IT’S the glitzy show that brightens up the winter months – and today Strictly Come Dancing is 20 years old.
The BBC One Saturday night favourite first aired on May 15, 2004, with a second series following in October that same year.
Launching with just eight celebs, the show made overnight stars of its four original judges.
Craig Revel Horwood and Arlene Phillips delivered brutal but often hilarious critiques, while Bruno Tonioli was infectiously effusive.
But the biggest hit was the late Len Goodman, with his down-to-earth cockney banter, unbeatable knowledge of Latin and ballroom and brilliant catchphrases – including “pickle my walnuts”.
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Christopher Parker’s shocking Paso Doble – the EastEnders actor ran around with a cape held above his head – didn’t prevent him finishing runner-up to newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky.
In the two decades that followed, the show has entertained millions and produced some truly memorable moments.
Alison Maloney, author of the Official Strictly Come Dancing Annual, picks 20 best moments from the 21 series.
Series 1 & 2 – Jill’s jubilant jive
THE top moment of the show’s first two series – both aired in 2004 – has to be actress Jill Halfpenny’s incredible jive with Darren Bennett.
The mind-blowing moves to Elton John’s I’m Still Standing earned the first-ever perfect score of 40.
Series 3 – puppet disaster
IN the final, athlete Colin Jackson and partner Erin Boag performed with life-sized puppets strapped to their feet and wrists.
Until then, they were favourites to win.
The gimmick handed cricketer Darren Gough and Lilia Kopylova a surprise victory – which reportedly cost bookies £250,000.
Series 4 – worst wardrobe malfunction
IN a Strictly first, Mark Ramprakash and Karen Hardy were allowed to start again after the cricketer’s microphone got tangled up in the fringe of his partner’s costume.
But the scorching hot salsa earned the couple a perfect 40 in the final, crowning hunky Mark the champion.
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Series 6 – stomping Sergeant
TELLY journalist John Sergeant dragged Kristina Rihanoff around the floor in their paso doble – but the public voted to save him, as they did every week.
He dropped out after week nine, saying there was a “real danger” he might win and that would be “a joke too far”.
Series 5 – Liftgate
TELLY host Kelly Brook’s glam American smooth with Brendan Cole earned her a ten from Bruno – but led to the show’s first “liftgate”.
Judge Len was annoyed they had performed three lifts instead of the permitted maximum of two.
Kelly was shaping up to be a potential finalist until she had to drop out following the death of her father.
Series 8 – Anton and Ann
DURING a hilarious Titanic routine, former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe called for partner Anton Du Beke through thick fog.
But their most memorable dance was the paso doble, where Anton literally wiped the floor with her.
Head judge Len likened it to a motorway accident that “you don’t really wanna watch, but you can’t help yourself”.
Series 7 – Team Cola
BEEB sports presenter Chris Hollins and Ola Jordan – aka Team Cola – won the glitterball trophy and scored maximum points for their Charleston to Fat Sam’s Grand Slam from movie musical Bugsy Malone.
The routine was one of Strictly’s most joyous moments.
Series 9 – Nancy Dell’Olio “buried alive”
SPOOKY Nancy Dell’Olio clambered out of a coffin on Halloween week.
The rumba that followed was so convincingly zombie-like that judge Alesha Dixon commented Sven-Goran Eriksson’s former lover would have been “better off staying in the coffin.”
Series 10 – fall guy Bruno
WITH perfect timing, energetic judge Bruno Tonioli was praising the “comedy ending” of actress Lisa Riley’s routine when he provided a few laughs himself by falling off his chair.
He saw the funny side, dissolving into giggles on the shoulder of Len Goodman.
Series 11 – Natalie Gumede show dance
FORMER Corrie actress Natalie is one of the best dancers never to lift the trophy, scoring 119 out of 120 points in the final.
Her routine with Artem Chigvintsev, which included cartwheels and pole dancing, was praised by Craig as “a show dance to end all show dances”.
Series 12 – snake hips Jake
EastEnders actor Jake Wood gained an army of female fans after showing off his slinky hips during a saucy salsa in week two.
Craig gasped: “Dahling, that hip action could crack coconuts.”
Bruno added: “Hips don’t lie – that was undiluted and full-on FANTASTIC!”
Series 13 – Jay’s jive
IT was only week three when The Wanted pop star Jay McGuiness channelled his inner Travolta with a spectacular Pulp Fiction-themed jive in 2015.
Jay and Aliona Vilani went on to win – and six years later viewers voted the dance the show’s most memorable ever.
Series 14 – Balls up
FORMER Chancellor Ed Balls straddling Katya Jones to Psy’s K-pop classic Gangnam Style goes down as the most hilarious Strictly moment of all time.
While their salsa performance only scored 25 points, I laughed so much I cried.
Still worth a watch if you need cheering up.
Series 15 – Debbie’s Argentine tango
SUPPLE Debbie McGee proved age was no barrier when she made the final at the age of 59 with Giovanni Pernice.
Stunned viewers saw her perform the splits during her sultry Argentine tango, which earned her a perfect score from the judges.
Fab-u-lous!
Series 19 – Rose in bloom
PERHAPS the most memorable moment of all time was when the music stopped during Rose Ayling-Ellis’s beautiful Couple’s Choice To Symphony, by Clean Bandit.
The nation was in tears as the profoundly deaf EastEnders actress and her partner Giovanni Pernice danced in silence for 16 seconds.
Choking back tears, Anton called it “the greatest thing I’ve ever seen on the show”.
Their performance landed a near-perfect score of 39 out of 40 and Rose went on to win the series.
Series 16 – Ashley shakes her tail feather
AN incredible final saw Ashley Roberts and Faye Tozer both land three scores of 40 before losing to Stacey Dooley in the public vote.
But the standout dance was Ashley and Pasha Kovalev’s jive to the Blues Brothers’ Shake A Tail Feather in the Blackpool show, which earned the first 40 of the series.
Series 17 – Kelvin’s secret weapon
EMMERDALE star Kelvin Fletcher was a last- minute stand-in for the injured Jamie Laing, but he came out with all guns blazing.
His Week One samba with Oti Mabuse had fans swooning and Bruno declaring it the “the best samba on any debut show in the UK or America”.
He went on to win.
Series 18 – Rapper Bill
BILL BAILEY glowed with joy every time he hit the floor.
But the series champ’s finest moment was his and partner Oti Mabuse’s Couple’s Choice street dance to Rapper’s Delight, which Shirley Ballas raved over.
The Sugarhill Gang agreed, sending the comic a personal video message.
Series 20 – Helen’s revenge song
FLEUR EAST’S tribute to Beyonce, at Blackpool, was incredible.
But for me the series favourite was Helen Skelton’s routine to Mein Herr, from musical Cabaret.
Oozing confidence, she seemed to address her break-up by mouthing “You’re better without me” at the camera.
Bravo!
Series 21 – Layton and Nikita’s Charleston
EVERY series there is one dance I watch on repeat and this time it was Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin’s Charleston.
Just when you thought there were no more tricks and acrobatics left, the pair pulled a somersault from the lying position and a double cartwheel.
Pure joy.
