Tayce has made history as the first-ever drag performer to win Strictly Come Dancing‘s Christmas special, dazzling audiences with a show-stopping cha-cha alongside professional dance partner Kai Widdrington.
A Historic Victory for Tayce
The RuPaul’s Drag Race UK alum, originally from Newport, South Wales, earned perfect scores across the board for a high-energy cha-cha to 100 Degrees by Kylie and Dannii Minogue. Judge Craig Revel Horwood raved about the routine, calling it “absolutely fierce, serving realness, serving fab-u-lous.”
Tayce and Widdrington outperformed a star-studded lineup that included comedian Josh Widdicombe, actress Tamzin Outhwaite, DJ and podcaster Vogue Williams, Gladiator competitor Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, and former racing driver Billy Monger.
Festive Performances & High Scores
The Christmas special opened with a group dance to I Love Christmas from Scrooge and wrapped up with a grand finale set to Leona Lewis’s rendition of I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day.
Each contestant delivered standout performances:
- Josh Widdicombe & Karen Hauer scored 36/40 for a high-energy routine that left judge Anton Du Beke “gobsmacked.”
- Vogue Williams & Gorka Marquez impressed with a lively jive to Rockin’ Robin, earning a score of 33.
- Tamzin Outhwaite & Nikita Kuzmin waltzed gracefully to Hallelujah by K.D. Lang.
- Billy Monger & Nadiya Bychkova performed a smooth and elegant American-style dance to Merry Christmas by Ed Sheeran and Sir Elton John.
- Harry Aikines-Aryeetey & Nancy Xu brought energy to the stage with a street-style routine set to Christmas Wrapping from the Glee cast.
The final scores from the judges were combined with live audience votes to determine the winner.
A Milestone Moment in Strictly History
At 30 years old, Tayce has cemented her legacy as Strictly Come Dancing‘s first drag performer to not only compete but also take home the trophy.
This season also marked another historic moment: comedian Chris McCausland became the first blind contestant to win the Strictly trophy earlier in the year.
With dazzling performances, first-time victories, and boundary-breaking representation, this year’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special delivered a festive celebration to remember.
Source: BBC News
