The 20th series of Strictly Come Dancing is under way, with a new batch of celebrity contestants dancing their socks off in their bid to win the Glitterball trophy. Reality star Pete Wicks, Love Islander Tasha Ghouri and JLS singer JB Gill are amongst the star-studded line-up as they are paired with professional dancers such as returning Aljaz Skorjanec and Amy Dowden.
Heading up the judging panel and handing out those all-important scores are the judges. Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood are back to give their opinions on the celebs’ dance routines.
Who are the judges on Strictly 2024?
Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood sit on the judging panel. The panel has remained the same since 2021, when Anton Du Beke replaced Bruno Tonioli, who had left his role after 18 years due to filming commitments with Dancing With The Stars.
Shirley Ballas
Shirley Ballas has been head judge on Strictly since 2017, replacing Len Goodman when he left the show that year. Formerly a judge on Dancing With The Stars, the ballroom champion, 64, made her debut appearance in the 15th series.
Shirley, who started dancing when she was just seven years old, has impressive credentials within the dance world. The ‘Queen of Latin’ is a three-time British Open to the World Latin American champion, 10-time US Latin American Champion and multiple-times British National Champion.
Shirley revealed she is ‘honoured’ and ‘proud’ to be a part of Strictly. ‘It’s a show that brings families together. I think it’s a staple in people’s homes,’ she said.
Despite her experience, she admitted that she still feels nerves ahead of the live shows. ‘It’s the feeling of terror. My tummy turns over when the music kicks in. I feel a lot of pressure to make the best show ever for the audience,’ she said. ‘I feel super, super nervous when we’re kicking off the first show. Then I get in my zone.’
Motsi Mabuse
Motsi – the older sister of former Strictly dance pro Oti – joined Strictly in 2019, stepping into the chair of ballerina Darcey Bussell. The South African ballroom pro, 43, studied law before she discovered dance.
An accomplished dancer, Motsi, who lives in Germany, was the German Latin Champion in 2009 and South African Champion in 2010. She first appeared as a dancer on Germany’s competition Let’s Dance, before she became a judge on the show, a role she continues to this day. She has also served as a judge on Germany’s Got Talent and the German version of dance competition Stepping Out.
‘Being part of Strictly's 20th year is absolutely incredible. It’s a huge milestone, and I’m so honoured to be part of a show that has become such an integral part of so many people's lives,’ she said. ‘The energy, the excitement, and the joy that Strictly brings is something truly special, and to be celebrating 20 years is just the cherry on top.’
Craig Revel Horwood
Australian-born Craig is the OG of the judging panel, having been on the show since its launch in 2004. ‘Strictly is life-changing, because when I started back in May 2004, I had no idea it would last one season, let alone 20 years,’ he said.
As well as being known for his dancing and choreography, Craig, 59, is a theatre star and director who has worked on productions of West Side Story, Miss Saigon, Sunset Boulevard and Chess. His acting roles include Miss Hannigan in Annie and most recently, as the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard Of Oz – which some might say is his perfect role, given his cutting remarks on Strictly. He's also a regular on the panto front.
‘Strictly is one of those shows that feels brand new every year because of the cast,’ he said. ‘It feels like a completely different show every time. So for me, it's really exciting, and it's been wonderful to wave the dance flag for the last 20 years.’
Anton Du Beke
One of the original dance professionals on Strictly since the show’s launch in 2004, the ballroom and Latin star is the newest member on the judging panel, swapping sides in 2021 following the departure of Bruno Tonioli. His past celebrity partners include former MP Ann Widdecombe, Kate Garraway, Judy Murray and Nancy Dell’Olio.
Anton, 58, started dancing at 13. He left school when he was 16 to pursue an amateur career in dance, choosing to specialise in ballroom. He and professional dance partner Erin Boag were ranked 14th in the world among professional ballroom dancers when they were scouted for Strictly in 2004.
‘This is my favourite time of the year. I’ve felt the same about it for 20 years and I know I shall continue to feel the same about it for the next 20 years. It’s joyous,’ he said.
Anton isn't just a fab dancer - he's also an accomplished singer and author, having released his debut album in 2017 and five novels.
Who were the original judges on Strictly Come Dancing?
The show’s original judges were Len Goodman (RIP), Craig Revel Horwood, Bruno Tonioli and Arlene Phillips. After lifting the Strictly trophy in 2007, Alesha Dixon took over from Arlene Phillips for three series from 2009 to 2011. She quit in 2012 to become a judge on Britain’s Got Talent, as Darcey Bussell took over.
Len Goodman
Len served as Strictly’s beloved head judge for 12 years, from the show’s inception until 2016, hanging up his paddle after 14 series. The former professional dancer juggled his commitments on the UK show with the US version, Dancing With The Stars, over 11 years alongside Bruno Tonioli, and continued to be head judge on there after his Strictly departure until 2022.
‘It was the right time for me to leave because I’m done the show for 12 years and I couldn’t think of what else to say about the Viennese Waltz!’ he said. ‘I suppose I could have carried on until people wanted rid of me but I was still quite popular so that was good.’
Len – who retired from dance after winning the British Championships in his late ‘20s – announced he was retiring from DWTS in November 2022. He died five months later in April 2023 from cancer. He has been recognised for his lifetime dedication to dance.
Bruno Tonioli
During his 15 years on Strictly, Bruno livened up the judging panel with his colourful comments and lively gestures. A former music choreographer who has worked with the late Tina Turner, Elton John, the Rolling Stones and Freddie Mercury, the Italian-born star was chosen to use his expertise and be a judge when the show launched in 2004.
Bruno left Strictly in 2022 after deciding to focus on Dancing With The Stars and was replaced by Anton Du Beke. ‘I always will miss it, it’s my family,’ he said, adding that there were ‘no hard feelings’.
Bruno, 68, joined the judging panel of Britain’s Got Talent in 2023, replacing David Walliams.
Arlene Phillips
Theatre choreographer and director Arlene was a judge on Strictly for four years from 2004 to 2008, until she was controversially replaced by Alesha Dixon in 2009 during a shake-up of the show, amid accusations of ageism.
‘I was passionate about Strictly. I was passionate about it in every way, but the one thing that I always felt I did was give good advice as to how the contestants could improve,’ said the 81-year-old star.
Arlene, who continues to work in theatre, claims that she was blindsided by the BBC’s decision to sack her. ‘I resent that the BBC didn’t come to me as soon as they had the thought,’ she said in 2024.
Alesha Dixon
Alesha took over Arlene’s seat for three years from 2009 to 2012. The former Mis-Teeq singer was selected to be a judge on Strictly after she won the fifth series in 2007, which courted controversy and complaints from fans, who felt that she didn’t have the experience for the role.
‘I think with anything in life you have to prove yourself worthy of a position. I always knew at the beginning that it would never be an easy ride and I knew that I had to show strength and rise above the negativity. Hopefully I've done that,’ she said.
She quit in January 2012 to become a judge on Britain’s Got Talent and to pursue other projects.
Darcey Bussell
Decorated ballerina Darcey officially took the sole remaining judge’s chair in 2012, after a guest stint in 2009. She stayed in the role for seven years, stepping down in 2019, revealing that bosses wanted her to play down her ballet past. As one of the country’s finest ballerinas, she became Royal Ballet’s youngest principal dancer in the company’s history at 20.
‘It was really hard because the producers on the show didn’t want me to be the ballet dancer and I was like, “Well, sadly I am, and I think you chose me because I am the ballet dancer”,’ she explained.
Darcey, 55, said being a judge had its challenges. ‘It wasn’t the easiest thing for me, because I wanted to still be the dancer on that dancefloor. Being a judge full-time was hard, knowing that it’s live and having the ability to be quick and responsive, because I like to think and take my time,’ she added.
Darcey, who's president of the Royal Academy of Dance, continues to film TV shows and be involved in dance.
Past Strictly Come Dancing judges
A lot of stars have had a go, sitting on the judges’ panel. Guest judges in the past have included Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air star Alfonso Ribeiro, Wicked actress Cynthia Erivo and Dirty Dancing actress Jennifer Grey.
Shereen Low is a Senior News and Entertainment Writer for Grazia.