Strictly Come Comic Relief Dancing for Red Nose Day

This Red Nose Day, Strictly Come Dancing shines the spotlight on two surprising new dancers in a hilarious sketch for Comic Relief…

Starring Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, the sketch follows the journey of Melissa (Rachel Parris) and Johnny (Russell Kane), two unlikely newcomers who take on the challenge of joining the Strictly professional lineup due to new inclusivity rules, which require a certain percentage of professionals to be… amateurs!

Filmed in an observational documentary style, the sketch tracks their surprising audition process as Melissa and Johnny land the job as Strictly’s first-ever amateur professional dancers. But in a sad twist of fate, both their celebrity partners mysteriously pull out of the next series at the last minute, citing identical farcical injuries.

But Tess and Claudia, always quick on their feet, hatch a clever plan. Tune in to see how it unfolds…

Strictly Come Dancing host Tess Daly:

“It’s always such a joy to be involved with Comic Relief’s brilliant work and we had such a giggle filming this sketch. Rachel and Russell wanted to bring the drama to the dancefloor and watching their ‘Strictly journey’ unfold had us all in stitches.”

Money raised this Red Nose Day could help put food on plates and roofs over heads, keep little ones safe and help support families affected by conflict here in the UK and around the world.

Watch the Strictly stars in action as part of Red Nose Day 2025 on Friday 21 March from 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.