Strictly Come Dancing (series 19)

In March 2021, the BBC announced that all sixteen professional dancers from the eighteenth series would return in 2021.[9] However, in June, the BBC revealed that Janette Manrara and Anton Du Beke would not be reprising their dancing roles: Manrara was announced as a new co-host of It Takes Two, succeeding Zoe Ball, while Du Beke was revealed to be replacing Bruno Tonioli on the judging panel.[3][5]

In July 2021, the BBC announced that four new professional dancers would be joining the fourteen remaining returning pros. These are: six-time Italian Latin and Ballroom Champion Nikita Kuzmin, who was also a professional dancer on the German version of the show in 2020; reigning South African Latin Champion Cameron Lombard, who was also a finalist on South Africa's Got Talent in 2012; Polish Open Latin Champion Jowita Przystał, who won The Greatest Dancer in 2020; and World Junior Latin American Champion Kai Widdrington, who was also a Britain's Got Talent finalist in 2012 and former professional and two-time finalist on the Irish version of Dancing with the Stars.[10]

Graziano Di Prima received a celebrity partner for the first time since the sixteenth series whilst Nadiya Bychkova and Neil Jones received a celebrity partner for the first time since the seventeenth series. Nancy Xu received a celebrity partner for the first time, as did new professionals Nikita Kuzmin and Kai Widdrington, while Luba Mushtuk and other new professionals Cameron Lombard and Jowita Przystał did not receive a partner.[11][12]

On 4 August 2021, the first three celebrities participating in the series were revealed to be Tom Fletcher, Robert Webb and AJ Odudu.[13] The following day, it was announced that John Whaite would feature in the first all-male same-sex couple, after Nicola Adams and Katya Jones became the first all-female couple the previous series.[14] Celebrity contestants continued to be revealed until 13 August 2021, when the full line-up was announced.[15][11] On 13 October it was announced that Robert Webb had been advised to withdraw from the competition due to health problems.[16] On 17 December, the day before the final, it was announced that AJ Odudu had withdrawn from the competition after suffering ligament damage in her right ankle,[17] making this the first series to have two withdrawals. It was also the first series since series 7 to only feature two finalists.

  indicates the couple eliminated that week

  indicates the couple that was in the bottom two that week but not eliminated

  indicates the couple withdrew from the competition that week

  indicates the winning couple

  indicates the finalist couple(s)

Red text the couple(s) with the lowest score for that week

Green text the couple(s) with the highest score for that week

"—" indicates the couple(s) did not dance that week

The highest and lowest performances in each dance according to the judges' scale are as follows.

• Robert Webb is the only celebrity not to land on this list.

The highest and lowest performances for each couple are listed.

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.

  Highest scoring dance

  Lowest scoring dance

  Not performed due to illness or injury

  Couple withdrew that week

• Week 1: American Smooth, Cha-Cha-Cha, Jive, Quickstep, Samba, Tango, Viennese Waltz or Waltz
• Week 2: One unlearned dance (introducing Charleston, Couple's Choice, Foxtrot, Paso Doble & Salsa)
• Week 3: (Movie Week) One unlearned dance (introducing Rumba)
• Week 4: One unlearned dance (introducing Argentine Tango)
• Week 5: One unlearned dance
• Week 6: (Halloween Week) One unlearned dance
• Weeks 7 & 8: One unlearned dance
• Week 9: (Musicals Week) One unlearned dance
• Weeks 10 & 11: One unlearned dance
• Week 12 (Semi-Final): Two unlearned dances
• Week 13 (Final): Judges' choice, Favourite dance & Showdance

Series 19 received positive reviews from fans and critics. Lottie Townend of Glasgow University Guardian said it "the series provided a place of escape and comfort from the difficulties of the outside world. You become personally invested in each contestant’s journey, root for their success and feel the warmth through their shared love for dance".[63] Jane Rackham of Radio Times was positive towards this season's unpredictability writing "This must be the most unpredictable series of Strictly ever. And not only because several participants had to miss a show after testing positive for Covid".[64]

Weekly ratings for each show on BBC One. All ratings are provided by BARB.[65]

• Strictly Come Dancing at BBC Online