Strictly Come Dancing reveals huge plans for a spin-off show

The judges, Craig, Motsi, Shirley and Anton in Strictly Come Dancing 2023

There are big plans to celebrate Strictly Come Dancing's latest milestone. (Image credit: BBC/Ray Burmiston)

Strictly Come Dancing is marking its 20th anniversary today, Wednesday, May 15, with the exciting news there will be a special episode airing later this year.

The unmissable one-off show will land on BBC One and BBC iPlayer to celebrate two decades of glitz, glamour and memorable moves.

The BBC has promised a show-stopping spectacular featuring iconic performances and plenty of heart-warming interviews with past celebrity stars, professional dancers and judges, all to celebrate the global phenomenon that Strictly has become.

Since the first episode debuted on BBC One on the evening of Saturday, May 15, 2004, Strictly Come Dancing has gone on to become a critically acclaimed and multi-award-winning hit, with the most recent win coming at the weekend as the show won in the Best Entertainment category for the third time at the BAFTA TV Awards 2024.

Johannes group dance week 7 — Strictly is known for its spectacular group dances. (Image credit: BBC)

Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment at the BBC says: "Strictly Come Dancing is more than just a TV show, it has become an integral part of British culture, bringing families together and inspiring viewers of all ages to embrace the joy of dance.

"Throughout its 20-year history, the show has launched careers, sparked trends, and touched the hearts of millions with its dazzling performances, emotional journeys, and unforgettable moments and we will be showcasing it all in this very special programme."

Suzy Lamb, Managing Director, BBC Studios Entertainment said: "From glittering Ballroom numbers to high-energy Latin routines, the show continues to push the boundaries of dance and entertainment and we want viewers to join us in raising a toast to 20 years of sparkle and shine in the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom."

While we don't have a release date for the new show yet, we do know that Strictly Come Dancing 2024 is coming back to BBC One in the autumn with a new celebrity line up. So while we might have a bit of a wait to see who we will be adding to our Strictly Come Dancing winners list, at least we have this spin-off to look forward to in the meantime.

Strictly Come Dancing 2024 will air later this year on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. You can catch up on past series of the show on BBC iPlayer.

Claire is Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch and has been a journalist for over 15 years, writing about everything from soaps and TV to beauty, entertainment, and even the Royal Family. After starting her career at a soap magazine, she ended up staying for 13 years, and over that time she’s pulled pints in the Rovers Return, sung karaoke in the Emmerdale village hall, taken a stroll around Albert Square, and visited Summer Bay Surf Club in sunny Australia.

After learning some tricks of the trade at websites Digital Spy, Entertainment Daily, and Woman & Home, Claire landed a role at What’s On TV and whattowatch.com writing about all things TV and film, with a particular love for Aussie soaps, Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off.

She’s interviewed everyone from June Brown — AKA Dot Cotton — to Michelle Keegan, swapped cooking tips with baking legend Mary Berry backstage at the NTAs, and danced the night away with soap stars at countless awards bashes. There’s not a lot she doesn’t know about soaps and TV and can be very handy when a soapy question comes up in a pub quiz!

As well as all things soap-related, Claire also loves running, spa breaks, days out with her kids, and getting lost in a good book.