For 18 years Strictly Come Dancing has been staple weekend television. The first series started with a mere eight celebs and the show has since expanded to 15 stars per series. As a result it's created quite the backlog of stars who have graced the tiles since 2004.
So we’ve had a look back at some celebs you’ve probably forgotten were ever on Strictly - from the random, the stardom and the downright wrong.
David Dickinson
In 2004, David Dickinson featured on the first series of Strictly Come Dancing. It’s hard to imagine the antiques dealer whirling around - dancing a Cha-cha-cha to Tom Jones’ Sex Bomb with ballroom dancer, Camilla Sacre-Dallerup - but sometimes, the truth is stranger than fiction.
Unfortunately, David - who at the time would have been 63 - wasn’t a real bobby-dazzler. He was in the bottom two in the second week, and again in the third, then he quickly got the boot (and not the car boot sale type). He came seventh (out of the eight celebs).
Patsy Palmer
In 2005, EastEnders fan favourite Patsy Palmer took to the Strictly dance floor during season three. Her partner was Rickaaaaaaay – woops, sorry - it was actually Anton Du Beke, back in his dancing days.
Waltzing into the competition to Fly Met to the Moon and jiving out in week eight to Two Hearts, Patsy came fifth. Our only wish was that the iconic EastEnders’ Jackson 5 trailer, featuring Bianca's kids and in the famous silver puffer jacket, had been made into a routine. It came out three years too late. Damn Patsy, we want you back.
Zoe Ball
Along with Patsy, Zoe Ball was also in the Strictly class of 2005. She came third place with her partner Ian Waite, raking in high scored from the off. In week one, the judges granted her 35 points for her Waltz to the Eagles’ 1975 classic Take It to the Limit.
Fast forward to 2022 and viewers were happy to see her in the crowd cheering on her Radio 2 colleague Richie Anderson.
Emma Bunton
Season four certainly had some seasoning - Baby sprinkled Spice all over the dance floor. Emma Bunton and her dance partner Darren Bennett came third place in the semi-final, finishing with a Salsa to the iconic Ain't Nobody by Chaka Kahn.
Emma, who was struggling with fertility issues at the time, even thanked the show for getting her pregnant. She told Stella magazine, "[My doctor had] seen me on the television holding my hands over my stomach and she just had a feeling I was pregnant.
"I did a test straight away and I was. I have no idea whether it was doing all that exercise but I was so happy. Strictly got me pregnant."
Stop right now, thank you very much, you’ve certainly got somebody with a human touch.
Kate Garraway
Before the days of Good Morning Britain, Kate Garraway appeared on season five of Strictly, back in 2007. She came eighth, along with her partner Anton Du Beke. Kate left the competition dancing a Paso Doble to Somebody Told Me by The Killers.
Rachel Stevens
In 2008, Rachel Stevens didn’t stop moving during season six and she came second place with her partner, Vincent Simone. Thanks to her performing arts background, Rachel consistently secured high from the judges, with her Argentine Tango, Rumba and Waltz all securing 39 points. Reach for the stars, Rach. Climb every mountain higher.
But in the end, she missed out on the winning spot to Holby City actor Tom Chambers and his partner Camilla Sacre-Dallerup.
Natalie Cassidy
Season seven saw Natalie Cassidy – aka EastEnders’ most iconic hun – take to the dance floor. In 2009, Natalie came fifth place out, dancing with her partner Vincent Simone.
Natalie’s scores peaked with her Foxtrot at 34, but troughed with her Tango at 24. Her last Rock ‘n’ Roll dance to Long Tall Sally by Little Richard saw Short Small Sonia eliminated.
Ann Widdecome
It’s safe to say history has shown that politicians shouldn’t dance. Did you see Matt Hancock trying out the Candy dance on I'm A Celeb? Anyway, when Ann Widdecombe took to the tiles in 2010, series eight saw some moments you may have forgotten.
Ann’s Samba to Heaven Must Be Missing Angels with Anton Du Beke in her fluffy yellow dress for instance even made it onto Gogglebox. But in the end, Ann did well for herself, coming sixth in the competition.
Jason Donovan
Neighbours’ old-timer Jason Donovan took part in season nine of Stricly back in 2011. He came third place in the semi-final with his partner Kristina Rihanoff and they even scored some impressive points, garnering 40 twice for his Argentine Tango and Showdance.
Dave Myers
You’re used to the Hairy Bikers whipping up a storm in the kitchen, but Dave Myers left Si King to take part in series eleven of Strictly, In 2013, Dave got the lowest score in the series - a 16 for his Paso Doble and a 17 for his American Smooth and Salsa. Turns out, it was a recipe for disaster. He came tenth on the show with his dance partner Karen Hauer.
Peter Andre
What if we told you Peter Andre came seventh on Strictly series 13, back in 2015? Yep, we know - This Is Insania. But Peter was eliminated in week ten of the competition with his partner, Jenette Manrara after scoring last place for in the Quickstep-a-thon.
Judge Rinder
That’s right, Judge Rinder stepped out of the courtroom, hung up his long black gown and took to the tiles during season 14 back in 2016 alongside his partner Oksana Platero, Jazz hands and all.
In week eleven, JudgeRinder danced a Samba to December, 1963, Oh What a Night from the Jersey Boys musical. Despite scoring a respectable 31, he was facing a sea of 36, 37 and 39s from the remaining four celebs and his time was up.
Michelle Visage
In 2019, Michelle Visage took some time off as a judge on RuPaul's Drag Race, to become a contestant on Strictly. In season 17, Michelle had to sashay away in week nine, coming seventh and her last dance was in a street style to Vogue by Madonna, sticking true to her involvement in the drag and house ball scene.
Michelle’s stint wasn’t without its drama. There were rumours she stormed off the show after being eliminated, she was apparently upset that she wasn’t invited to the Strictly Come Dancing tour and there were reports she had a feud with her dance partner Giovanni Pernice. She even told This Morning she’d been hiding a knee injury from the show’s bosses, and that’s why she didn’t make it to the final.