Melvin Odoom returns to Strictly! (...for the Christmas special)

Melvin Odoom
Melvin and Janette

Unlucky first casualty of this year's Strictly, Melvin Odoom is getting the chance to hit the dance floor again in the show's Christmas special

Melvin Odoom will return to Strictly Come Dancing for the Christmas special just weeks after becoming the first celebrity to leave the show.

Radio DJ and television personality Melvin will join five other personalities including Olympian Denise Lewis, singer Frankie Bridge and Billy Connolly’s wife, Pamela Stephenson.

Denise Lewis and her partner Matthew Cutler are put through their paces during the final dress rehearsal for the first ever tour of Strictly Come Dancing Live! at the SECC in Finnieston, Glasgow.

Denise Lewis competing in 2008 (Michael Boyd/PA)

 

Completing the star-studded line-up will be celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott and Welsh TV presenter Gethin Jones.

The one-off festive episode will see the famous faces competing to become the winners of the coveted Christmas Silver Star trophy.

The show will be presented by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, and will also see the judging panel of Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell and Bruno Tonioli return.

Undated BBC handout photo of judges (left-right) Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli during Saturday's live edition of the BBC1 show, Strictly Come Dancing.

Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli (Guy Levy/BBC)

 

This will be Len’s last year on the show, after he announced this series will be his last. The theme for the Christmas show and the names of the professional dancers taking part are still to be announced.

Melvin was the first celebrity to leave the latest series of the show.

He landed in the dance off alongside singer Anastacia, but she was unable to dance again after suffering a tear to scar tissue from a double mastectomy.

Handout photo issued by the BBC of the bottom two couples (left to right) Janette Manrara, Melvin Odoom, Anastacia and Brendan Cole during the results show for BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing.

(Guy Levy/BBC)

 

The dance off was cancelled, meaning Melvin was automatically sent home.

Former Eternal singer Louise Redknapp is currently at the top of the leaderboard, with an impressive 39 points, bolstered by three 10s she received after performing an Argentine Tango at the weekend.

Strictly Come Dancing continues on BBC One on Saturday at 6:55 pm.

 

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