See 'Strictly Come Dancing' contestants in the West End

Sophie Thomas
Sophie Thomas

With Strictly Come Dancing, the nation's favourite live entertainment show now back on our screens, there's no better time to catch up with your favourite past contestants. The show has a habit of discovering an unlikely performing talent, or giving others the chance to stretch their dancing muscles, so naturally many end up stealing the show in the West End. Check out all the Strictly Come Dancing contestants that have appeared in the West End.

Pretty Woman - 750 - LT

Danny Mac

Danny Mac was a finalist in the 2016 series of the show with partner Oti Mabuse, making the final week with Louise Redknapp and eventually losing out to TV presenter Ore Obuda. Mac has many West End credits, including the Open Air Theatre production of On The Town, and brought the festivities to the West End with White Christmas at the Dominion Theatre. Mac continues his London theatre reign by originating the role of Edward Lewis in Pretty Woman: The Musical.

Book Pretty Woman: The Musical tickets on London Theatre.

LT - CTA - 250

Louise Redknapp - 750 - LT

Louise Redknapp

Louise Redknapp competed on the 2016 series of Strictly Come Dancing, reaching the final with partner Kevin Clifton. The Eternal singer then made her stage debut as Sally Bowles in Cabaret. In 2019, she made her West End debut as Violet Newstead in 9 to 5. This summer, she returns to play Teen Angel in Grease.

Book Grease tickets on London Theatre.

LT - CTA - 250

Photo credit: Ore Oduba (Photo courtesy of The Rocky Horror Show)

Ore Oduba

Ore Oduba won the 2016 series of Strictly Come Dancing, competing alongside Danny Mac and Louise Redknapp. The British television presenter then made his stage debut as Teen Angel in Grease, and then starred in Curtains at the Wyndham's Theatre. Now you can see Ore Oduba in The Rocky Horror Show at the Peacock Theatre in 2023.

Book The Rocky Horror Show tickets on London Theatre.

LT - CTA - 250

Jake Wood

Jake Wood reached the semifinals of the 2014 Strictly Come Dancing series with partner Janette Manrara. Since Strictly, the Eastenders star originated the role of Ben in 2:22 - A Ghost Story opposite Lily Allen. He's returning to the show in 2023.

Book 2:22 - A Ghost Story tickets on London Theatre.

LT - CTA - 250

Rose Ayling-Ellis

Rose Ayling-Ellis won the 2021 series of Strictly Come Dancing alongside partner Giovanni Pernice. The Eastenders actress has since left the show, and made her West End debut in As You Like It at @sohoplace.

Alexandra Burke

The X Factor winner Alexandra Burke reached the 2017 final of Strictly paired with professional dancer Gorka Marquez. Burke's also appeared in many West End musicals: The Bodyguard as Rachel Marron, Chess as Svetlana, Chicago as Roxie Hart, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as the Narrator. Recently, she played Mrs. Blunderbore in Jack and the Beanstalk at the London Palladium.

Faye Tozer

Perhaps best known as one-fifth of Steps, this band member proved she's what got it takes to go solo, reaching the finals of the 2018 competition. Clearly a natural on stage, Tozer headed to Theatreland in 2019, taking over the role of Miss Hedge in Everybody's Talking About Jamie. In 2021, Tozer played Lina Lamont in the London revival of Singin' in the Rain at Sadler's Wells. She was joined by Strictly professional Kevin Clifton as Cosmo Brown.

Joe Sugg

YouTuber Joe Sugg impressed the judges and the audiences at home enough to make the final of the 2018 series, something that would have been out of the comfort zone of this mainstream influencer. In 2019, he pushed his boundaries one step further by making his acting debut in the West End production of Waitress. Playing Ogie, a role previously taken on by Jack McBrayer and Blake Harrison, Sugg definitely put his new-found performance skills to the test on the big stage.

Kimberley Walsh

The Girls Aloud singer took to the dancefloor in 2012 and, despite falling into the bottom two halfway through the series, she consistently impressed the judges with high marks and was the runner-up, losing out to gymnast Louis Smith. Having made her West End debut as Princess Fiona in Shrek the Musical, and making an appearance in Elf the Musical, Walsh has recently starred alongside Jay McGuiness in the London premieres of Big the Musical and Sleepless: A Musical Romance.

Jay McGuiness

The Wanted singer was victorious in the 13th series of Strictly, winning the show with a series of dazzling performances with partner Aliona Vilani. He made his first theatre appearance in Rip It Up at the London Palladium and the Garrick Theatre, alongside fellow Strictly alumni Louis Smith and Harry Judd - and has starred in the lead role of the West End production of Big the Musical at the Dominion Theatre. Him and Walsh have become somewhat of a theatre duo, as McGuiness also starred in Sleepless: A Musical Romance.

Anita Dobson

The EastEnders actress appeared in the ninth series of the show in 2011, making it to week 9 with partner Robin Windsor, though it wasn't all plain sailing, as Windsor suffered a back injury meaning Dobson rehearsed and performed her Cha Cha Cha and Swingathon with Brendan Cole. The actress recently began her run in Fiddler on the Roof, playing Matchmaker Yente in the West End production.

Kara Tointon

Kara Tointon was also a recipient of the Glitterball Trophy, winning the eighth series of the show in 2010 with partner Artem Chigvintsev. Following her win, she has made many stage appearances, as well as starring as Maria in ITV's live production of The Sound of Music Live. Tointon appeared in the West End play The Man in the White Suit opposite Stephen Mangan at Wyndham's Theatre.

Laura Whitmore

A variety of popstars, actors, and performers have all taken part in 2:22 - A Ghost Story. 2016 Strictly Come Dancing star Laura Whitmore make her West End debut. The Strictly competitor reached week seven of the competition with partner Giovanni Pernice, before being eliminated against eventual winner Ore Oduba.

Tom Chambers

Tom Chambers won the sixth series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2008 alongside partner Camilla Dallerup. Since Strictly, the Holby City and Waterloo Road actor moved to West End shows, notably cast in Top Hat. Chambers played Walter Hobbs in Elf at the Dominion Theatre.

Originally published on

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