Strictly Come Dancing series 18

Strictly Come Dancing returned for its eighteenth series with a launch show on 17 October 2020 on BBC One, and the live shows beginning on 24 October.[1] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the series launched a month later than usual and ran for only nine weeks instead of the usual thirteen.[2][3][4] Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman returned as hosts, while Zoe Ball and Rylan Clark-Neal returned to host Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two.[5] Clark-Neal was replaced by Gethin Jones for four shows after coming into contact with someone who had tested positive for COVID-19.

Strictly Come Dancing
Series 18
Presented byTess Daly
Claudia Winkleman
JudgesShirley Ballas
Motsi Mabuse
Craig Revel Horwood
Celebrity winnerBill Bailey
Professional winnerOti Mabuse
No. of episodes17
Release
Original networkBBC One
Original release17 October (2020-10-17) (Launch)
24 October 2020 (2020-10-24) –
19 December 2020 (2020-12-19) (Live shows)
Series chronology
← Previous
Series 17
Next →
Series 19

On 12 September, it was announced that for the first time since the tenth series, there would be no live show broadcast from the Blackpool Tower Ballroom due to the pandemic.[6] However, it was announced shortly afterwards that there would be four episodes highlighting the best moments from previous series.[7] The final episode featured a tribute to 2014 winner Caroline Flack, who had died on 15 February that year.[8]

Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, and Motsi Mabuse returned to the judging panel.[9] On 21 August 2020, it was announced that Bruno Tonioli could not be part of the judging panel for this series due to travel restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and his role on Dancing with the Stars. Tonioli instead appeared virtually to give his critiques on the performances during the Sunday night results show. Motsi Mabuse had to miss weeks 4 and 5 in accordance with British government guidelines after travelling to Germany due to a break-in at her dance academy;[10][11] she was replaced by Anton Du Beke.[12][13]

Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse were announced as the winners on 19 December,[14] while HRVY and Janette Manrara, Jamie Laing and Karen Hauer, and Maisie Smith and Gorka Márquez were the runners-up.

Format

Judges for Strictly Come Dancing Series 18

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.

Professional dancers

On 6 March 2020, Kevin Clifton announced he was leaving the show after seven years.[15] Despite being confirmed in the 2020 professional line-up, on 26 March 2020, AJ Pritchard announced he was leaving the show after four years.[16] The other professional dancers from 2019 were all confirmed to be returning for the series.[17] Neil Jones and Nadiya Bychkova only featured in group dances after having partners the previous year, alongside Graziano Di Prima and Nancy Xu.[18][19]

Due to the pandemic, several changes had to be made in how the professional dancers performed. Firstly, the dancers had to shield at home for two weeks. They then formed a bubble which allowed them to stay in a hotel , where they could practise their routines. All of the group dances were pre-recorded.[20]

Couples

This series featured twelve celebrity contestants. On 1 September 2020, the first three celebrities announced were Caroline Quentin, Jason Bell, and Max George.[21] On 2 September 2020, it was announced that Olympic boxer Nicola Adams would be part of the first same-sex partnership.[22] On 3 September 2020, Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing was confirmed to be participating in the series after having to withdraw from the seventeenth series due to a foot injury.[23] Celebrity reveals continued throughout the week until the full line-up was revealed on 4 September 2020.[24] On 12 November 2020, it was announced that Katya Jones had tested positive for COVID-19, which meant that she had to withdraw from the competition due to the government's guidelines on self-isolation.[25]

CelebrityNotabilityProfessional partnerStatus
Jacqui SmithLabour Party politicianAnton Du BekeEliminated 1st
on 1 November 2020
Jason BellNFL player & punditLuba MushtukEliminated 2nd
on 8 November 2020
Nicola AdamsOlympic boxerKatya JonesWithdrew
on 12 November 2020
Max GeorgeThe Wanted singerDianne BuswellEliminated 3rd
on 15 November 2020
Caroline QuentinActress & television presenterJohannes RadebeEliminated 4th
on 22 November 2020
Clara AmfoBBC Radio 1 presenterAljaž ŠkorjanecEliminated 5th
on 29 November 2020
JJ ChalmersTelevision presenter & Invictus Games medallistAmy DowdenEliminated 6th
on 6 December 2020
Ranvir SinghGood Morning Britain presenter & journalistGiovanni PerniceEliminated 7th
on 13 December 2020
HRVYSinger & television presenterJanette ManraraRunners-up
on 19 December 2020
Jamie LaingMade in Chelsea starKaren Hauer
Maisie SmithEastEnders actressGorka Márquez
Bill BaileyComedian, musician & actorOti MabuseWinners
on 19 December 2020

Scoring chart

The highest score each week is indicated in bold green with a dagger (†), while the lowest score each week is indicated in italicized red with a double-dagger (‡).

Color key:

  Winners
  Runners-up
  Bottom two
  Withdrew from competition
  Eliminated
Strictly Come Dancing (series 18) - Weekly scores
CouplePl.Week
121+23456789
Bill & Oti1st152439262725242425+23=4829+30+29=88[a]
Maisie & Gorka2nd2425492424[b]27[b]292830+29=5929+30+29=88[c]
HRVY & Janette252449212726302923+30=5329+29+30=88[c]
Jamie & Karen141731[b]23252924[b]24[b]24+24=48[b]26+29+29=84[c]
Ranvir & Giovanni5th212142272027242726+18=44[d]
JJ & Amy6th1917362417252520[d]
Clara & Aljaž7th18173520291819[d]
Caroline & Johannes8th212142212224[d]
Max & Dianne9th1720372420[d]
Nicola & Katya10th21244519[b][e]
Jason & Luba11th16183412[d]
Jacqui & Anton12th131225[d]
Notes

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, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse.

Week 1

There was no elimination this week; all scores and votes carried over to the following week. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

CoupleScores[26]DanceMusic[27]
Jamie & Karen14 (4, 5, 5)Cha-cha-cha"Think About Things" — Daði og Gagnamagnið
Caroline & Johannes21 (7, 7, 7)American Smooth"Morning Train (9 to 5)" — Sheena Easton
Max & Dianne17 (6, 5, 6)Tango"Best Fake Smile" — James Bay
Clara & Aljaž18 (5, 6, 7)Cha-cha-cha"Don't Start Now" — Dua Lipa
Jacqui & Anton13 (3, 5, 5)Foxtrot"Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" — Monty Python
JJ & Amy19 (6, 6, 7)Waltz"What a Wonderful World" — Louis Armstrong
Maisie & Gorka24 (8, 8, 8)Samba"Samba (Conga)" — Gloria Estefan
Jason & Luba16 (4, 6, 6)American Smooth"My Girl" — The Temptations
Ranvir & Giovanni21 (7, 7, 7)Paso doble"End of Time" — Beyoncé
Nicola & Katya21 (7, 7, 7)Quickstep"Get Happy" — Ella Fitzgerald
Bill & Oti15 (3, 6, 6)Cha-cha-cha"Pata Pata" — Miriam Makeba
HRVY & Janette25 (8, 8, 9)Jive"Faith" — Stevie Wonder, feat. Ariana Grande

Week 2

Musical guest: Sam Smith — "Diamonds"[28]

Couples are listed in the order they performed.

CoupleScores[29]DanceMusic[30]Result
Max & Dianne20 (6, 7, 7)Jive"I'm a Believer" — The MonkeesSafe
Clara & Aljaž17 (5, 6, 6)Viennese waltz"You Don't Own Me" — SayGraceSafe
Bill & Oti24 (8, 8, 8)Quickstep"Talk to the Animals" — Bobby DarinSafe
JJ & Amy17 (5, 6, 6)Paso doble"Believer" — Imagine DragonsSafe
Jamie & Karen17 (5, 6, 6)American Smooth"Night and Day" — Frank SinatraBottom two
Maisie & Gorka25 (8, 9, 8)Tango"Midnight Sky" — Miley CyrusSafe
Jacqui & Anton12 (2, 5, 5)Samba"Help Yourself" — Tom JonesEliminated
HRVY & Janette24 (7, 8, 9)Viennese waltz"Stuck with U" — Ariana Grande & Justin BieberSafe
Ranvir & Giovanni21 (6, 7, 8)Quickstep"You Are the Sunshine of My Life" — Stevie WonderSafe
Nicola & Katya24 (8, 8, 8)Street/
Commercial
"Shine" — Years & YearsSafe
Caroline & Johannes21 (7, 7, 7)Paso doble"El gato montés" — Ramon Cortez Pasodoble OrchestraSafe
Jason & Luba18 (6, 6, 6)Salsa"Get Lucky" — Daft Punk, feat. Pharrell WilliamsSafe
Judges' votes to save
  • Horwood: Jamie & Karen
  • Mabuse: Jamie & Karen
  • Ballas: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Jamie & Karen

Week 3: Movie Week

Musical guests: The Kanneh-Masons — "Ave Maria"[31]

Couples are listed in the order they performed.

CoupleScores[32]DanceMusic[33]FilmResult
Nicola & Katya19 (6, 7, 6)Jive"Greased Lightnin'"GreaseBottom two
Maisie & Gorka24 (8, 7, 9)American Smooth"Into the Unknown"Frozen IISafe
Caroline & Johannes21 (6, 7, 8)Theatre/Jazz"Everything's Coming Up Roses"GypsySafe
Jason & Luba12 (3, 4, 5)Paso doble"Star Wars Theme"Star WarsEliminated
JJ & Amy24 (8, 8, 8)Foxtrot"Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head"Butch Cassidy and the Sundance KidSafe
HRVY & Janette21 (6, 7, 8)Cha-cha-cha"Don't Go Breaking My Heart"Gnomeo & JulietSafe
Ranvir & Giovanni27 (9, 9, 9)Foxtrot"Love You I Do"DreamgirlsSafe
Jamie & Karen23 (7, 8, 8)Charleston"Zero to Hero"HerculesSafe
Clara & Aljaž20 (7, 6, 7)Tango"Lady Marmalade"Moulin Rouge!Safe
Max & Dianne24 (8, 8, 8)Street/
Commercial
"The Simpsons Theme"The Simpsons MovieSafe
Bill & Oti26 (8, 9, 9)Paso doble"The Good, the Bad and the Ugly"The Good, the Bad and the UglySafe
Judges' votes to save
  • Horwood: Nicola & Katya
  • Mabuse: Nicola & Katya
  • Ballas: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Nicola & Katya

Week 4

Individual judges' scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke.

Musical guest: The Vamps — "Married in Vegas"[34]

Anton Du Beke substituted for Motsi Mabuse, who was forced to miss two weeks due to having travelled outside the United Kingdom.[13]

After Katya Jones tested positive for COVID-19, she and Nicola Adams were forced to withdraw from the competition.[35]

Couples are listed in the order they performed.

CoupleScores[36]DanceMusic[37]Result
HRVY & Janette27 (8, 10, 9)Salsa"Dynamite" — BTSSafe
Ranvir & Giovanni20 (5, 7, 8)Cha-cha-cha"Oye Como Va" — Santana &
"I Like It Like That" — Pete Rodriguez
Safe
Max & Dianne20 (5, 7, 8)American Smooth"It Had to Be You" — Harry Connick Jr.Eliminated
JJ & Amy17 (4, 6, 7)Jive"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" — Bette MidlerSafe
Maisie & Gorka24 (7, 8, 9)Cha-cha-cha"Girls Just Want to Have Fun" — Cyndi LauperBottom two
Bill & Oti27 (8, 10, 9)Street/
Commercial
"Rapper's Delight" — The Sugarhill GangSafe
Caroline & Johannes22 (7, 7, 8)Waltz"With You I'm Born Again" — Billy Preston & Syreeta WrightSafe
Jamie & Karen25 (8, 8, 9)Samba"Bamboléo" — Gipsy KingsSafe
Clara & Aljaž29 (9, 10, 10)Charleston"Baby Face" — Julie AndrewsSafe
Judges' votes to save
  • Horwood: Maisie & Gorka
  • Du Beke: Maisie & Gorka
  • Ballas: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Max & Dianne

Week 5

Individual judges' scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Anton du Beke.

Musical guest: Billy Ocean — "Love Really Hurts Without You", "Red Light Spells Danger" & "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going"[38]

Anton Du Beke again substituted for Motsi Mabuse.[13]

Couples are listed in the order they performed.

CoupleScores[39]DanceMusic[40]Result
Bill & Oti25 (8, 9, 8)American Smooth"I've Got You Under My Skin" — Frank SinatraSafe
Maisie & Gorka27 (9, 9, 9)Salsa"Better When I'm Dancin'" — Meghan TrainorBottom two
JJ & Amy25 (7, 9, 9)Quickstep"For Once in My Life" — Stevie WonderSafe
Clara & Aljaž18 (5, 6, 7)Samba"That's the Way (I Like It)" — KC and the Sunshine BandSafe
Jamie & Karen29 (9, 10, 10)Street/
Commercial
"Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" — C+C Music FactorySafe
HRVY & Janette26 (8, 9, 9)Tango"Golden" — Harry StylesSafe
Caroline & Johannes24 (8, 8, 8)Cha-cha-cha"Rescue Me" — Fontella BassEliminated
Ranvir & Giovanni27 (8, 9, 10)Argentine tango"When Doves Cry" — PrinceSafe
Judges' votes to save
  • Horwood: Maisie & Gorka
  • Du Beke: Maisie & Gorka
  • Ballas: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Maisie & Gorka

Week 6

Musical guest: Gary Barlow — "Elita"[41]
Dance guests: Michael & Jowita — "Spectrum (Say My Name)"[42]

Couples are listed in the order they performed.

CoupleScores[43]DanceMusic[44]Result
Clara & Aljaž19 (6, 6, 7)Jive"River Deep, Mountain High" — Ike & Tina TurnerEliminated
Jamie & Karen24 (8, 8, 8)Tango"Tanguera" — Sexteto MayorBottom two
HRVY & Janette30 (10, 10, 10)Street/
Commercial
"A Sky Full of Stars" — ColdplaySafe
Ranvir & Giovanni24 (8, 8, 8)American Smooth"I Say a Little Prayer" — Aretha FranklinSafe
Bill & Oti24 (8, 8, 8)Jive"One Way or Another" — BlondieSafe
JJ & Amy25 (8, 9, 8)Viennese waltz"Rescue" — Lauren DaigleSafe
Maisie & Gorka29 (9, 10, 10)Quickstep"When You're Smiling" — Andy WilliamsSafe
Judges' votes to save
  • Horwood: Clara & Aljaž
  • Mabuse: Jamie & Karen
  • Ballas: Jamie & Karen

Week 7: Musicals Week (Quarter-final)

Musical guest: Marisha Wallace — "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" (from The Sound of Music)[45]

Couples are listed in the order they performed.

CoupleScores[46]DanceMusic[47]MusicalResult
JJ & Amy20 (6, 7, 7)Charleston"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"Chitty Chitty Bang BangEliminated
Ranvir & Giovanni27 (9, 9, 9)Viennese waltz"She Used to Be Mine"WaitressSafe
Maisie & Gorka28 (9, 10, 9)Jive"Little Shop of Horrors"Little Shop of HorrorsSafe
Bill & Oti24 (8, 8, 8)Argentine tango"The Phantom of the Opera"The Phantom of the OperaSafe
HRVY & Janette29 (9, 10, 10)American Smooth"One (Singular Sensation)"A Chorus LineSafe
Jamie & Karen24 (8, 8, 8)Jive"Everybody's Talking About Jamie"Everybody's Talking About JamieBottom two
Judges' votes to save
  • Horwood: Jamie & Karen
  • Mabuse: JJ & Amy
  • Ballas: Jamie & Karen

Week 8: Semi-final

Musical guest: Little Mix — "Break Up Song"[48]

Each couple performed two routines, and are listed in the order they performed.

CoupleScores[49]DanceMusic[50]Result
Jamie & Karen24 (8, 8, 8)Salsa"Last Dance" — Donna SummerBottom two
24 (8, 8, 8)Quickstep"Thank God I'm a Country Boy" — John Denver
Ranvir & Giovanni26 (8, 9, 9)Waltz"Un Giorno Per Noi (A Time for Us)" — Josh GrobanEliminated
18 (5, 6, 7)Jive"Candyman" — Christina Aguilera
Bill & Oti25 (8, 8, 9)Charleston"(Won't You Come Home) Bill Bailey" — Ottilie Patterson & Chris BarberSafe
23 (8, 7, 8)Tango"Enter Sandman" — Metallica
Maisie & Gorka30 (10, 10, 10)Street/
Commercial
"Gettin' Jiggy wit It" — Will SmithSafe
29 (9, 10, 10)Viennese waltz"A Thousand Years" — Christina Perri
HRVY & Janette23 (7, 8, 8)Rumba"Only You" — Kylie Minogue & James CordenSafe
30 (10, 10, 10)Charleston"Another Day of Sun" — from La La Land
Judges' votes to save
  • Horwood: Jamie & Karen
  • Mabuse: Ranvir & Giovanni
  • Ballas: Jamie & Karen

Week 9: Final

Musical guest: Robbie Williams — "Time for Change"[51]

Each couple performed three routines: one chosen by the judges, their favourite dance of the season, and their showdance routine. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

CoupleScores[52]DanceMusic[53]Result
HRVY & Janette29 (9, 10, 10)Jive"Faith" — Stevie Wonder, feat. Ariana GrandeRunners-up
29 (9, 10, 10)Showdance"Boogie Wonderland" — Brittany Murphy
30 (10, 10, 10)American Smooth"One (Singular Sensation)" — from A Chorus Line
Jamie & Karen26 (8, 9, 9)Charleston"Zero to Hero" — from Hercules
29 (9, 10, 10)Showdance"I'm Still Standing" — Elton John
29 (9, 10, 10)Street/
Commercial
"Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" — C+C Music Factory
Bill & Oti29 (9, 10, 10)Quickstep"Talk to the Animals" — Bobby DarinWinners
30 (10, 10, 10)Showdance"The Show Must Go On" — Queen
29 (9, 10, 10)Street/
Commercial
"Rapper's Delight" — The Sugarhill Gang
Maisie & Gorka29 (9, 10, 10)Samba"Samba (Conga)" — Gloria EstefanRunners-up
30 (10, 10, 10)Showdance"We Need a Little Christmas" — Idina Menzel
29 (9, 10, 10)Quickstep"When You're Smiling" — Andy Williams

Dance chart

The couples performed the following each week:

  • Weeks 1–7: One unlearned dance
  • Week 8 (Semifinal): Two unlearned dances
  • Week 9 (Final): Judges' choice, showdance & favourite dance of the series
Strictly Come Dancing (series 18) - Dance chart
CoupleWeek
123456789
Bill & OtiCha-cha-chaQuickstepPaso dobleStreet/
Commercial
American SmoothJiveArgentine tangoCharlestonTangoQuickstepShowdanceStreet/
Commercial
HRVY & JanetteJiveViennese waltzCha-cha-chaSalsaTangoStreet/
Commercial
American SmoothRumbaCharlestonJiveShowdanceAmerican Smooth
Jamie & KarenCha-cha-chaAmerican SmoothCharlestonSambaStreet/
Commercial
TangoJiveSalsaQuickstepCharlestonShowdanceStreet/
Commercial
Maisie & GorkaSambaTangoAmerican SmoothCha-cha-chaSalsaQuickstepJiveStreet/
Commercial
Viennese waltzSambaShowdanceQuickstep
Ranvir & GiovanniPaso dobleQuickstepFoxtrotCha-cha-chaArgentine tangoAmerican SmoothViennese waltzWaltzJive
JJ & AmyWaltzPaso dobleFoxtrotJiveQuickstepViennese waltzCharleston
Clara & AljažCha-cha-chaViennese waltzTangoCharlestonSambaJive
Caroline & JohannesAmerican SmoothPaso dobleTheatre/JazzWaltzCha-cha-cha
Max & DianneTangoJiveStreet/
Commercial
American Smooth
Nicola & KatyaQuickstepStreet/
Commercial
Jive
Jason & LubaAmerican SmoothSalsaPaso doble
Jacqui & AntonFoxtrotSamba

Ratings

Weekly ratings for each show on BBC One. All ratings are provided by BARB.[54]

EpisodeDateOfficial rating
(millions)
Weekly rank
for BBC One
Weekly rank
for all UK TV
Share
Launch show17 October10.091242.2%[55]
Week 124 October11.231144.6%[56]
Week 231 October11.842247.3%[57]
Week 2 results1 November8.924539.3%[58]
Week 37 November10.931143.8%[59]
Week 3 results8 November9.442339.3%[58]
Week 414 November11.891249.3%[60]
Week 4 results15 November9.622439.5%[61]
Week 521 November11.601648.5%[62]
Week 5 results22 November9.622940.9%[62]
Week 628 November11.451250.1%[63]
Week 6 results29 November10.212939.5%[63]
Week 75 December11.381249.3%[64]
Week 7 results6 December9.692742.2%[64]
Week 812 December11.451148.9%[65]
Week 8 results13 December10.582244.1%[65]
Week 919 December12.511153.3%[66]
Series average
(excl. launch show)
202010.7745.0%

References

External links