The 2025 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special delivered more than sparkle and sequins — it brought a quietly emotional farewell and a shock winner who managed to keep the biggest secret of all.
On a night that marked Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s graceful final bow as hosts, Scarlett Moffatt lifted the Christmas glitterball trophy — and did so without telling a single member of her family.
The former Gogglebox favourite and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! winner described the moment as “the greatest gift that could ever happen at Christmas,” admitting she hadn’t even prepared a speech because she never expected to win.
Dancing alongside professional partner Vito Coppola, Scarlett wowed the judges with a festive Cha Cha to DJ Play A Christmas Song by Cher, earning a perfect score of 40. She revealed that Vito had always been her first choice, saying she felt instantly at ease with him and grateful to be part of what she called “such a big institution.”
Despite her obvious talent, Scarlett insisted she deliberately kept her family in the dark. Ahead of transmission, she explained that she didn’t want to give anything away, adding that simply dancing on the show already made her feel like a winner. Her relatives only discovered the result at the same time as the viewing public on Christmas Day.
The victory carried extra meaning for Scarlett, who trained in ballroom and Latin from childhood and even studied under Strictly judge Anton Du Beke. Although she once became British Ballroom Champion as a teenager, she assumed her past experience meant she would never appear on the main series — making the Christmas Special a “bucket-list wish” she never expected to come true.
Away from the dancefloor, Scarlett spoke candidly about her complicated relationship with fame and body image following her rapid rise to stardom. While rehearsing for Strictly, she admitted old insecurities resurfaced when she caught sight of herself in the mirror — but said joy, not perfection, was what mattered most this time.
The festive episode also featured performances from Babatunde Aléshé, Brian McFadden, Jodie Ounsley, Melanie Blatt and Nicholas Bailey, but when judges’ scores and the studio audience vote were combined, Scarlett and Vito emerged victorious.
Now, with the glitterball secured, Scarlett is teasing what comes next. She has been linked to a possible I’m A Celebrity All Stars return alongside names such as Harry Redknapp, Mo Farah and Gemma Collins — and admits that, this time, she’d simply savour every second.
For now, though, Christmas is about balance. Between panto, Strictly commitments and raising her two-year-old son Jude, Scarlett says she’s reminding herself just how lucky she is. And perhaps, for once, keeping a secret made the celebration even sweeter.
