The BBC has unveiled a spectacular line-up for the quarter-final of Strictly Come Dancing, with a headline performance from McFly star Tom Fletcher and a very special bear. The singer is set to share the ballroom stage with Paddington Bear from the West End production during the show's much-anticipated Musicals Week.
A Star-Studded Musical Spectacle
Tom Fletcher, who reached the final of Strictly in 2021 and wrote the music for the new stage show, will perform The Explorer And The Bear from Paddington The Musical. The 40-year-old will be joined by other notable guests, including the cast of the Olivier Award-winning parody Titanique.
The weekend's entertainment kicks off with a brand-new feature for the competition. The five remaining celebrity contestants will take part in a five-minute dance relay, choreographed by Matt Flint. This group routine will see each couple perform a snippet from a classic musical number before uniting for a grand finale.
The Quarter-Final Dance Relay Line-Up
The relay promises a whirlwind tour of the West End. The performances are as follows:
- Reality TV star Amber Davies and pro Nikita Kuzmin dancing to Trip A Little Light Fantastic from Mary Poppins Returns.
- EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon performing to With A Little Bit Of Luck from My Fair Lady.
- Social media favourite George Clarke and Alexis Warr taking on Consider Yourself from Oliver!
- Former Lioness Karen Carney and Carlos Gu dancing to Flash Bang Wallop from Half A Sixpence.
- Ex-Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope and Katya Jones performing to Me Ol' Bamboo from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
The routine will also feature eight additional dancers, bookending the performance with all couples dancing in unison.
More Musical Magic and Last Week's Exit
Further treats are in store, with Strictly's professional dancers slated to perform the iconic Cell Block Tango from the musical Chicago.
The quarter-final follows the emotional departure of Doctor Who actress Alex Kingston and her professional partner Johannes Radebe. They were eliminated after a dance-off against Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon in the previous Sunday's results show. Kingston described her time on the programme as a "journey of a lifetime" and said she felt "so lucky" to have taken part.
Strictly Come Dancing continues with the Musicals Week quarter-final on Saturday at 6.50pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The results show, where one more couple will leave the competition, will air on Sunday at 7.45pm.
