‘Strictly Come Dancing’ is back on our screens, with the whole of the UK gripped by ‘Dance Fever’ once again. Famous faces and their professional dance partners battle it out to take home the coveted Glitter Ball prize, while fans of the show vote to keep their idols out of the dreaded weekly dance-off, where one couple gets sent home with their bedazzled tails between their legs.
The 2022 season got off to a flyer, with the first live show broadcast across the UK on Saturday 24th September. And now, halfway through this glittery affair, it’s time to take a look at who are the favourites to win this year’s crown, as well as some notable past winners. And with the World Cup in Qatar threatening to push Strictly’s usual Saturday night spot out of our TV schedule, we’ll be taking a sneak peek at when the experts predict the ‘Strictly’ final will actually take place.
Who has won ‘Strictly’ in the past?
What we love about this show is how unpredictable it is! Each week, the two couples who have performed the worst can be put into the dance-off, where one couple will be sent home. The decision as to who stays and who goes is based on both the judges’ scores and the public vote, with the judges looking at the competition objectively, and members of the public pretty much just choosing who they like. And the results can be varied, to say the least!
Previous celebs who stayed far longer in the competition that they probably should have include Ann Widdecombe, the former Conservative MP, who managed to rack up an impressive 10 weeks on the show, as well as John Sergeant, the political journalist, who also got himself to week 10 before quitting ‘Strictly’, much to the disappointment of his fans.
Other notable contestants include R&B star Alesha Dixon, TV presenter Caroline Flack and one half of the 80s pop duo Bros, Matt Goss.
Who are the bookies’ favourites to win ‘Strictly’ 2022?
In the UK, we love a flutter! And Strictly presents some fantastic opportunities to pocket some extra cash if you can correctly predict the winner of this star-studded annual competition.
Current favourites to take home the Glitter Ball prize this year are Hamza Yassin, the wildlife presenter on the children’s channel CBeebies, at 4/5; Helen Skelton, the ‘Blue Peter’ presenter, at 4/1; and Will Mellor, the ‘Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps’ TV star at 5/1.
Those in the know have also pegged Tyler West, the Radio DJ and TV presenter, to swipe the top spot after he impressed the judges in both the Ballroom and Latin categories in recent weeks. However, it will come down to the audience on the night of the grand final, and what makes ‘Strictly’ such a punter’s dream is that the most unlikely contestant can come up trumps at the very last minute.
When is the ‘Strictly’ final 2022?
Much speculation is surrounding the 2022 ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ final. Last year, we saw the stars take to the dance floor for the last time on December 18th. And while it would stand to reason that this year’s finale will fall around the same time, a spanner has been well and truly thrown into the works by the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.
Usually, the World Cup takes place in summer, but due to the searing heat in the Middle East, the biggest competition in international sports is starting much later in the year, with the first match being held on the 20th November, and the final set to kick-off on Strictly’s previous finale date of the 18th December.
Needless to say, this has ‘Strictly’ fans pretty worked up, with many fearful that their favourite show will be nudged out of TV schedules to allow for the World Cup matches. And with ITV and the BBC both sharing the rights to the football tournament, it’s possible that the BBC-based ‘Strictly’ may be moved off its prime spot on BB1 to accommodate the footy.
That said, it’s highly unlikely that the ‘Strictly’ grand final will be pushed too far back. If anything, we predict that ‘Strictly’ will simply be moved to one of the other free BBC channels, such as BBC2, which will still allow for fans of the dance show to watch their favourite couples take to the tiles one last time.
Can’t get enough of Strictly? Here are some other ways to enjoy it
For many, ‘Strictly’ isn’t just a TV show. Since its inception in 2004, this glitzy dance competition has become a bit of a phenomenon, with dance classes and groups all over the UK imitating the dances and paying homage to the show, along with its contestants and judges.
Formally named ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, the show is licensed by the BBC and has been exported to over 60 other countries, including the USA, under the title ‘Dancing with the Stars’. In turn, this has led to many spin-off shows, including ‘Strictly Dance Fever’ and ‘It Takes Two’. Not to mention, there are countless other TV programs that all follow the magical ‘Strictly’ formula.
If you’re looking to scratch that ‘Strictly’ itch outside of the show’s usual running times, there are many other ways to enjoy your favourite dance competition. For example, there are board games and online games that bring the world of ‘Strictly’ back into your living room whenever you wish. These include slot titles, such as ‘Strictly Come Winning’ and ‘Strictly Come Spinning’, which you can play at some of the UK’s most popular online casinos.
Many casinos will offer new players a bonus that you can use to play games like these Strictly slots. Of these bonus deals, we recommend opting for a no wagering bonus, which will allow you to withdraw your winnings with far fewer restrictions than many other types of offers.
Conclusion
There’s no doubt that the popularity of ‘Strictly’ isn’t going anywhere! Year on year, this BBC spectacular gets bigger and better, with celebrities from all over the world vying to take part in the show and boost their public profiles, and everyone from your nan to your postman wagering on their favourite couple to win. And it seems that not even the biggest sporting event in the entire world can overshadow the popularity of this light-hearted, star-studded affair.
So whether England makes it to the World Cup final or not, you can relax in the knowledge that the UK public will be gathered round their screens in December for at least one grand finale!
