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.
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 maximum number of points available depends on the number of couples remaining in the competition). 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. Celebrity Notability Professional partner Status Les Dennis Comedian, actor & television presenter Nancy XuEliminated 1ston 1 October 2023 Nikita Kanda BBC Asian Network presenter Gorka MárquezEliminated 2ndon 8 October 2023 Jody Cundy Paralympic cyclist & swimmer Jowita PrzystałEliminated 3rdon 15 October 2023 Eddie Kadi Comedian & BBC Radio 1Xtra presenter Karen HauerEliminated 4thon 22 October 2023 Amanda Abbington Stage & screen actress Giovanni Pernice Withdrew Zara McDermott Media personality & television presenter Graziano Di PrimaEliminated 5thon 29 October 2023 Adam Thomas Waterloo Road & Emmerdale actor Luba MushtukEliminated 6thon 5 November 2023 Channel 4 News presenter & journalist Lauren OakleyEliminated 7thon 12 November 2023 Angela Rippon Television presenter, journalist & newsreader Kai WiddringtonEliminated 8thon 19 November 2023 Angela Scanlon Television presenter Carlos GuEliminated 9thon 26 November 2023 Nigel Harman Stage & screen actor Katya Jones Withdrew Annabel Croft Professional tennis player & pundit Johannes RadebeEliminated 10thon 10 December 2023 Bobby Brazier EastEnders actor & model Dianne BuswellRunners-up on 16 December 2023 Layton Williams Bad Education actor & West End performer Nikita Kuzmin Ellie Leach Coronation Street actress Vito Coppola Winnerson 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
+Strictly Come Dancing (series 21) - Weekly scores Couple Week 1 2 1+2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 11+12 13 Ellie & Vito 1st 29 31 60 33 28 37 35 36 37+38=75 111 39+36+40= Bobby & Dianne 2nd 29 29 58 32 30 32 30 30 32 35 37 34 38+35=73 107 39+39+39=117 Layton & Nikita 29 28 36 36 34 36+40= 40+39+40= 4th 28 22 50 30 29 27 29 35 31 35 36 32+33= Nigel & Katya 5th 27 59 25 33 29 30 33 34 31 33 Angela S. & Carlos6th 23 29 52 28 28 33 33 38 Angela R. & Kai7th 28 31 59 26 31 34 33 28 32 Krishnan & Lauren 8th 22 20 42 30 28 30 27 29 Adam & Luba 9th 19 23 42 26 32 32 32 Zara & Graziano 10th 19 23 42 25 28 28 Amanda & Giovanni 11th 29 32 61 30 31 Eddie & Karen 12th 22 21 43 34 24 Jody & Jowita 13th 21 16 37 Nikita & Gorka 14th 18 18 3621 Les & Nancy 15th Notes
Average chart
Couple Rank byaverage Totalpoints Number ofdances Totalaverage Layton & Nikita 1st 588 16 36.8 Ellie & Vito 2nd 573 35.8 Bobby & Dianne 3rd 540 33.8 Annabel & Johannes 4th 400 13 30.8 Nigel & Katya 5th 307 10 30.7 Amanda & Giovanni 6th 122 4 30.5 Angela S. & Carlos 305 10 Angela R. & Kai 8th 271 9 30.1 Adam & Luba 9th 191 7 27.3 Krishnan & Lauren 10th 211 8 26.4 Eddie & Karen 11th 125 5 25.0 Zara & Graziano 12th 148 6 24.7 Jody & Jowita 13th 76 4 19.0 Nikita & Gorka 57 3 Les & Nancy 15th 31 2 15.5
Weekly scores Unless indicated otherwise, individual judges scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke.
Launch show Musical guest: Jessie Ware — "Free Yourself"
Week 1 There was no elimination this week; all scores carried over to the following week. Couples are listed in the order they performed. CoupleScoresDanceMusicAdam & Luba Cha-cha-cha "Waffle House" — Jonas BrothersAngela S. & Carlos23 (6, 6, 5, 6)Tango "Prisoner" — Miley Cyrus, feat. Dua LipaEddie & Karen22 (4, 6, 6, 6)Quickstep "Two Hearts" — Phil CollinsAngela R. & Kai28 (7, 7, 7, 7)Cha-cha-cha "Get the Party Started" — Shirley BasseyNikita & Gorka18 (3, 5, 5, 5)Waltz "Run to You" — Whitney Houston Layton & Nikita29 (7, 8, 7, 7)Samba "Touch" — Little MixZara & Graziano19 (3, 6, 5, 5)Cha-cha-cha "Crush" — Jennifer PaigeLes & Nancy16 (2, 4, 5, 5)Tango "Don't You Want Me" — Human LeagueEllie & Vito29 (7, 8, 7, 7)Jive "Can't Tame Her" — Zara LarssonJody & Jowita21 (5, 5, 6, 5)Quickstep "I'm Sitting on Top of the World" — Bobby DarinBobby & Dianne29 (6, 7, 8, 8)Foxtrot "All About You" — McFlyAnnabel & Johannes28 (7, 7, 7, 7)Cha-cha-cha "Uptown Girl" — Billy JoelAmanda & Giovanni29 (7, 7, 8, 7)Viennese waltz "Pointless" — Lewis CapaldiKrishnan & Lauren22 (5, 6, 6, 5)Cha-cha-cha "Boom Shack-A-Lak" — Apache IndianNigel & Katya32 (8, 8, 8, 8)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 & Dianne Charleston "Do Your Thing" — Basement Jaxx Safe Annabel & Johannes 22 (4, 6, 6, 6) Quickstep "Walking on Sunshine" — Katrina and the Waves Safe Jody & Jowita 16 (3, 4, 4, 5) Paso doble "Thunderstruck" — AC/DC Safe Ellie & Vito 31 (8, 8, 7, 8) Foxtrot "Perfect" — Fairground Attraction Safe Nigel & Katya 27 (7, 7, 6, 7) Viennese waltz "Until I Found You" — Stephen Sanchez Safe Nikita & Gorka 18 (3, 5, 5, 5) Charleston "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" — Beyoncé Bottom two Les & Nancy 15 (2, 4, 4, 5) Samba "Rock the Boat" — The Hues Corporation EliminatedAdam & Luba 23 (5, 6, 5, 7) Tango "Somebody Told Me" — Måneskin SafeAmanda & Giovanni 32 (8, 8, 8, 8) Salsa "Oye!" — Gloria Estefan Safe Krishnan & Lauren 20 (4, 5, 5, 6) Foxtrot "Love Really Hurts Without You" — Billy Ocean Safe Eddie & Karen 21 (3, 6, 5, 7) Cha-cha-cha "Ríe y Llora" — Celia Cruz Safe Zara & Graziano 23 (6, 6, 5, 6) Quickstep "Anyone for You (Tiger Lily)" — George Ezra Safe Angela S. & Carlos 29 (7, 7, 7, 8) Jive "Trouble" — Shampoo Safe Angela R. & Kai 31 (8, 8, 7, 8) Foxtrot "You Make Me Feel So Young" — Frank Sinatra Safe Layton & Nikita 36 (9, 9, 9, 9) Quickstep "Puttin' On the Ritz" — Gregory Porter Safe 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 (How I Fell in Love with You)"
Couples are listed in the order they performed. CoupleScoresDanceMusicFilmResult Nigel & Katya 25 (6, 6, 6, 7) Jive "Batman Theme" Batman Safe Angela R. & Kai 26 (6, 7, 6, 7) Quickstep "Do-Re-Mi" The Sound of Music Safe Zara & Graziano 25 (6, 6, 6, 7) Paso doble "The Puss Suite" Puss in Boots Bottom two Layton & Nikita 28 (7, 7, 7, 7) Viennese waltz "There Are Worse Things I Could Do" Grease Safe Angela S. & Carlos 35 (9, 9, 8, 9) Charleston "Who's Got the Pain" Damn Yankees SafeAmanda & Giovanni 30 (6, 8, 8, 8) Rumba "Out of Reach" Bridget Jones's Diary Safe Nikita & Gorka 21 (4, 6, 5, 6) Jive "Kids in America" Clueless Eliminated Ellie & Vito 33 (8, 9, 8, 8) Viennese waltz "Waiting on a Miracle" Encanto Safe Bobby & Dianne 32 (8, 8, 8, 8) Samba "Young Hearts Run Free" Romeo + Juliet Safe Jody & Jowita 20 (4, 5, 5, 6) American Smooth "Married Life" Up Safe Eddie & Karen Couple's choice "Men in Black" Men in Black Safe Annabel & Johannes 30 (8, 8, 7, 7) Waltz "Moon River" Breakfast at Tiffany's SafeAdam & Luba 26 (5, 7, 7, 7) Jive "Take On Me" The Super Mario Bros. Movie Safe Krishnan & Lauren 30 (8, 8, 7, 7) Charleston "Money, Money" Cabaret Safe 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.