Strictly Come Dancing series 21


Strictly Come Dancing returned for its twenty-first series with a launch show on 16 September 2023 on BBC One, with live shows beginning on 23 September. Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman returned as hosts, while Janette Manrara returned to host Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, alongside Fleur East, who was announced as the new co-host after Rylan Clark's departure in April 2023. In April 2023, the BBC announced that Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse, and Craig Revel Horwood would return to the judging panel.
Actress Ellie Leach and her partner Vito Coppola were announced as the winners on 16 December, while Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin, and Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell were the runners-up.
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Format

The couples dance each week in a live show. The judges score each performance out of ten. The couples are then ranked according to the judges' scores and given points according to their rank, with the lowest scored couple receiving one point, and the highest scored couple receiving the most points. The public are also invited to vote for their favourite couples, and the couples are ranked again according to the number of votes they receive, again receiving points; the couple with the fewest votes receiving one point, and the couple with the most votes receiving the most points.
The points for judges' score and public vote are then added together, and the two couples with the fewest points are placed in the bottom two. If two couples have equal points, the points from the public vote are given precedence. As with the previous series, the bottom two couples have to perform a dance-off on the results show. Based on that performance alone, each judge then votes on which couple should stay and which couple should leave, with Shirley Ballas, as head judge, having the last and deciding vote if needed.

Professional dancers

In April 2023, the BBC announced that Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Vito Coppola, Graziano Di Prima, Amy Dowden, Carlos Gu, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Márquez, Luba Mushtuk, Lauren Oakley, Giovanni Pernice, Jowita Przystał, Johannes Radebe, Michelle Tsiakkas, Kai Widdrington, and Nancy Xu would be returning to the series. The only professional dancer who did not return was Cameron Lombard, who had been part of the professional group routines since the nineteenth series.
In May 2023, Dowden announced she had been diagnosed with grade III breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy, but added she was "determined" to get back on the dance floor and that she was hoping to take part in the series if she was able to. Despite her initial plans to return for the series, Dowden confirmed in July that she had been diagnosed with "another type of cancer" and would be unable to partner a celebrity due to undergoing chemotherapy.
During the launch show, Lauren Oakley received a celebrity partner for the first time, while Neil Jones, Nadiya Bychkova, and Michelle Tsiakkas did not receive a partner. The rest of the pros were paired to a celebrity, including Luba Mushtuk, who did not have a celebrity partner for the last two series.

Couples

This series features fifteen celebrity contestants. On 4 August 2023, the first three celebrities announced as participants in the series were Amanda Abbington, Angela Rippon, and Layton Williams. Celebrity contestants continued to be revealed until 11 August 2023, when the full line-up was announced.
On 23 October, it was announced that Amanda Abbington had withdrawn from the competition after having missed the previous week.
On 2 December, hours before the live episode was set to air, it was announced that Nigel Harman had been forced to withdraw from the competition due to a rib injury.
CelebrityNotabilityProfessional partnerStatus
Les DennisComedian, actor & television presenterNancy XuEliminated 1st
on 1 October 2023
Nikita KandaBBC Asian Network presenterGorka MárquezEliminated 2nd
on 8 October 2023
Jody CundyParalympic cyclist & swimmerJowita PrzystałEliminated 3rd
on 15 October 2023
Eddie KadiComedian & BBC Radio 1Xtra presenterKaren HauerEliminated 4th
on 22 October 2023
Amanda AbbingtonStage & screen actressGiovanni PerniceWithdrew
on 23 October 2023
Zara McDermottMedia personality & television presenterGraziano Di PrimaEliminated 5th
on 29 October 2023
Adam ThomasWaterloo Road & Emmerdale actorLuba MushtukEliminated 6th
on 5 November 2023
Channel 4 News presenter & journalistLauren OakleyEliminated 7th
on 12 November 2023
Angela RipponTelevision presenter, journalist & newsreaderKai WiddringtonEliminated 8th
on 19 November 2023
Angela ScanlonTelevision presenterCarlos GuEliminated 9th
on 26 November 2023
Nigel HarmanStage & screen actorKatya JonesWithdrew
on 2 December 2023
Annabel CroftProfessional tennis player & punditJohannes RadebeEliminated 10th
on 10 December 2023
Bobby BrazierEastEnders actor & modelDianne BuswellRunners-up
on 16 December 2023
Layton WilliamsBad Education actor & West End performerNikita KuzminRunners-up
on 16 December 2023
Ellie LeachCoronation Street actressVito CoppolaWinners
on 16 December 2023

Scoring chart

The highest score each week is indicated in with a dagger, while the lowest score each week is indicated in with a double-dagger.
;Colour key:
;Notes

Average chart

CoupleRank by
average		Total
points		Number of
dances		Total
average
Layton & Nikita1st5881636.8
Ellie & Vito2nd5731635.8
Bobby & Dianne3rd5401633.8
Annabel & Johannes4th4001330.8
Nigel & Katya5th3071030.7
Amanda & Giovanni6th122430.5
Angela S. & Carlos6th3051030.5
Angela R. & Kai8th271930.1
Adam & Luba9th191727.3
Krishnan & Lauren10th211826.4
Eddie & Karen11th125525.0
Zara & Graziano12th148624.7
Jody & Jowita13th76419.0
Nikita & Gorka13th57319.0
Les & Nancy15th31215.5

Weekly scores

Unless indicated otherwise, individual judges scores in the charts below are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke.

Launch show

Week 1

There was no elimination this week; all scores carried over to the following week. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusic
Adam & LubaCha-cha-cha"Waffle House" — Jonas Brothers
Angela S. & Carlos23 Tango"Prisoner" — Miley Cyrus, feat. Dua Lipa
Eddie & Karen22 Quickstep"Two Hearts" — Phil Collins
Angela R. & Kai28 Cha-cha-cha"Get the Party Started" — Shirley Bassey
Nikita & Gorka18 Waltz"Run to You" — Whitney Houston
Layton & Nikita29 Samba"Touch" — Little Mix
Zara & Graziano19 Cha-cha-cha"Crush" — Jennifer Paige
Les & Nancy16 Tango"Don't You Want Me" — Human League
Ellie & Vito29 Jive"Can't Tame Her" — Zara Larsson
Jody & Jowita21 Quickstep"I'm Sitting on Top of the World" — Bobby Darin
Bobby & Dianne29 Foxtrot"All About You" — McFly
Annabel & Johannes28 Cha-cha-cha"Uptown Girl" — Billy Joel
Amanda & Giovanni29 Viennese waltz"Pointless" — Lewis Capaldi
Krishnan & Lauren22 Cha-cha-cha"Boom Shack-A-Lak" — Apache Indian
Nigel & Katya32 Paso doble"Smells Like Teen Spirit" — Nirvana

Week 2

Musical guest: Jorja Smith — "Try Me"
Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult
Bobby & DianneCharleston"Do Your Thing" — Basement JaxxSafe
Annabel & Johannes22 Quickstep"Walking on Sunshine" — Katrina and the WavesSafe
Jody & Jowita16 Paso doble"Thunderstruck" — AC/DCSafe
Ellie & Vito31 Foxtrot"Perfect" — Fairground AttractionSafe
Nigel & Katya27 Viennese waltz"Until I Found You" — Stephen SanchezSafe
Nikita & Gorka18 Charleston"Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" — BeyoncéBottom two
Les & Nancy15 Samba"Rock the Boat" — The Hues CorporationEliminated
Adam & Luba23 Tango"Somebody Told Me" — MåneskinSafe
Amanda & Giovanni32 Salsa"Oye!" — Gloria EstefanSafe
Krishnan & Lauren20 Foxtrot"Love Really Hurts Without You" — Billy OceanSafe
Eddie & Karen21 Cha-cha-cha"Ríe y Llora" — Celia CruzSafe
Zara & Graziano23 Quickstep"Anyone for You (Tiger Lily)" — George EzraSafe
Angela S. & Carlos29 Jive"Trouble" — ShampooSafe
Angela R. & Kai31 Foxtrot"You Make Me Feel So Young" — Frank SinatraSafe
Layton & Nikita36 Quickstep"Puttin' On the Ritz" — Gregory PorterSafe

;Judges' votes to save
  • Horwood: Nikita & Gorka
  • Mabuse: Nikita & Gorka
  • Du Beke: Nikita & Gorka
  • Ballas: ''Did not vote, but would have voted to save Nikita & Gorka''

Week 3: Movie Week

Musical guest: Madison Beer — "Showed Me "
Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicFilmResult
Nigel & Katya25 Jive"Batman Theme"BatmanSafe
Angela R. & Kai26 Quickstep"Do-Re-Mi"The Sound of MusicSafe
Zara & Graziano25 Paso doble"The Puss Suite"Puss in BootsBottom two
Layton & Nikita28 Viennese waltz"There Are Worse Things I Could Do"GreaseSafe
Angela S. & Carlos35 Charleston"Who's Got the Pain"Damn YankeesSafe
Amanda & Giovanni30 Rumba"Out of Reach"Bridget Jones's DiarySafe
Nikita & Gorka21 Jive"Kids in America"CluelessEliminated
Ellie & Vito33 Viennese waltz"Waiting on a Miracle"EncantoSafe
Bobby & Dianne32 Samba"Young Hearts Run Free"Romeo + JulietSafe
Jody & Jowita20 American Smooth"Married Life"UpSafe
Eddie & KarenCouple's choice"Men in Black"Men in BlackSafe
Annabel & Johannes30 Waltz"Moon River"Breakfast at Tiffany'sSafe
Adam & Luba26 Jive"Take On Me"The Super Mario Bros. MovieSafe
Krishnan & Lauren30 Charleston"Money, Money"CabaretSafe

;Judges' votes to save
  • Horwood: Zara & Graziano
  • Mabuse: Zara & Graziano
  • Du Beke: Zara & Graziano
  • Ballas: ''Did not vote, but would have voted to save Zara & Graziano''

Week 4

Musical guest: Beverley Knight— "I'm on Fire"
Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult
Ellie & Vito28 Samba"Copacabana" — Barry ManilowSafe
Adam & Luba32 Waltz"I Wonder Why" — Curtis StigersSafe
Jody & Jowita19 Salsa"Samba de Janeiro" — BelliniEliminated
Amanda & Giovanni31 Foxtrot"Everywhere" — Fleetwood MacSafe
Krishnan & Lauren28 Paso doble"By the Way" — Red Hot Chili PeppersSafe
Zara & Graziano28 Viennese waltz"You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" — Brenda LeeSafe
Annabel & Johannes29 Jive"Feel It Still" — Portugal. The ManSafe
Eddie & Karen24 American Smooth"Sex Bomb" — Tom JonesBottom two
Layton & NikitaCha-cha-cha"Million Dollar Bill" — Whitney HoustonSafe
Nigel & Katya33 Salsa"Suavemente" — Elvis CrespoSafe
Angela S. & Carlos28 Viennese waltz"You Are the Reason" — Calum Scott & Leona LewisSafe
Angela R. & Kai31 Rumba"Rise Like a Phoenix" — Conchita WurstSafe
Bobby & Dianne30 Tango"Fashion" — David BowieSafe

;Judges' votes to save
  • Horwood: Eddie & Karen
  • Mabuse: Eddie & Karen
  • Du Beke: Eddie & Karen
  • Ballas: ''Did not vote, but would have voted to save Eddie & Karen''

Week 5

Musical guest: Bastille — "Pompeii"
Amanda Abbington announced that she would be unable to perform on the live show for medical reasons. Under the rules of the show, she was granted a bye to the following week.
Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult
Annabel & Johannes27 Charleston"Ladies' Night" — Kool & the GangSafe
Nigel & Katya29 Foxtrot"I Just Want to Make Love to You" — Etta JamesSafe
Eddie & Karen24 Samba"Calm Down" — Rema & Selena GomezEliminated
Krishnan & Lauren30 Quickstep"The Lady Is a Tramp" — Frank SinatraSafe
Angela S. & Carlos28 American Smooth"Cherish" — MadonnaSafe
Ellie & Vito37 Paso doble"Insomnia" — FaithlessSafe
Layton & NikitaSalsa"Quimbara" — Johnny Pacheco & Celia CruzSafe
Bobby & Dianne32 Viennese waltz"Golden Hour" — JVKESafe
Adam & Luba32 Couple's choice"Everybody (Backstreet's Back)",
"Get Down (You're the One for Me)"
& "Larger than Life"
All by the Backstreet Boys		Safe
Zara & Graziano28 American Smooth"Can't Fight the Moonlight" — LeAnn RimesBottom two
Angela R. & Kai34 Argentine tango"Tanguera" — Sexteto MayorSafe

;Judges' votes to save
  • Horwood: Zara & Graziano
  • Mabuse: Zara & Graziano
  • Du Beke: Zara & Graziano
  • Ballas: ''Did not vote, but would have voted to save Zara & Graziano''

Week 6: Halloween Week

Musical guest: Rick Astley — "Forever and More"
After having missed the previous week, Amanda Abbington withdrew from the competition.
Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult
Angela S. & Carlos33 Paso doble"BLACK swan SWAN lake" — District 78Safe
Adam & Luba32 American Smooth"Magic Moments" — Perry ComoBottom two
Zara & Graziano25 Charleston"Jeepers Creepers" — Al Donahue & His OrchestraEliminated
Layton & Nikita36 Tango"Vampire" — Olivia RodrigoSafe
Bobby & Dianne30 Cha-cha-cha"Come On-a My House" — Della ReeseSafe
Krishnan & Lauren27 Viennese waltz"Kiss from a Rose" — SealSafe
Angela R. & Kai33 Charleston"Theme from Murder, She Wrote" — John AddisonSafe
Annabel & Johannes29 Tango"Need You Tonight" — INXSSafe
Nigel & Katya30 Cha-cha-cha"I Was Made for Lovin' You" — KissSafe
Ellie & VitoSalsa"Murder on the Dancefloor" — Sophie Ellis-BextorSafe

;Judges' votes to save
  • Horwood: Adam & Luba
  • Mabuse: Adam & Luba
  • Du Beke: Adam & Luba
  • Ballas: ''Did not vote, but would have voted to save Adam & Luba''

Week 7

Musical guest: Zara Larsson — "On My Love"
Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult
Layton & Nikita36 Jive"Shake Ur Body" — Shy FX, feat. DiSafe
Angela R. & Kai28 Waltz"Fascination" — Nat King ColeBottom two
Nigel & Katya33 Tango"Nothing Breaks Like a Heart" — Mark Ronson, feat. Miley CyrusSafe
Angela S. & Carlos27 Samba"Ain't It Funny" — Jennifer LopezSafe
Annabel & Johannes35 Couple's choice"Wings" — BirdySafe
Bobby & Dianne30 Argentine tango"Sail" — AwolnationSafe
Ellie & VitoAmerican Smooth"Ain't That a Kick in the Head?" — Robbie WilliamsSafe
Adam & Luba27 Rumba"Dancing On My Own" — Calum ScottEliminated
Krishnan & Lauren29 Couple's choice"You Can Call Me Al" — Paul SimonSafe

;Judges' votes to save
  • Horwood: Angela R. & Kai
  • Mabuse: Angela R. & Kai
  • Du Beke: Angela R. & Kai
  • Ballas: ''Did not vote, but would have voted to save Angela R. & Kai''

Week 8

Musical guests: Andrea Bocelli & Virginia Bocelli – "Hallelujah"
Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult
Krishnan & Lauren25 Samba"Bamboléo" — Gipsy KingsEliminated
Bobby & Dianne32 American Smooth"Ghost of You" — 5 Seconds of SummerSafe
Angela R. & Kai32 Paso doble"Hung Up" — MadonnaBottom two
Nigel & Katya34 Couple's choice"Just the Way You Are" — Bruno MarsSafe
Ellie & Vito35 Rumba"True Colors" — Cyndi LauperSafe
Annabel & Johannes31 Samba"Whenever, Wherever" — ShakiraSafe
Angela S. & Carlos33 Waltz"With You I'm Born Again" — Billy Preston & SyreetaSafe
Layton & NikitaArgentine tango"Tattoo" — LoreenSafe

;Judges' votes to save
  • Horwood: Angela R. & Kai
  • Mabuse: Angela R. & Kai
  • Du Beke: Angela R. & Kai
  • Ballas: ''Did not vote, but would have voted to save Krishnan & Lauren''

Week 9: Blackpool Week

Musical guests: Madness – "C'est La Vie"
This week's episode was staged in the Tower Ballroom at the Blackpool Tower in Blackpool, Lancashire. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult
Bobby & Dianne35 Jive"Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" — Wham!Bottom two
Angela R. & Kai28 American Smooth"Tea for Two" — Ella FitzgeraldEliminated
Layton & NikitaCouple's choice"Ain't No Other Man" — Christina AguileraSafe
Annabel & Johannes35 American Smooth"Unchained Melody" — Benedetta CarettaSafe
Ellie & Vito39 Charleston"Love Machine" — Girls AloudSafe
Angela S. & Carlos38 Argentine tango"Back to Black" — Amy WinehouseSafe
Nigel & Katya31 Quickstep"It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" — Duke EllingtonSafe

;Judges' votes to save
  • Horwood: Bobby & Dianne
  • Mabuse: Bobby & Dianne
  • Du Beke: Bobby & Dianne
  • Ballas: ''Did not vote, but would have voted to save Bobby & Dianne''

Week 10

Musical guests: Texas – "Inner Smile"
Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult
Layton & Nikita34 American Smooth"It's Oh So Quiet" — BjörkBottom two
Nigel & Katya33 Rumba"It's All Coming Back to Me Now" — Celine DionSafe
Annabel & Johannes36 Paso doble"España cañí" — Pascual Marquina NarroSafe
Angela S. & Carlos31 Cha-cha-cha"I Will Survive" — Gloria GaynorEliminated
Bobby & Dianne37 Couple's choice"This Woman's Work" — MaxwellSafe
Ellie & Vito38 Argentine tango"Bills, Bills, Bills" — Destiny's ChildSafe

;Judges' votes to save
  • Horwood: Layton & Nikita
  • Mabuse: Layton & Nikita
  • Du Beke: Layton & Nikita
  • Ballas: ''Did not vote, but would have voted to save Angela S. & Carlos''

Week 11: Musicals Week (Quarter-final)

Musical guest: Joss Stone – "This Time"
Hours before the live performance was to begin, Nigel Harman announced that he had to withdraw from the competition after sustaining an injury. As a result, there was no elimination this week and all scores carried over to the following week.
Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicMusical
Ellie & Vito36 Quickstep"Belle"Beauty and the Beast
Annabel & Johannes33 Foxtrot"For Good"Wicked
Layton & NikitaPaso doble"Backstage Romance"Moulin Rouge!
Bobby & Dianne34 Salsa"(I've Had) The Time of My Life"Dirty Dancing

Week 12: Semi-final

Musical guests: Take That – "This Life"
Each couple performed two routines, and are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult
Bobby & Dianne38 Quickstep"Mack the Knife" — Bobby DarinBottom two
Bobby & Dianne35 Paso doble"Run Boy Run" — WoodkidBottom two
Layton & Nikita36 Rumba"Lift Me Up" — RihannaSafe
Layton & Nikita40 Charleston"Fit as a Fiddle" — Gene Kelly & Donald O'ConnorSafe
Annabel & Johannes32 Salsa"You'll Be Mine (Party Time)" — Gloria EstefanEliminated
Annabel & Johannes33 Viennese waltz"Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want" — Slow Moving MillieEliminated
Ellie & Vito37 Cha-cha-cha"Mambo Italiano" — Bette MidlerSafe
Ellie & Vito38 Couple’s choice"Blow Your Mind (Mwah)" & "Physical" — Dua LipaSafe

;Judges' votes to save
  • Horwood: Annabel & Johannes
  • Mabuse: Bobby & Dianne
  • Du Beke: Bobby & Dianne
  • Ballas: Bobby & Dianne

Week 13: Final

Musical guest: Cher — "DJ Play a Christmas Song"
Each couple performed three routines: one chosen by the judges, their showdance routine, and their favourite dance of the series.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult
Ellie & Vito39 Paso doble"Insomnia" — 2WEIWinners
Ellie & Vito36 Showdance"On the Floor" & "Dance Again" — Jennifer LopezWinners
Ellie & Vito40 American Smooth"Ain't That a Kick in the Head?" — Robbie WilliamsWinners
Bobby & Dianne39 Samba"Young Hearts Run Free" — Candi StatonRunners-up
Bobby & Dianne39 Showdance"Someone in the Crowd",
"Another Day of Sun" & "Epilogue"
All from La La Land		Runners-up
Bobby & Dianne39 Couple's choice"This Woman's Work" — MaxwellRunners-up
Layton & Nikita40 Quickstep"Puttin' On the Ritz" — Gregory PorterRunners-up
Layton & Nikita39 Showdance"Friend Like Me" — Ne-YoRunners-up
Layton & Nikita40 Argentine tango"Tattoo" — LoreenRunners-up

Dance chart

The couples performed the following each week:
  • Weeks 1–11: One unlearned dance
  • Week 12 : Two unlearned dances
  • Week 13 : Judges' choice, showdance & favourite dance of the series

Ratings

Weekly ratings for each show on BBC One. All ratings are provided by BARB.
EpisodeDateOfficial rating
Weekly rank
for BBC One		Weekly rank
for all UK TV
Launch show7.9211
Week 18.4411
Week 28.3711
Week 2 results7.3623
Week 38.4011
Week 3 results7.3323
Week 48.4111
Week 4 results8.0522
Week 58.7911
Week 5 results8.3622
Week 69.2011
Week 6 results8.5822
Week 78.8111
Week 7 results8.0122
Week 88.8011
Week 8 results8.4422
Week 99.7812
Week 9 results8.6723
Week 109.0715
Week 10 results8.7926
Week 119.3711
Week 11 results6.71311
Week 128.8811
Week 12 results8.4522
Week 1310.0611
Series average
20238.55