything in time?

Mimi Keene & Kevin

Training: Dancing the Jive this afternoon are Mimi and Kevin. “I’m finding the Jive really, really hard,” Mimi tells us. “We have such a fast song to dance to, and it’s already killing my knees. We have to make sure we don’t go off timing on the night, otherwise it will be a very Silent Night for the two of us…”

Costumes: Mimi, Kevin

Setting: In Santa's toy factory, with the elfs hard at work whilst Santa is relaxing

Dance: Jive - Mariah Carey - Oh Santa!

Craig: You were the angel on top of the tree tonight, Mimi. That’s all I’ll say.

Darcey: Mimi, that was amazing! Your footwork was sharp, clean and precise, you were never off time, you had fun… What more could I ask for? I absolutely loved it!

Len: I tell you something, I’m gobsmacked someone can produce a Jive of that calibre after just one or two weeks of training. That is the sort of present everyone wants to wake up to on Christmas morning.

Bruno: Wowee, that was fantabulous! I can’t speak for everyone but I really could see you being just as good on the main show… Amazing!

Scores:
Craig - 10
Darcey - 10
Len - 10
Bruno - 10

Total - 40/40

"Four tens! I've never seen anything like it! You were fantastic!" Claudia says.
"Thank you so much," Mimi and Kevin both reply.
"You know Kevin, I was wondering what my name would be if I was to marry Santa?" Claudia asks
"I think Mrs Claud Claus would work, no?"
"So is that a yes then!?"

So the leaderboard for Back To The Bauble is as follows:

1. Mimi Keene & Kevin Clifton - 40
2. Will Young & Iveta Lukosiute - 37
3. Jon Culshaw & Kristina Rhianoff - 35
4. Christine Ohuruogu & Ian Waite - 33
5. Jennie Bond & Pasha Kovalev - 31
6. Christopher Biggins & Natalie Lowe - 27

Now it's over to you!

Please start voting by sending me a PM ranking all couples from 6 (your favourite) to 1 (your least favourite). These votes will be combined with the judges scores to determine which couple will be crowned our Christmas champions!

Voting closes in tomorrow's results show, which begins at 4.00pm.

---CHRISTINE AND IAN ---

Couples Remaining
Christopher & Natalie
Jennie & Pasha
Jon & Kristina
Mimi & Kevin
Will & Iveta

Failing to win the show are...

---JENNIE AND PASHA ---

Couples Remaining
Jon & Kristina
Mimi & Kevin
Will & Iveta

Jon & Kristina, Mimi & Kevin and Will & Iveta, you will have to wait to learn your fate.

---JON AND KRISTINA ---

Couples Remaining
Mimi & Kevin
Will & Iveta

Mimi & Kevin and Will & Iveta, you are our top two. Please step forward.