Strictly Come Dancing pays emotional tribute to Caroline Flack in Christmas special

Strictly Come Dancing paid tribute to Caroline Flack in its Christmas special on Friday.

Rather than the usual Christmas show this year, the festive special featured a countdown of the show’s 25 most memorable dances, as voted for by the public.

Hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman were joined by the judges, pros and some very special celebrity guests to look back on iconic moments including perfect 40s, crowd-pleasing favourites and trophy-winning performances.

The show featured 2014 winner Caroline Flack who tragically passed away earlier this year.

Judge Bruno Tonioli said: “I loved Caroline, she was so much fun. Great to be with, she was a joy. We will always love Caroline and we will never forget her.”

Craig Revel Horwood added: “She could turn her hand to any style of dance and be incredible. To perform three dances in the final to that level is phenomenal.”

Her dance partner on the show Pasha Kovalev commented: “We saw how she transformed into a beautiful dancer with a big heart on her sleeve… The series will always have a special place in my heart.”

And co-host Tess praised: “She lit up the ballroom every week.”

Viewers watching were left in tears.

One wrote: “Such a lovely tribute to Caroline Flack on #StrictlyComeDancing tonight”

Another added: “Lovely seeing #Strictly paying tribute to Caroline Flack – she had such a beautiful partnership with Pasha back in 2014. Emotional. Something in my eye ”

And a third wrote: “The Caroline Flack tribute on #Strictly has reduced me to tears her story was beautiful and the ending was awful, for it to be aired on Mental Health Day too sends an even stronger message, she is so missed, I hope the story resonates and teaches people to be kinder #MentalHealth”

Strictly: Christmas Countdown aired on BBC One on Friday night at 4:45PM. You can watch online via BBC iPlayer here.

You can also catch up on the full 2020 series of the show, which saw comedian and musician Bill Bailey lift the glitterball.

Picture: BBC