The new series of Strictly Come Dancing is so close that we can practically smell the hairspray! If you count yourself as a serious fan and have been watching every Autumn since May 2004 (and don't forget the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas specials! or the Strictly Come Dancing tour), you may remember a few of the Strictly Come Dancing winners from the past 17 years. But can you remember all of the Strictly Come Dancing judges since the very beginning?
Present Strictly judges
Shirley Ballas
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Head judge Shirley Ballas is one of the most renowned and decorated professional dancers in the world and is even hailed as the Queen of Latin, remaining the only person to have ever won the British Open to the World Latin American Championships in Blackpool with two different partners.
In 2017, it was announced that Shirley would be joining the judging panel and replacing Len Goodman as head judge.
It’s the sixth year for Shirley in the head judge hot seat but she’s still living the dream.
“I pinch myself every day,” she says. “It’s more fun to work on Strictly than you could possibly imagine. I get up on a Saturday morning and it feels like I’m going to Disneyland for the day. But I do still get nervous backstage.
The main thing that worries me is wanting the audience at home to feel that I’m doing my job well. I always watch the shows back to see how I can improve. I notice little things; such as when I first walk down the stairs, I tend
to look down to see where I’m stepping, so I’m trying to lift my eyeline a bit more to the camera.”
The one part of the job Shirley doesn’t like, is when she has to send a celeb home. “I dread that,” she reveals.
“I never know what the other judges are doing or how they’re marking. So, if I hear Craig and Motsi agree, and then Anton disagrees, I know it’s down to me and that’s not a nice feeling. I’m very close to the other judges. “I’ve known Motsi for 25 years and we have a friendship both on and off screen. Craig, I’ve known a long time and he and I are incredibly close. Anton is brilliant and you can just tell he’s loving being a judge.”
Craig Revel Horwood
The multi-talented Craig Revel Horwood has received prestigious Olivier Award nominations for his work on musicals Spend, Spend, Spend, and My One And Only. In the West End, he has played the part of Munkustrap in Cats, Dance Captain in Miss Saigon, and was an original cast member of Crazy For You.
Craig has been a Strictly judge since the show’s inception in 2004. He’s the ‘Mr Nasty’ of the judging panel but Craig says it’s all a bit of an act.
“It’s me at work, which is totally different to me at play. I think we’re all very different when we’re not at work, aren’t we? When I’m on Strictly I put my judge’s hat on and I treat it seriously. That’s who people see but it’s not the real me. It’s just a part of me – my critical side. You wouldn’t expect a judge in a murder trial to be the same person as he is at home. I think it’s important to be honest with people, especially since you want them to be really good and get better.”
But does he care about being labelled as one of telly’s bad guys? “It’s part and parcel of the job and it’s the same as playing the villain in panto – and the villains always have the most fun. Maybe it got to me originally but I’ve learned to live with it. People know that it’s tongue-in- cheek and there’s a twinkle in my eye. I’m just trying to make their dancing better and that’s a good thing.”
Motsi Mabuse
Having danced for most of her life, South African Motsi first caught Strictly's attention when she joined the cast of the German version of Strictly, Let's Dance, finishing in fifth and sixth place with her celebrity partners across two series.
In 2011 she was invited to become a Judge on Let's Dance, something she continues to do to this very day. It wasn't until 2019 that Motsi joined as a judge on the UK's Strictly Come Dancing. And now we can't imagine it without her!
Motsi is also the older sister of former Strictly professional dancer- and two-time winner - Oti.
Motsi replaced Darcy Bussell on the panel in 2019 but now, it’s like she’s always been there. She brings added flamboyance to Strictly but away from the ballroom, she’s quite different.
“I have to elevate myself to that showgirl who comes out on Saturday nights, otherwise I’m going to be a mumma who is used to changing nappies (she has a small daughter) and nobody wants that sort of entertainment on a weekend,” she has said.
“My pre-show ritual is music, music, music. I listen to Beyoncé, Tina Turner – strong women who make me feel empowered.” Motsi (41) says she watches the celebrity rather the pro when a couple are dancing. “That’s what I judge on. Only after the show will I comment on the pro’s performance.”
Anton du Beke
Part of the Strictly furniture, Anton is a Strictly legend who has been on the team since the first series. Anton is best remembered for comedic pairings with both Nancy Dell'Olio and former MP Ann Widdecombe.
Although Anton did a sterling job of filling Bruno Tonioli’s patent shoes on the judging panel in 2020 and 2021, it wasn’t until May of this year that he found out he’d become a permanent judge.
“I genuinely didn’t know before I got the call,” he says. “I was very happy when it came through. I still love dancing but with judging, I enjoy not getting voted off. I like making the final and getting to the end. The only sad thing is, I’m never going to pick up the glitterball now because I’m judging.”
Anton says we can expect him to play ‘Good Cop’ to Craig’s ‘Bad Cop’ on the judging panel this year.
“I love working with Craig because he’s such an old pro and you know exactly what you are going to get from him. It’s very difficult to form a double act if one person is too sporadic and you can’t get any momentum to it. But because you know what Craig is going to be like – he’s funny and a bit caustic sometimes – that’s great and I can play off that. It’s when he’s nice that he throws everyone into confusion. It makes us all feel that he’s under the weather or something!”
Past Strictly judges
Bruno Tonioli
Strictly's former fabulous and flamboyant judge, Bruno is a legendary dancer and choreographer who has worked with some of the biggest names in the music, including Elton John, Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury, Tina Turner and Paul McCartney.
As well as being a regular guest judge on Dancing with the Stars in America, Bruno was a permanent fixture on the Strictly judging panel since 2004. Sadly, due to the uncertainty regarding international travel restrictions caused by Covid, Bruno was unable to take part in the 2021 series. We were hoping to see the return of Bruno at some point in the near future, but sadly, he confirmed his permanent exit from the show. This means Anton will be replacing Bruno as the permanent judge from the 2022 series and onwards.
Darcey Bussell
Prima Ballerina Dame Darcey Bussell CBE, the former Principal Dancer at the Royal Ballet, first joined the Strictly judging panel in 2009 as a guest judge in the final stages of the 2009 series.
Darcey then returned to the panel as a replacement for Alesha Dixon in 2012 but in 2018, she announced that she had decided to step down as judge from the show.
She said: "It has been a complete privilege for me to be part of Strictly, working with such a talented team. I have enjoyed every minute of my time and will miss everyone from my fellow judges, the presenters, the dancers, the musicians, the entire backstage team, and especially the viewers of the show, who have been so supportive."
Len Goodman
When former (and original!) head judge Len took up ballroom dancing, he specialised in a form of dancing called Exhibition, which is all about the lifts. He quickly became a British champion, winning the title a whopping four times.
Len left at the end of the 2016 series and was replaced by Shirley Ballas. Previously talking about continuing to watch Strictly, he said: "I try to watch it just as a punter, just to be entertained, but it’s difficult because you’re always judging things and I’m always thinking of things the judges should have said."
Sadly it was announced in April 2023 that Len had passed away at the age of 78. In a statement, his agent, Jackie Gill, said: "A much-loved husband, father and grandfather who will be sorely missed by family, friends and all who knew him."
Arlene Phillips
Part of the original quartet of judges, West End choreographer and former Hot Gossip dancer Arlene has been in the entertainment business for decades.
Arlene made a controversial departure from the show when it was rumoured she was given the sack in favour of Alesha Dixon, who won the show in 2007.
Following her departure, she has since said: "I didn’t have a contract that automatically rolled on to the next year, but I think it was handled so poorly."
Alesha Dixon
After lifting the Strictly Come Dancing trophy in 2007 with her professional partner Matthew Cutler, singer Alesha Dixon went on to join the Strictly judging panel in 2009 for three series.
Announcing she was leaving Strictly in 2012, Alesha said: "After three incredible years on the Strictly Come Dancing judging panel I have decided that it is time to move on.
Strictly Come Dancing will always hold a special place in my heart as it has been such an amazing experience, both as a winning competitor and as a judge."
Alesha instead joined ITV's talent show Britain's Got Talent.