The fifteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing, which aired in 2017, proved to be one of the most memorable and talked-about seasons in the show’s illustrious history. From surprising partnerships to emotional journeys, shock eliminations to stunning performances, the 2017 lineup delivered everything fans could want from Britain’s most beloved dance competition.
This comprehensive look back examines the celebrities, professionals, and moments that made Strictly 2017 truly special. This article covers the 2017 series of Strictly Come Dancing. For the most current information about recent series, contestants, and show updates, readers should consult the official BBC Strictly Come Dancing website and current entertainment news sources.
The Star-Studded Celebrity Lineup: A Perfect Mix of Talent and Personality
The 2017 celebrity lineup was carefully curated to provide the perfect blend of entertainment personalities, sports stars, actors, and musicians that has become the Strictly hallmark. Each celebrity brought their own unique story, fanbase, and level of dance experience to the competition.
The Actors and Performers
Joe McFadden, known for his role as Raf di Lucca in BBC’s Holby City, entered the competition as someone with performance experience but no formal dance training. His musical theatre background gave him an understanding of rhythm and storytelling through movement, though ballroom and Latin dancing presented entirely new challenges.
Davood Ghadami, representing EastEnders as Kush Kazemi, brought his dramatic intensity from Albert Square to the dance floor. His partnership would prove to be one of the most technically accomplished throughout the series, showcasing his natural athletic ability and commitment to perfecting his craft.
Gemma Atkinson, actress and radio presenter known for her roles in Hollyoaks and Emmerdale, entered as one of the early favorites. Her bubbly personality and determination to succeed made her an instant hit with viewers, while her partnership would provide some of the series’ most emotionally resonant moments.
The Musicians and Entertainers
Alexandra Burke, the 2008 X Factor winner, came into the competition with significant performance experience and natural rhythm. Her background in music and live performance provided advantages, though ballroom and Latin techniques required completely new skill sets. Burke’s competitive spirit and vocal talents translated well to dance performance.
Mollie King, member of girl group The Saturdays, brought pop star glamour and stage presence to the competition. Her experience performing choreographed routines gave her some familiarity with dance, though the technical precision required for Strictly presented new challenges.
Aston Merrygold, former JLS member, entered as perhaps the most experienced dancer among the celebrities. His background in pop group choreography and natural musicality made him an early frontrunner, though the specific demands of ballroom and Latin styles would test his adaptability.
Television Personalities and Presenters
Ruth Langsford, one half of the beloved presenting duo Ruth and Eamonn, represented the older generation of contestants with grace and humor. Her partnership would showcase that Strictly is about personal journey and entertainment value as much as technical perfection.
Debbie McGee, widow of magician Paul Daniels, became one of the series’ most inspiring stories. At 58, she proved that age is no barrier to learning new skills and achieving excellence, delivering consistently impressive performances that defied expectations. Charlotte Hawkins, Good Morning Britain presenter, brought journalistic professionalism and elegance to the competition. Her partnership demonstrated the transformative power of Strictly training on individuals with no prior dance experience.
Sports Stars and Other Personalities
Jonnie Peacock, Paralympic champion sprinter, made history as Strictly’s first amputee contestant. His participation marked an important milestone for disability representation on the show, while his natural athleticism and positive attitude inspired viewers nationwide.
Susan Calman, comedian and presenter, provided much of the series’ humor and heart. Her self-deprecating wit and obvious joy in learning to dance made her a viewer favorite, proving that enthusiasm often matters more than natural ability. Simon Rimmer, celebrity chef and Sunday Brunch presenter, brought his culinary creativity to the dance floor with mixed results. His journey highlighted the challenges faced by contestants without performance backgrounds while showcasing the transformative potential of Strictly training.
Brian Conley, veteran entertainer and West End performer, entered with extensive stage experience that provided both advantages and challenges. His theatrical background helped with performance aspects while requiring adjustment to the specific techniques of ballroom and Latin dancing.
Rev. Richard Coles, broadcaster and former Communards keyboardist, brought a unique personality and surprising dance ability to the competition. His partnership provided some of the series’ most entertaining moments while showcasing his hidden talents. Chizzy Akudolu, Holby City actress, completed the diverse lineup with her infectious enthusiasm and determination to represent plus-size women positively on the dance floor. Her journey emphasized body positivity and the inclusive nature of dance.
The Professional Dancers: Masters of Their Craft
The 2017 professional lineup featured returning favorites alongside exciting new additions, each bringing their unique styles and teaching approaches to their celebrity partnerships.
Returning Champions and Fan Favorites
Giovanni Pernice returned fresh from his success in previous series, bringing his passionate Italian flair and exceptional technical knowledge. His partnership assignment would prove crucial to the series outcome, showcasing his ability to adapt his teaching style to different celebrity personalities and abilities. Katya Jones, the reigning champion from 2016, returned with confidence and innovative choreographic ideas. Her creative approach to routine construction and costume design consistently produced memorable performances that pushed artistic boundaries.
Anton du Beke, the show’s longest-serving professional, continued his tradition of elegant ballroom excellence and patient teaching. His partnerships typically emphasized classical techniques and traditional ballroom values, providing a perfect counterpoint to more contemporary approaches. Kevin Clifton, with his versatile choreographic style and patient teaching method, proved adept at bringing out the best in celebrity partners with varying abilities. His approach balanced technical development with performance confidence building.
Rising Stars and Established Professionals
Nadiya Bychkova joined the professional lineup with extensive competitive dance experience and fresh choreographic perspectives. Her first full series showcased her technical expertise and ability to create memorable routine concepts. Amy Dowden brought Welsh charm and exceptional Latin technique to her partnerships. Her enthusiastic teaching style and creative choreography consistently produced entertaining and technically sound routines.
Dianne Buswell made her Strictly debut with vibrant red hair and infectious enthusiasm. Her background in competitive dance and television performance prepared her well for the unique demands of celebrity partnership dancing. The established professionals including Aljaz Skorjanec, Janette Manrara, Pasha Kovalev, Karen Clifton, Neil Jones, and Gorka Marquez each brought their proven track records and distinct teaching philosophies to create the diverse range of partnerships that defined the series.
Memorable Partnerships and Chemistry
The success of any Strictly series depends largely on the chemistry and working relationships between celebrities and their professional partners. 2017 produced several partnerships that captured public imagination and delivered consistently excellent performances.
The Winning Partnership
Joe McFadden and Katya Jones formed the season’s most successful partnership, combining Joe’s natural performance ability with Katya’s innovative choreography. Their journey from early promise to eventual victory showcased perfect collaboration between celebrity dedication and professional expertise. Their partnership produced consistently high-scoring routines across multiple dance styles, with particularly memorable performances including their Halloween week routine and their show-stopping finale performances. The mutual respect and genuine friendship between Joe and Katya was evident throughout their time on the show.
Standout Collaborations
Alexandra Burke and Gorka Marquez created one of the series’ most technically accomplished partnerships. Alexandra’s performance background combined with Gorka’s precise technique resulted in routines that consistently impressed judges and audiences alike. Their partnership demonstrated how musical experience can translate effectively to dance performance when paired with expert professional guidance.
Debbie McGee and Giovanni Pernice proved that age and experience create powerful combinations on the dance floor. Debbie’s grace and Giovanni’s passionate teaching style produced some of the series’ most elegant and emotionally moving performances. Their partnership challenged ageist assumptions while showcasing the transformative power of expert dance instruction.
Gemma Atkinson and Aljaž Skorjanec developed a partnership characterized by technical improvement and emotional connection. Gemma’s determination to master challenging techniques combined with Aljaž’s patient teaching approach created routines that grew stronger throughout the series.
Surprising Connections
Mollie King and AJ Pritchard formed a partnership that generated significant public interest both for their performances and their obvious personal chemistry. Their routines showcased contemporary choreographic styles while maintaining classical technique standards. Aston Merrygold and Janette Manrara paired natural dance ability with exceptional professional guidance to create routines that pushed creative boundaries. Despite early elimination, their partnership demonstrated the highest levels of technical achievement in the competition.
Judges and Scoring: Maintaining Standards and Providing Entertainment
The 2017 judging panel maintained the show’s traditional balance of technical expertise, entertainment value assessment, and constructive criticism that helps both contestants and viewers understand dance quality and improvement.
The Judging Panel Dynamics
Craig Revel Horwood continued his role as the panel’s technical perfectionist, providing detailed critiques that emphasized proper technique while acknowledging improvement and achievement. His scoring often reflected pure technical standards rather than entertainment value alone. Darcey Bussell brought ballet expertise and grace to the panel, offering insights into posture, lines, and classical dance principles. Her comments often focused on elegance and artistic expression alongside technical execution.
Len Goodman, in what would be his final series as head judge, maintained his emphasis on traditional ballroom and Latin standards while appreciating contemporary innovations. His departure at the end of the series marked the end of an era for Strictly Come Dancing. Bruno Tonioli provided his characteristic passionate and theatrical responses to performances, emphasizing entertainment value and emotional connection while maintaining awareness of technical standards. His enthusiasm and dramatic commentary added energy to the judging process.
Scoring Patterns and Controversies
The 2017 series featured several controversial scoring decisions that generated significant public discussion. Some technically excellent performances received lower scores than expected, while others benefited from generous marking that reflected improvement and effort alongside pure technique.
The judges’ approach to scoring evolved throughout the series, with early weeks emphasizing encouragement and improvement while later stages demanded higher technical standards and performance quality. This progression helped maintain competition integrity while supporting celebrity development. Public disagreement with judging decisions became a regular feature of social media discussion, highlighting the subjective nature of dance assessment and the passion of Strictly’s fanbase.
Halloween Week Spectacular
Halloween week 2017 delivered some of the series’ most creative and entertaining routines. The themed week allowed professionals to experiment with dramatic choreography and costume design while maintaining technical standards. Joe McFadden and Katya Jones’s Halloween routine became an instant classic, combining technical excellence with theatrical drama in a performance that demonstrated why they would eventually win the competition. The routine showcased perfect integration of theme, music, and dance technique. Other Halloween performances pushed creative boundaries while maintaining dance quality, proving that themed weeks can enhance rather than detract from the competition’s technical standards.
Blackpool Week Magic
The annual Blackpool special episode provided the traditional venue for some of the series’ most spectacular performances. The Tower Ballroom’s historic significance and larger dance floor allowed for expanded choreography and enhanced production values. Alexandra Burke’s Blackpool performance demonstrated why she remained a consistent frontrunner throughout the competition. Her routine combined technical precision with the emotional connection that Blackpool’s atmosphere inspires. Debbie McGee’s Blackpool performance proved that experience and dedication can overcome age-related assumptions, delivering a routine that would have impressed in any series at any venue.
Semi-Final and Final Performances
The series semi-final and final produced performances that represented months of training and improvement. The pressure of elimination and the desire to reach the final inspired celebrities to deliver their best work. The final itself featured multiple routines from each remaining couple, including their favorite dance from the series, a judges’ choice routine, and the show dance finale. These performances demonstrated the transformation each celebrity had undergone throughout their Strictly journey.
FAQs
Who won Strictly Come Dancing 2017?
Joe McFadden, the actor best known for Holby City, won the 2017 season alongside professional partner Katya Jones. Their chemistry, technical skill, and consistent top scores helped them secure the Glitterball Trophy.
Who were the runners-up in 2017?
Debbie McGee with her professional partner Giovanni Pernice finished in second place. Their performances, including show-stopping routines, were fan favorites and highly praised by the judges.
Which celebrity was the first to be eliminated in 2017?
Simon Rimmer, the celebrity chef, was the first to leave the competition. Despite a strong start, he struggled to match the technical demands of the dance routines.
In Summary
Strictly Come Dancing 2017 represented the show at its best, combining technical excellence with entertainment value, personal journeys with professional achievement, and traditional dance values with contemporary innovation. The series produced memorable performances, surprising eliminations, inspiring personal transformations, and a worthy champion in Joe McFadden.
The diverse celebrity lineup ensured that viewers could find someone to support regardless of their preferences, while the professional dancers’ expertise maintained the high standards that define Strictly’s reputation. The balance between competition and entertainment, technique and personality, tradition and innovation created a series that satisfied both dance purists and casual viewers.
Looking back, the 2017 series stands as an example of how Strictly Come Dancing can simultaneously celebrate dance excellence while providing accessible entertainment that brings people together around shared appreciation for dedication, improvement, and artistic achievement. The series proved once again that the combination of celebrity participation, professional expertise, and public engagement creates television that is both meaningful and memorable.
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