I read somewhere Gethin, Alesha, Jill, Colin and Kelly are all taking part, how is this going to work as 4 of them are partnered to a pro in the competition.
Are they all going to swop partners this year or is the x mas special different to how it usually goes. If i remember correctly the top 4 last year all took part?
Im looking forward to seeing Kelly, Jill, Alesha and Rachel all dancing on the same show.

I hope none of this years couples are taking part, I think it's really unfair on them to have film it while they're training for the semi's.

I look forward to seeing all of these but particularly Gethin. Maybe he could dance with Flavia if Camilla and Tom dance together?

Hope you are right would love to Gethin in the Christmas show!

Well all the couples will dance then Alesha picks up the trophy at the end.

I love Gethin too. I want to see him do a Vietnez waltz for it.

We know that if both Jill and Gethin are in it then no one else stands a chance! Which suits me perfectly.

I haven't heard Gethin's name anywhere

I have a feeling this year's xmas special is going to be different from the last 2, which had the 4 quarterfinalists and 2 "others" from previous series. For starters more than 2 "others" have been invited, and the number of couples has always been 6 so I don't think that's going to change.

Alesha said in an interview that she is definitely doing it and that she'll be dancing with Matthew. In another interview she said she postponed her christmas holiday to Thailand because of the xmas special, and that she's flying out the following day. She has a performance in South Africa on the 13th of December, so it's unlikely to be the monday after the quarterfinal (8th Dec) which is when it was recorded last year and the year before.

I suspect it'll be the monday after the final (22nd Dec) like it was in 2004 and 2005 (in 2006 and 2007 the monday after the final was xmas day and xmas eve respectively so it couldn't be recorded then)

I am always amazed at the amount of information people on this forum remember about previous series of SCD. I'm jealous - I remember a few of my favourite dances at that's about it.
Last edited by Daisy_M : 23-11-2008 at 00:18

I am so sad not only do I remember Alesha's dances including their order but can reel of the scores for each including what each judge gave each dance....Always had memory for random things.

Its helps when I watch this series as really easy to make comparisons and predict marks without having to check.

Sad but hey who cares

She didn't win last year (but fingers crossed for this year!).

I too am amazed at the recollection powers of some posters on here! They often jog my memory about things that I would never have remembered otherwise!

Come on Colin (crosses everything in readiness)

Come on Jill!

I wonder how much practice everybody is putting in to get ready? LOL!

Actually it would be nice for Colin to win - would make up a little bit for missing out because of the dancing dummy thing.

Yay!! I'm glad, Matthew and Alesha (along with Jodie and Ian) have been my favourite partnerships. I would have been disappointed if they weren't dancing together. That's good news.

I heard somewhere that B**ody John Sergeant is doing it.
because i remember saying to myself "they just cant get rid of them can they?? james was right he has turned it into a john sergeant show, he is selfish and a snide man"

so i reckon it going to be the final 7..
and include
Alesha
&
Mark

ill be over the moon with this line up if it is correct,
the only downer is john sergeant being in it

My favourites are still Jill and Darren



I doubt somehow that John Sergeant is doing it, otherwise he wouldn't have withdrawn from this year's competition. Although it's just my opinion with nothing to back it up, so I could be wrong I suppose.

I do hope you are wrong, very wrong.

About John Sergeant or Mark ?

No news of Mark doing it . He has benefit year things left to do and things with Karen , but will be at SCD on Dec 13th, all day .

He won 2 years ago .

I have never believed the dummy dance cost him the final , it was well lost before that , especally if Darren's book is to be believed .

I know but it is not the same as winning the series imho.

I don't know what Darren's book says tbh, but I do vividly remember sitting watch Colin & Erin doing that dance and thinking what on earth is this? I felt so flat with disappointment at the end.

Don't get me wrong as I think Darren was a worthy winner, and while I understand why Erin did it but it was a bad choice of routine.

Best place to check this will be the BBC press office when the show details come out next week. I've had a look there now but they're only offering up details for the semis at present

Darren was way way ahead on votes before the showdance and ther would have been no time for there to have been sufficient votes for ( or against ) Colin after his showdance to change the result .
I think the showdance has very little effect on the final result .

Me too! In fact, excuse me while I grab the cat and plait her tail!

The press office has been updated

'Strictly Come Dancing returns for a special festive edition featuring favourite contestants from Christmas past and present. Jill Halfpenny, Kelly Brook and Alesha Dixon are back to battle this year's three finalists for the title of Strictly Christmas Champions.


Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly return to present the special and, as ever, judges Craig Revel Horwood, Arlene Phillips, Bruno Tonioli and head judge Len Goodman are on hand to give their verdicts on the competing couples.



All the music featured in the programme is festive and "The Voice", Russell Watson, makes a special guest appearance.