Nicholas Bailey is the fourth celebrity contestant confirmed for the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2025

Nicholas is an actor

Published: 02:27 pm, 25 November 2025

A man in a dark blue suit and light shirt smiles to camera, set against a backdrop of an animated snowy scene

I'm really excited to be doing this, almost as excited as my wife and daughters are! Hopefully I鈥檒l do them, Albert Square and Luba proud. Bring on the dancefloor.
鈥� Nicholas Bailey

Actor Nicholas Bailey is the fourth celebrity announced to take part in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, made by 麻豆社 Studios and airing on 麻豆社 One and 麻豆社 iPlayer this Christmas.

Nicholas will be swapping Albert Square for the Strictly Christmas ballroom alongside his Professional dance partner Luba Mushtuk.

Known to millions for his role as Dr Anthony Trueman in EastEnders, Nicholas first arrived on the square 25 years ago where he was a Walford regular until 2003. After guest appearances over the years, Nicholas returned to EastEnders earlier this year.

With an acting career spanning more than thirty years, Nicholas has starred in further iconic series including Death in Paradise, Casualty, The Archers, Coronation Street and Miranda. His theatre work has seen him perform extensively on stage across the UK and in the West End, where his credits include Dream Girls and Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap.

Nicholas Bailey says: "鈥業鈥檓 really excited to be doing this, almost as excited as my wife and daughters are! Hopefully I鈥檒l do them, Albert Square and Luba proud. Bring on the dancefloor.鈥�

This year鈥檚 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special will see six couples battle it out under the glitterball to be crowned the Strictly Christmas Champion. Hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will oversee the festivities for their final time, while Head Judge Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke will all be on hand to dish out sleigh-loads of advice, Christmas cheer and the odd lump of coal - before the voting studio audience will decide who wins. Expect a winter wonderland full of festive magic, dazzling group dances, live music and more in what will be the perfect antidote to the post-Christmas Dinner slump.

Nicholas joins the previously announced Scarlett Moffatt, Melanie Blatt and Jodie Ounsley (aka Fury) in Strictly鈥檚 festive line-up. The final two celebrities taking part in the 2025 Strictly Christmas special will be announced this week on Strictly: It Takes Two at 6:30pm on 麻豆社 Two and 麻豆社 iPlayer.

The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special is a 麻豆社 Studios Entertainment Production for the 麻豆社. It was commissioned by Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment at the 麻豆社. The Executive Producer for 麻豆社 Studios is Sarah James, and Strictly鈥檚 Christmas Series Editor is Kim Allinson. The Senior Commissioning Editor for the 麻豆社 is Jo Wallace.

The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special will air on 麻豆社 One and 麻豆社 iPlayer this Christmas.