Strictly Come Dancing graced screens once again on Christmas Day with its special festive edition just weeks after the 2024 series wrapped up.
The line-up for the special has been the subject of backlash since it was announced, with drag queen star Tayce making history as the first to take part in the show. As the 30-year-old was crowned winner, there was intense division amongst fans as some accused the show of being “fixed”.
Tayce found fame as a finalist on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season two, and has since gone on to present for Sky, MTV and BBC Radio 1.
As well as Tayce, fellow famous faces who took to the ballroom for the festive edition of the show included Josh Widdicombe, Vogue Williams, Tamzin Outhwaite, Billy Monger and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey.
Following their Cha Cha Cha, Tayce and professional partner Kai Widdrington achieved a perfect score of 40 from judges Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke.
The winners were decided with a combination of the studio audience votes as well as the judges’ scores.
Tayce’s win sparked a divided response from viewers
BBC
Tayce’s lively performance impressed both, as well as fans watching from home, and the pair were ultimately crowned champions of the Christmas special.
While many were delighted by the win, some thought the result was “a fix”.
Taking to X, one penned: “So a drag act won Christmas #Strictly on the ever increasingly woke @BBC.”
Another simply posted: “#Strictly Woke,” while another shared: “An utter fix. [Tayce] had won the very second [they were] announced. The BBC is obsessed with drag.”
The festive instalment of BBC Strictly aired on Christmas Day
BBC
Others argued one of the other celebrities should have won, with another adding: “#Strictly Wow! Beautiful Tamsin! @mouthwait My winner!”
However, others were supportive of Tayce’s victory, arguing the TV personality was deserving of the Christmas trophy.
“Tayce was superb on strictly come dancing’s Christmas special!!! put her on a main season,” one wrote.
“Tayce was simply really good on #Strictly,” commented another. (sic)
The drag performer has addressed the negative backlash they’ve received since being signed up for the show, with the presenter seemingly undeterred by the criticism.
They previously told the BBC: “It’s such an honour to be part of this amazing and highly popular show, pushing the envelope and breaking boundaries as the first drag queen to appear on it.
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Tayce and Kai Widdrington lifted the Strictly Christmas special trophy
BBC
“The response has been overwhelmingly positive, though there’s also been some negativity from trolls, but that’s nothing I can’t handle.”
Just days before the Christmas special, Tayce quipped that the criticism only flooded in “because I look hot”.
“I’ve seen hate, I’ve seen it’s controversial, it’s provocative but that’s all the things that I am I wouldn’t change that for the world,” Tayce said to Mail Online.
“I think there was a lot of backlash from people being like, ‘Oh, it’s the man or they’re taking up a woman’s space’, and things like that.
“I think some people honestly just have a bit of a complex because I look hot and they can’t take it. It’s true.”