The BBC’s Christmas Day lineup proved a successful formula once again, with brand new specials of fans’ favorite programmes grabbing the top seven slots.
The BBC earned eight of the top 10 programs as people tuned to the BBC throughout the day, showing an incredible selection of new drama, comedy, and entertainment programming.
The BBC’s Chief Content Officer, Charlotte Moore, said, “Viewers chose the BBC on Christmas Day and entertained them in their millions with Strictly taking the top spot. Nothing brings the country together at Christmas quite like the BBC, there was something for everyone with the seven most popular programmes across the day that caps off a brilliant year on the BBC celebrating British creativity where we have delivered hits and award-winning work and seen huge audiences come to our shows.
“It’s these moments, in a time of intense competition, that prove that after 99 years the BBC matters more than ever. We have an ambitious and exciting year ahead in 2022 to mark our centenary year with an unmissable range of world class content that will celebrate and reflect the unique role the BBC continues to play in the lives of audiences across the UK.”
Anne-Marie Crowned the Winner
The Christmas Special Winner for 2021 Strictly Come Dancing is singer Anne-Marie.
The 30-year-old pop diva and professional dancer Graziano Di Prima won after an exciting performance that garnered them a flawless score of 40 from the panel.
They tied for first place with former Bake Off host Neil Jones and Mel Giedroyc, whose couple’s pick to Vanilla Ice’s Ice Ice Baby was quite a big success.
When Anne-Marie’s name was announced during the holiday episode of the BBC One program on Christmas Day, Anne-Marie, who is also a coach on The Voice, seemed noticeably surprised.
She said: “I cannot believe it. I’m so proud and so happy about this opportunity to dance. It brought out a side of me I hadn’t seen in a long time. Thanks to Graz and the whole team. You have made my Christmas so special.”
Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood, and Shirley Ballas were among the judges who praised Giedroyc’s hilariously filled act, which featured dancing penguin holograms.
Ballas said: “You absolutely sum up the joy of Christmas. It was joyous, what a way to close our show, well done.”
Jay Blades and Luba Mushtuk of The Repair Shop received a 34 score for their jive to Hooky Street, the horse’s theme song, and Only Fools.
Before they got their judges’ ratings for their act, which included a chandelier in the start, a homage to one of the sitcom’s most famous episodes, Blades was shocked by a letter from Only Fools and Horses star David Jason.
Sir David, 81, best known for his role as “Del Boy” in the BBC comedy, joked in a video post that since they were dancing to the show’s theme tune, “there will be a royalty,” & closed with one of the show’s iconic lines, “You know it makes sense.”
The hosts of First Dates, Fred Sirieix and Dianne Buswell kicked off the program with a quickstep, earning three 10s and a total judges’ score of 38.
“I did think you were trotting around like a turkey but maybe that was the whole point darling,” Revel Horwood told Sirieix, before complimenting him on the “great enthusiasm” he brought to the dance.
Revel Horwood enthused with newsreader Moira Stuart and Aljaz Skorjanec’s salsa performance, stating, “I really, really enjoyed that.”
Adrian Chiles, a TV presenter, and professional dancer Jowita Przysta were lauded for their American smooth, which judge Ballas said was very comforting.
After all of the acts, the audience voted for their favorite, and their votes were merged with the judges’ scores to determine the winner.
Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman hosted the holiday event, which also included musical performances by Gary Barlow and Jamie Cullum.
Last year, a special Christmas edition looked back on the show’s 25 finest performances.
