In a festive television triumph, reality TV favourite Scarlett Moffatt has been crowned the winner of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special. The former Gogglebox star and I'm A Celebrity winner lifted the glitterball trophy after dazzling the judges with a perfect-scoring Cha Cha alongside professional partner Vito Coppola.
A Festive Victory and a Secret Kept
The pre-recorded special, which aired on Christmas Day, was a landmark episode for the BBC juggernaut. It marked the final hosting appearance of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who stepped down earlier this year. Amid the emotional farewells, Moffatt's win provided a sparkling highlight. The 35-year-old described the victory as "the greatest gift that could have ever happened at Christmas."
Remarkably, Moffatt managed to keep her win completely under wraps from her own family. They discovered her success along with the rest of the nation when the show was broadcast. Speaking ahead of transmission, she said, "I'm going to make them wait. I already feel like a winner anyway... I don’t want to give anything away."
Returning to Her Dancing Roots
For Moffatt, the Strictly Christmas Special was a poignant return to her first love. A former competitive ballroom and Latin dancer, she was crowned British Ballroom Champion at 16 and trained under current Strictly judge Anton Du Beke. She admitted she never expected to dance on the main series due to this background, making the Christmas special a "true bucket-list moment."
"Strictly reignited the fire inside of me, reminding me that I love dance," she revealed. "It's definitely going to be something that I continue to do even after Strictly." She and Coppola scored a flawless 40 points for their routine to Cher's 'DJ Play A Christmas Song'.
A New Chapter and Future Plans
The special also featured performances from other celebrities including comedian Babatunde Aléshé, singer Brian McFadden, Gladiators star Jodie Ounsley, All Saints' Melanie Blatt, and EastEnders actor Nicholas Bailey. Singer Brian McFadden and partner Michelle Tsiakkas came close with 39 points for their Jive.
Now a mother to two-year-old son Jude, Moffatt has taken a step back from the spotlight in recent years but hinted this win could signal a return. She is rumoured to be in the line-up for an I'm A Celebrity All Stars series next May. "Hypothetically, if I was to go back, I would just soak up every second again," she teased, reflecting on her 2016 jungle win.
As for hosts Daly and Winkleman, they signed off in style, with Tess even performing an Argentine Tango with former pro Aljaž Škorjanec. Their departure marks the end of an era for the show, but Moffatt's festive victory ensures the 2025 Christmas Special will be remembered as a truly glittering occasion.
