Strictly's best Musical moments from past series

The 2015 series of Strictly Come Dancing has seen the celebrities survive the horrors of Halloween, brave  the ballroom in Blackpool, and manoeuvere their way out of the tricky Quickstepathon.

And tonight, the BBC1 dancing show has a new theme for the remaining six stars and their professional partners as they take on numbers from the top West End and Broadway shows in Musicals Week.

Call The Midwife star Helen George will be hoping to keep her place at the top of the leaderboard with a powerful Paso Doble to At The End Of The Day from Les Miserables, while former soap star Georgia May Foote will be channelling her inner Disney princess as Belle from Beauty And The Beast.

Helen George

(Guy Levy/BBC)

The Wanted’s Jay McGuiness has a romantic Rumba to Falling Slowly from Once, while broadcaster Katie Derham will be doing her best Liza Minnelli impression to Maybe This Time from Cabaret.

TV presenter Anita Rani has an Argentine Tango to Chicago’s Cellblock Tango to look forward to, while EastEnders’ actress Kellie Bright will be taking to the floor for a bit of Oom Pah Pah from Oliver.

As we await another spectacular week of costumes, make-up and dancing, here’s a look back at some of the most memorable musical-themed moments from Strictly’s past.

1. Patrick Robinson and Anya Garnis (2013)

Patrick Robinson

(Gareth Fuller/PA)

Musicals Week in Series 11 saw a host of spectacular performances. Probably the most memorable was the Casualty star’s Charleston to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Descending from the studio ceiling in Strictly’s very own version of the famous car, actor Patrick made a convincing Caractacus Potts alongside his professional partner Anya Garnis. It really was truly scrumptious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P26tZ0v-kOs&feature=oembed

2. Natalie Gumede and Artem Chigvintsev (2013)

Natalie Gumede

(Guy Levy/BBC)

The former Corrie star’s heartfelt American Smooth with partner Artem Chigvintsev had the nation reaching for their hankies.

Dancing to And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going from Dreamgirls, they got on the wrong side of judge Len Goodman, however, who felt they didn’t dance in hold enough.

However, when they repeated the dance in the final, they got the perfect score of 40 from the judges for their emotional dance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awW4Z0eEOms&feature=oembed

3. Mark Benton and Iveta Lukosiute (2013)

Mark Benton

(Guy Levy/BBC)

He may not have been at the top of the leaderboard, finding himself in four dance-offs, but the Waterloo Road star was definitely one of the more entertaining Strictly contestants. Who can forget his MC Hammer tribute or his Bond villain complete with cat for his Rumba to Goldfinger?

The actor waved goodbye to the show after his Samba to I Just Can’t Wait To Be King from The Lion King, but for his costume alone he deserves a mention.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXYwAmC1qIE&feature=oembed

4. Abbey Clancy and Aljaz Skorjanec (2013)

Abbey Clancy

(Guy Levy/BBC)

The eventual winners of Series 11 put on an impressive display in Musicals Week, with all the judges getting their “10″ paddles out for their Salsa.

Performing to You Should Be Dancing from Saturday Night Fever, there was no doubt in the public’s opinion they should be dancing their way to the Glitter Ball trophy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ispdxhYEFn8&feature=oembed

5. Holly Valance and Artem Chigvintsev (2011)

Holly Valance

(Guy Levy/BBC)

The stars of Series Nine enjoyed their own Broadway night, and former Neighbours star Holly didn’t disappoint with a steamy Tango in a very revealing dress.

She made temperatures in the studio rise with partner Artem and their jail-themed dance to Cellblock Tango from Chicago. How will Anita’s Argentine version compare this year?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6v9aOvtloU&feature=oembed

6. Jason Donovan and Kristina Rihanoff (2011)

Jason Donovan

(Guy Levy/BBC)

A fellow Aussie soap veteran turned musicals star, Jason made it all the way to the final in 2011. He topped the leaderboard with his Tango to I Will Survive.

His Priscilla Queen Of The Desert-inspired routine involved a lot of pink, a lot of feathers and a lot of dramatic facial expressions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qTuwTZ2gW0&feature=oembed

The quarter-final of Strictly Come Dancing is on tonight (5 December) at 7.00pm on BBC1.

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