[2] In June 2021, the BBC announced that Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, and Craig Revel Horwood would return to the judging panel.
Anton Du Beke, who served as a guest judge in the previous series, joined the panel in place of Bruno Tonioli, who did not return for the second year in a row due to travel restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reports had suggested that three dancers had refused to be vaccinated, with one unnamed celebrity already having to self-isolate since the show's launch night had been filmed.
[7] EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice were announced as the winners on 18 December,[8] while John Whaite and Johannes Radebe — the first male same-sex couple to compete on the programme — finished in second place.
[13] The following day, it was announced that John Whaite would be paired as part of the first male same-sex couple in Strictly Come Dancing history.
[16] On 17 December, the day before the final, it was announced that AJ Odudu had withdrawn from the competition after suffering ligament damage in her right ankle.
Unless indicated otherwise, individual judges scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke.
Musical guest: Westlife — "Starlight"[27] After Ugo Monye sustained a back injury, he was unable to perform on the live show.
Musical guests: Craig David & MNEK — "Who You Are"[31] After Judi Love tested positive for COVID-19, she was unable to perform on the live show.
Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Cynthia Erivo, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke.
Musical guests: Max Harwood & The Feeling — "Out of the Darkness (A Place Where We Belong)" (from Everybody's Talking About Jamie)[44] On 15 November, it was announced that Craig Revel Horwood had tested positive for COVID-19 and was self-isolating following the latest government guidelines.
Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Cynthia Erivo, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke.
While Mabuse was doubly-vaccinated, which would have allowed an exemption from the self-isolation guidelines, the British government did not recognise her vaccines, so she could not travel back from Germany.
Lottie Townend of Glasgow University Guardian said that "the series provided a place of escape and comfort from the difficulties of the outside world.