Strictly Come Dancing: all 18 winners ranked
BBC blockbuster Strictly Come Dancing returns to our screens this Saturday for its 19th series.
Here’s a choreographic countdown of every series champion so far, from the worst to best. Let us know if you agree in the comments below. The only question remaining is: where will this year’s Strictly winner rank?
18. Chris Hollins (Series 7, 2009)
He was a decent dancer but BBC Breakfast’s Hollins would have struggled to progress past the quarter-final in most series. His shock triumph came thanks to an endearing partnership with Ola Jordan and a distinctly dull field. Hollins’s average score of 30.9 points is the lowest of any Strictly champion. His Charleston is the only routine most viewers can remember.
17. Darren Gough (Series 3, 2005)
The cricketer’s technique was rough and ready but he bowled through the contest, thanks to hard graft and sheer guts. He steadily improved, but when Olympic hurdler Colin Jackson and partner Erin Boag performed a risky showdance involving mannequins, the way became clear for Goughy and Lilia Kopylova to claim victory. He was also outscored throughout the series by Zoe Ball. Howzat?
16. Natasha Kaplinsky (Series 1, 2004)
The newsreader was a worthy winner of the debut series, with a respectable average score of 33 points, but the standard of dancing was distinctly pedestrian compared to today’s routines. Judges didn’t hold up their perfect 10 paddle as readily back then and Kaplinsky only got one maximum score during the contest. Her stint was just as notable for what happened off the dancefloor; rumours were rife of Strictly’s first-ever “showmance” with pro partner Brendan Cole. And lo, the “Strictly curse” was born.
15. Joe McFadden (Series 15, 2017)
One of the most boring winners in the history of the ballroom contest. By rights, a high-standard series should have been won by the evergreen Debbie McGee or singer Alexandra Burke. However, Holby City’s gentle Joe charmed judges and viewers, and boasted a not-so-secret weapon in the creative choreography of pro partner Katya Jones.
14. Stacey Dooley (Series 16, 2018)
Stace from Luton and Kev from Grimsby were popular winners (and later lovers), but perhaps not the most deserving. Runners-up were pop stars Ashley Roberts and Faye Tozer, neither of whom dropped a point across three dances in the final. However, journalist Dooley and her partner Kevin Clifton, in his fifth final, somehow pipped them both.
13. Tom Chambers (Series 6, 2008)
Nobody gave the Holby City actor much of a hope, especially after a voting controversy in the semi-final. However, he and partner Camilla Dallerup delivered a memorable showdance. His rivals Lisa Snowdon and Rachel Stevens were both better dancers – and “dancing pig” John Sergeant was certainly more memorable – but that crowd-pleasing climax propelled Chambers to victory and a career in West End musicals.
12. Mark Ramprakash (Series 4, 2006)
Few Strictly celebrities have ever shaken their money-maker quite as well as former England batsman Mark “Snake Hips” Ramprakash. He and fellow sportsman Matt Dawson were the year’s surprise packages, out-performing Spice Girl Emma Bunton and Louisa Lytton from EastEnders. Under the expert tutelage of partner Karen Hardy, he sped all the way to glitterball glory.
11. Jay McGuiness (Series 13, 2015)
In a close-fought contest, actors Georgia May Foote and Kellie Bright put up a stiff challenge, as did presenters Katie Derham and Anita Rani. However, it was nifty mover McGuiness from boyband The Wanted who ran out the winner, notably thanks to a memorable Pulp Fiction jive in week three. The sole let-down was the final. He was outscored by both Foote and Bright and became a rare winner to lift the trophy without achieving a perfect 40. Partner Aliona Vilani became the first pro to win the contest twice.
10. Abbey Clancy (Series 11, 2013)
The Liverpudlian model and wife of footballer Peter Crouch started out as a nervy novice but by the time the final came around, she made it look effortless. Forming an endearing partnership with the much-loved Alja? ?korjanec in his debut series as a Strictly pro, her Latin was fiery and her ballroom was dreamily elegant. In an all-female final, Clancy saw off newsreader Susanna Reid, singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor and actor Natalie Gumede.
9. Ore Oduba (Series 14, 2016)
The BBC Sport presenter didn’t have it all his own way, becoming the first champion to survive multiple dance-offs. Ballroom was his strong suit, with his Singin’ in the Rain routine earning praise from no less than Gene Kelly’s widow Patricia. He did well to beat Hollyoaks actor Danny Mac, arguably the best-ever dancer to miss out on the glitterball. The two pushed each other all the way but Oduba’s win was sealed by a jazzy gem of a showdance with partner Joanne Clifton.
8. Kara Tointon (Series 8, 2010)
Another champion with added showmance spice. Romance rumours were swirling about EastEnders actor Tointon and her Russian partner Artem Chigvintsev, which lent an extra frisson to routines. Their Latin sizzled with passion, their ballroom was beautifully poised and their partnership felt all too natural; after lifting the trophy, the pair did indeed get together properly. Tointon trounced rivals including the impressive Matt Baker and Pamela Stephenson, the oldest-ever finalist at 61.
7. Jill Halfpenny (Series 2, 2004)
The EastEnders actor’s unforgettable jive with partner Darren Bennett is still talked about in hushed tones today. When they performed it in the Blackpool final, it was the first routine to score a perfect 40 in Strictly history. Latin was Halfpenny’s strongest suit – her paso doble, cha cha and samba were all pretty spicy – but her ballroom was solid too. It was easy enough to see off the threats of Denise Lewis and Julian Clary.
6. Bill Bailey (Series 18, 2020)
Comedian Bailey might not be the best dancer to get his hands on the glitterball but he’s definitely among the most joyous. He had musicality, technique and charisma by the cartload, exploited to the max by pro partner Oti Mabuse. He hit great heights with an infectious hip-hop streetdance. Sure, his average score was the lowest for a Strictly champion in a decade, but beardy ballroom Bill was exactly what 2020 needed. At 55, he became the oldest-ever winner and perhaps the most popular.
5. Louis Smith (Series 10, 2012)
An Olympic gymnast appearing a month after London 2012 was always going to take some beating and Smith didn’t disappoint. Paired with popular pro Flavia Cacace, he perhaps lacked a little presence but made up for it with poise, athleticism and competitive spirit. There were grumblings about his rivals Kimberley Walsh, Denise van Outen and Dani Harmer having previous dance experience but Smith coolly blew them all out of the water. He also recently won ITV contest The Masked Dancer.
4. Harry Judd (Series 9, 2011)
Stepping out from behind his McFly drumkit, dashing charmer Judd took everyone by surprise to become one of the show’s most popular champions. Equally proficient at Latin and ballroom – while not afraid to bare his chest – he was a remarkably consistent performer, clocking up 25 maximum 10s. With partner Aliona Vilani, he saw off a late challenge from actor Chelsee Healey to clinch the title. A tough act for Judd’s bandmate Tom Fletcher to follow this year.
3. Caroline Flack (Series 12, 2014)
The TV presenter initially lacked confidence but under the guiding hand of much-loved pro Pasha Kovalev, she blossomed. Her Latin routines, Charleston and balletic showdance were real high points. Pop star Frankie Bridge posed her biggest threat in the final but Flack rose to the occasion, becoming the first celebrity to score a maximum 40 for all three dances. Glitterball glory boosted her career, landing her jobs on The X Factor and Love Island.
2. Kelvin Fletcher (Series 17, 2019)
It was a twinkle-toed fairytale. Last-minute replacement Fletcher stepped in for the injured Jamie Laing, rapidly formed a strong partnership with pro Oti Mabuse and went on to lift the trophy. Announcing himself as a contender with some hip-thrusting Latin numbers, the former Emmerdale actor went on to register a record 26 perfect 10s. His Elvis jive, raunchy rumba, Mary Poppins-themed Charleston and Northern Soul streetdance will live long in the memory. The supersub won a series he wasn’t even supposed to be in.
1. Alesha Dixon (Series 5, 2007)
Dixon’s Strictly stint is somewhat overshadowed now by her controversial recruitment to the judging panel, replacing Arlene Phillips and sparking a BBC ageism scandal, but the former Mis-Teeq singer was an outstanding all-round dancer. Although she never received a perfect 40, Dixon only once scored lower than an 8. Her average score of 36.5 remains the highest-ever for a winner (though four other contestants beat her in the league table). Bruce Forsyth hailed her as “Britain’s answer to Beyoncé” and she remains the glitterball gold standard.
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One on 18 September 2021, with the live shows starting the following week on 25 September