The Strictly Come Dancing 2018 Christmas special celebrity and professional lineup is confirmed

12 November 2018, 15:01 | Updated: 12 November 2018, 15:06

If there's one thing we can always count on for Christmas Day, it's the festive Strictly special.

The celebrity lineup for the 2018 Christmas special has been announced, and six former Strictly stars will be returning to the ballroom.

Series 12 winner Caroline Flack will be joined by series 13's Anita Rani and series 8 'legend' Ann Widdecombe.

Caroline will partner with Gorka Marquez, Anita will join Neil Jones, and Ann will reunite with Anton du Beke.

Anita said: “I can’t contain my excitement about dancing again and getting sparkly for Strictly, stepping back inside the glitter ball of glam!”

Ann said: "I am very much looking forward to returning to Strictly, where I shall once again be pushed, pulled, cajoled and coaxed around the dancefloor in all manner of ways by my poor dance partner. Who knows, they might even fire me out of a canon."

Caroline added: “I can’t quite believe it’s been four years since I had the best time of my life, dancing with Pasha on the Strictly dance floor. My Glitterball still has pride of place in my living room! It always felt like a family at the SCD studios, so how could I say no to performing one last time on this year’s Christmas special? It’ll be the best present I could imagine.”

Meanwhile, the gentlemen taking part will be series 15's Aston Merrygold, series 12's Jake Wood and series 10's Michael Vaughan.

Aston will dance with Janette Manrara, Jake will join Luba Mushtuk and Michael will partner Nadiya Bychkova.

JLS star Aston said: “I’m so happy to be able to get back on the Strictly floor. I feel like I’ve got some unfinished business with it!”

EastEnders actor Jake said: “It’s been a few years since I donned the sequins so I can’t wait to do it all over again for the Christmas Special. I loved my experience on Strictly Come Dancing and I jumped at the chance when they asked if I wanted to step back onto the dancefloor.”

Cricket legend Michael said: “Having not danced at all since 2012 I can’t be any worse than then as I had no clue then, still have no clue, but can’t wait to have some fun and at least it will help lose a few pounds over the Xmas party season!”

This year's festive theme will be fairy tales and 'making dreams come true'. Each of the six couples will perform a Christmas-inspired routine.

Hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, the show will see Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell, Bruno Tonioli and Shirley Ballas giving their scores, with the studio audience voting for which duo will win.