IT’S the Strictly final this weekend, with adopted Scot Hamza Yassin competing for the glitterball trophy alongside singer Fleur East, CBBC star Molly Rainford and Countryfile and Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton.
Glaswegians have had a decent track record on the hit Saturday night show – including one winner….so here’s a look back at the best (and worst).
Heartbeat and Holby City’s Joe McFadden won with professional partner Katya Jones in 2017. He was a hit with the viewers because he completed the obligatory Strictly journey, starting off as not very good but getting better along the way. He never had to face the dreaded dance off, and charmed everyone with his cheery personality.
Joe even popped in to his old school, Holyrood Secondary, to give a special performance to staff and pupils, and visited the City Chambers.
He told the Glasgow Times: “It was lovely being back in Glasgow – George Square looks brilliant, and I even got a personal tour of the City Chambers from the Lord Provost Eva Bolander, which was very special.
“It was great to go back to my old school and see all the kids who have been watching the show and supporting us. That’s who it’s all for, after all – it’s great when you can get the chance to meet the people who are watching and picking up the phone and voting for you. It is for them, not us, that we’re doing it.”
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McFadden’s first big break came at the age of 12 when his drama teacher Camille Skilling recommended him for a small role in crime series Taggart.
Few people will forget Glasgow comic Susan Calman, resplendent in full Wonder Woman costume, leading Kevin Clifton on a merry dance through series 15 of Strictly (the same one that Joe won.)
She got back into her dancing shoes in 2018 to join a lesson at the Senior Centre in Castlemilk to help launch the National Lottery Awards - and said it was tougher to learn the line-dancing routine than any during her Strictly Come Dancing run.
“When I did Strictly we had eight hours a day for about five days to learn something, but that was about 30 seconds and it was very complicated,” she laughed, afterwards.
Dennistoun-born singer Lulu did not have the happiest of times on Strictly, when she appeared in series nine. Her prickly relationship with her professional partner, Brendan Cole, was evident for all to see.
Glasgow model and TV presenter Carol Smillie wowed Strictly audiences back in 2006 when she danced with Matthew Cutler, making it almost all the way to the quarter finals.
Glasgow Warriors rugby player Thom Evans suffered a shock exit in series 12, much to the disappointment of the watching public, and his professional partner Iveta Lukiesuto.
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Glasgow radio presenter and Loose Women host Kaye Adams appeared on this series, but was first to exit to the disappointment of her many fans.
Other Scots to have appeared on Strictly include weather presenter Carol Kirkwood, who danced with Pasha Kovalev; rugby star Kenny Logan, who was partnered with Ola Jordan; impressionist Rory Bremner, who danced with Erin Boag and Judy Murray, who danced with Anton du Beke.
Strictly Come Dancing: The Final will air live on Saturday, December 17 at 7.15pm, on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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