Strictly Come Dancing final 2021: All 18 previous winners
STRICTLY COME DANCING comes to a close this weekend after another stonking series. How many previous winners can you remember?
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Strictly fans are beside themselves with anticipation ahead of this Saturday’s final. The competition has never felt tighter than it does this year, with AJ Odudu, Rose Ayling-Ellis and John Whaite facing their final shot at lifting the coveted glitterball trophy. Whoever takes the top spot will become the 19th Strictly Come Dancing champion, but how many of the 18 previous winners can you remember?
Here is every single previous winner of Strictly Come Dancing, right the way from the show’s 2004 launch.
2020 - Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse
Funnyman Bill Bailey beat the odds, and proved himself on the dancefloor last year.
Bill’s most memorable moments include a slick routine to Rapper’s Delight by The Sugarhill Gang and a serious tango to Enter Sandman by Metallica.
From making fans laugh, to impressing viewers with his rhythm and fancy footwork, comedian Bill lifted the glitterball with Oti Mabuse on December 19 2020, becoming the show’s oldest ever winner.
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2019 - Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse
Former Emmerdale star Kelvin was a late addition to the 2019 series, drafted in at the last minute to replace Jamie Laing, who had to pull out due to injury.
However once Kelvin set foot on the dancefloor, he showed he was anything but an afterthought.
2018 - Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton
Documentarian Stacey Dooley won over viewers and beat serious competition from Joe Sugg, Faye Tozer and Ashley Roberts to lift the glitterball trophy in 2018.
Stacey also found love on the show with her dance partner Kevin; the pair are still together today.
2017 - Joe McFadden and Katya Jones
Ex-Holby City star Joe McFadden went from playing a doctor to setting viewers’ pulses racing with his energetic routines.
Joe became the show’s first Scottish winner, and gave professional dancer Katya Jones the chance to take the top spot, after she was partnered with the flamboyant yet flat-footed Ed Balls the previous year.
2016 - Ore Oduba and Joanne Clifton
As a radio presenter, Ore Oduba knew a thing or two about music before he set foot on the Strictly dance floor, but no one could have predicted just how good Ore’s moves were.
Ore’s smooth moves and athletic feats carried him to victory in 2016.
2015 - Jay McGuiness and Aliona Valani
Ex-boyband member Jay McGuiness from The Wanted was a dark horse in this competition, but week by week grew in the audience’s - and judge’s - estimations.
One of Jay’s most memorable dances was his jive based on the iconic sequence from Pulp Fiction.
2014 - Caroline Flack and Pasha Kovalev
Caroline’s dancing talent was undeniable from the minute she entered the show.
Partnered with Pasha Kovalev, Caroline scored four perfect scores over her time on the show.
2013 - Abbey Clancey and Alijaz Skorjanec
Former model Abbey Clancey topped the leaderboard week after week during her stint on Strictly.
She and her professional partner Alijaz finally lifted the glitterball after picking up a perfect 40 for their Waltz - a dance they’d first performed in week one of the competition, showing how far Clancey had come.
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2012 - Louis Smith and Flavia Cacace
As a Team GB gymnast, Louis Smith clearly had the competitive streak from the off when he joined the line-up of Strictly 2012, just after his success in winning a silver medal at the London 2012 Olympics.
Louis brought his gymnastics skills to his performances, pulling off death-defying stunts with his partner Flavia.
After winning the series, Louis went on to scoop up another silver medal at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics.
2011 - Harry Judd and Aliona Valani
McFly star Harry soared to the top of the leaderboard for the first time in week seven of the competition, making him something of a late bloomer for the competition.
Harry’s tango and Argentine tango performances cemented his status as a competitor before he and partner Aliona Valani finally lifted the glitterball.
2010 - Kara Tointon and Artem Chingvintsev
Former Eastenders actress Kara topped the leaderboard in eight of the 13 weeks she appeared on the show with partner Artem.
This achievement made Artem Chingvintsev the third professional to win first place in their first year appearing on the show.
2009 - Chris Hollins and Ola Jordan
BBC news presenter Chris Hollins was a consistently impressive performer, managing to avoid appearing in the dreaded dance-off once during his time on the show.
2008 - Tom Chambers and Camilla Dallerup
Actor Tom Chambers was definitely an underdog in this series, facing fierce competition from Lisa Snowdon and Rachel Stevens who often trumped his scores from the judges.
Despite this, Tom took the champion title in the final episode of the competition, giving Camilla Dallerup a win in her last year taking part as a professional dancer.
2007 - Alesha Dixon and Matthew Cutler
Mis-Teeq star Alesha drew on her girlband experience to deliver jaw-dropping performances throughout this series of Strictly.
Alesha later became the first celebrity contestant to join the judging panel as she sat in for Arlene Phillips for two seasons between 2009 and 2011.
2006 - Mark Ramprakash and Karen Hardy
Cricketer Mark Ramprakash played a blinder to win Series 4 of Strictly in 2006, just a year after fellow cricketer Darren Gough.
2005 - Darren Gough and Lilia Kopylova
Darren Gough took the winning title in 2005 despite never topping the leaderboard throughout the series, demonstrating how popular Darren was with the viewers at home.
Despite competition from Zoe Ball and Ian Waite, who still hold the record for highest score in week one for their waltz, Darren and Lilia came out on top.
2004 - Jill Halfpenny and Darren Bennett
After the BBC realised the incredible success of the first series of Strictly, they decided to run another in the same year, making 2004 the only year where two champions were crowned.
Former Eastenders star Jill performed one of the most celebrated jives in the show’s history to Elton John’s I’m Still Standing, making her the first ever contestant to receive a perfect 40 from the judges.
2004 - Natasha Kaplinsky and Brendan Cole
The original Strictly champion, BBC newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky was crowned in 2004.
Natasha is still a news broadcaster, and was awarded an OBE in 2017 for services to the Holocaust Commission.