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TV: Moira Claus and a jazz gnome in Strictly’s Christmas special

© BBC/Guy LevyJamie Cullum on Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2021.
Jamie Cullum on Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2021.

With a potent blend of turkey, mint Matchmakers and prosecco settling in our bellies it’s no wonder Strictly has become an annual Christmas spectator sport.

Overindulging on festive treats every year feels like a mission to conjure a particularly demented fever dream, so perhaps Strictly’s role is to prime us for the night of twisted dreamscapes ahead.

Did I see respected newsreader Moira Stewart salsaing dressed as Mrs Claus? Is that Jay Blades jiving to the theme from Only Fools And Horses? Is that me on the way to school in just my underpants? Actually that last one was just a dream.

The other stuff, though, was just part of the rich Christmas cake that is the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special.

Jazz gnome Jamie Cullum lent his pipes to the Strictly orchestra; he may have been on the Strictly stage but at certain points even this towering position still left tiny Jamie hidden behind Aljaž Škorjanec’s Santa elf hat.

I have to say I enjoyed Mel Giedroyc’s energy. She turned up opposite pro dancer Neil Jones wearing sparkly jogging bottoms then performed her routine, to Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice, in a pink and blue tracksuit that looked roomier than the London Hilton.

Perfect for the Christmas comedown. Until then, God bless us all, and God bless Hooky Street.


Strictly Christmas Special, BBC1, available on iPlayer