NICHOLAS BAILEY AND BABTUNDE ALESHE CONFIRMED FOR STRICTLY COME DANCING CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

Actor Nicholas Bailey is the fourth celebrity announced to take part in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, made by BBC Studios and airing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer this Christmas. Nicholas will be swapping Albert Square for the Strictly Christmas ballroom alongside his Professional dance partner Luba Mushtuk.

Known to millions for his role as Dr Anthony Trueman in EastEnders, Nicholas first arrived on the square 25 years ago where he was a Walford regular until 2003. After guest appearances over the years, Nicholas returned to EastEnders earlier this year.

Casualty, The Archers, Coronation Street and Miranda. His theatre work has seen him perform extensively on stage across the UK and in the West End, where his credits include Dream Girls and Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap. 

Nicholas Bailey says: "‘I’m really excited to be doing this, almost as excited as my wife and daughters are! Hopefully I’ll do them, Albert Square and Luba proud. Bring on the dancefloor.”

Babatunde Aléshé is the fifth star announced to take part in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, made by BBC Studios and airing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer this Christmas. Babatunde will be paired with Strictly Come Dancing Professional Dancer Nancy Xu when he enters the Strictly Christmas ballroom this December.

Babatunde is an award-winning stand-up comedian, actor and podcaster. As a stand-up he has toured extensively, with his latest headline tour of the UK concluding this week ahead of international dates in 2026.

Babatunde Aléshé says: "I used to do a little dancing when I was in college. I used to do Street Locking and Break Dancing, but then I found comedy and pursued that instead. At 39 I’ve accepted that a good two-step is all I need to get by at any function, but I know that won't be enough for Strictly! Let's hope the old moves come back to me in time for Christmas."

This year’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special will see six couples battle it out under the glitterball to be crowned the Strictly Christmas Champion. Hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will oversee the festivities for their final time, while Head Judge Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke will all be on hand to dish out sleigh-loads of advice, Christmas cheer and the odd lump of coal - before the voting studio audience will decide who wins.

Expect a winter wonderland full of festive magic, dazzling group dances, live music and more in what will be the perfect antidote to the post-Christmas Dinner slump.