22 Facts About Strictly Come Dancing

1.

Strictly Come Dancing is a British television dance contest in which celebrities partner with professional dancers to compete in mainly ballroom and Latin dance.

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2.

The Guinness World Records has named Strictly to be the world's most successful reality television format.

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3.

Strictly Come Dancing recorded a video message for the 2015 Christmas special as he was unable to appear due to illness.

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4.

Strictly Come Dancing then took the role of Creative Director of BBC Entertainment whilst still overseeing series 4 and 5.

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5.

Strictly Come Dancing was to continue to present special editions of the show.

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6.

Strictly Come Dancing returned to Blackpool for the 2010 and 2011 series.

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7.

Brendan Cole and Camilla Dallerup danced together for many years, including a stint in the original series of Come Dancing; following their split in 2004, Cole and Katya Virshilas formed a professional partnership, before parting in November 2009.

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8.

Strictly Come Dancing was unable to perform the dance-off and the couple with the lowest combined total was eliminated.

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9.

New spin-off show called Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two presented by Claudia Winkleman was created this series and has continued to air alongside each following series, now hosted by Rylan Clark-Neal and former professional dancer, Janette Manrara on BBC Two.

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10.

Fifth series of Strictly Come Dancing began on BBC One on 29 September 2007, with Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly returning as presenters.

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11.

Eighth series of Strictly Come Dancing began with a launch show on 11 September 2010; three weeks later, the live shows started on 1 October 2010.

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12.

Strictly Come Dancing returned with a launch show on 10 September 2011, with the final in December at the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool.

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13.

Strictly Come Dancing returned for its eleventh series with a launch show on 7 September 2013 and the live shows on 27 September 2013.

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14.

Strictly Come Dancing returned for its thirteenth series with a launch show on 5 September 2015, followed by the live shows starting on 25 and 26 September.

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15.

Strictly Come Dancing returned for its fourteenth series with a launch show on 3 September 2016 on BBC One.

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16.

Strictly Come Dancing took over a hotel near the studios and the pro dancers learnt and filmed all the group routines for the series at once.

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17.

On 13 December 2008, Strictly Come Dancing became the subject of press attention and viewer complaints about an error in the voting system during the semi-final of series six.

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18.

Strictly Come Dancing apologised for the oversight, referring to it as an "unprecedented situation".

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19.

Over 600 complaints were received by the BBC, including those about comments Bruce Forsyth, then host of Strictly Come Dancing, made about the controversy on a Talksport radio programme, in which he suggested that Britain "used to have a sense of humour" about such incidents, and that Du Beke's apology should be accepted.

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20.

The BBC denied that de Mooi had ever been under consideration for the show, and declared that "Strictly Come Dancing is a family show and we have chosen the traditional format of mixed-sex couples".

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21.

Strictly Come Dancing was partnered with professional dancer Katya Jones.

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22.

So-called "Strictly Come Dancing curse" has been blamed for the number of affairs and relationship break-ups that have occurred during or soon after taking part in the show.

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