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BOOK PUZZLE THE OFFICIAL

BBC Books, an imprint of Ebury Publishing

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First published by BBC Books in 2025 1

Text by Neil Somerville

Cover design by Toby Clarke

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

This book is published to accompany the television series Strictly Come Dancing, first broadcast on BBC One in 2004. This series (Series 23) first broadcast 2025.

Executive Producer: Sarah James

Series Director: Nikki Parsons

Series Editors: Jack Gledhill and Nicola Fitzgerald

BBC Studios Brand Marketing Team: Rose Sammut, Harriet Frost and Charlotte Edwards

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The authorised representative in the EEA is Penguin Random House Ireland, Morrison Chambers, 32 Nassau Street, Dublin D02 YH68.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 9781785949463

Project Editors: Katie Fisher, Clementine Lussiana

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Strictly fans are special people and their devotion and dedication to the show is fantastic.

Craig Revel Horwood

As a Strictly fan this book is dedicated to you.

Every year the celebrities on Strictly take on the challenge of not only learning to dance but to dance to exacting standards. In the process we share in their journey, seeing successes as well as disappointments. Strictly is a magical journey – an exciting one full of surprise, drama and sparkle.

Over the years this award-winning series has created many special moments and, whenever it is on, continues to enthral.

This puzzle book helps celebrate the joy, fun and rich history of Strictly with a mix of puzzles to tackle and enjoy. Whether solving mystery sudokus, deliberating over what judges and celebrities may have said, or testing your Strictly knowledge, there is plenty to delight and ponder over. Some may even lead you on a merry dance!

Have fun, enjoy the puzzles and immerse yourself in the magic that is Strictly.

Neil Somerville

You can find all the answers to the puzzles that follow on pages 216–231. Good luck!

~ 1 ~

ANAGRAMS

Unscramble the following to reveal dances seen on Strictly.

1. A bold pose

2. Choral nest

3. Not engage in art

4. Ah, some romantic

5. Zeal wins event

CROSS OUT

Cross out all the letters that appear more than once. The remaining letters, reading from top to bottom and left to right, will spell out something often seen and enjoyed on Strictly. What is it?

C M A H F P N G

R L O D Q K B T

G U Y S W R X Z

B P K T M D H O W Z J C Q X I U

L V S Y E A N F

MYSTERY SUDOKU

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3 × 3 box contains the letters ELMOPRSTU in any order. One row or column contains a seven-letter word – something that is important for dancers to get right. What is it?

E M S R M E U U P T L E O R T T E T U M S L L R T P S

~ 4 ~

TRIVIA

1. In which year did Strictly Come Dancing begin?

2. How many couples were in the first series?

3. The second series featured the first celebrity to receive a perfect 40. Who was it?

4. What did Len Goodman say he was going to pickle?

5. Which dance was introduced into the competition in 2009?

6. Dr Punam Krishan created Strictly history in series 22’s Movie Week by performing what sort of dance?

7. In which dance would you most likely see a fleckerl?

LETTER DROP

The letters in each of the columns need to be entered into the squares directly below, but not necessarily in the same order. By placing the letters in the correct squares, you will discover Craig Revel Horwood’s amusing observation after watching Jake Wood’s salsa. U N U I A O C O T

Y C C T H C T U O N H O P R A A K I S D T H O C A C V E L A

CRISS-CROSS

All the following celebrities have graced the Strictly dance floor. Can you find a place for each in the grid?

6 LETTER NAME

JB Gill

7 LETTER NAMES

Sam Quek

Tom Dean

8 LETTER NAMES

James Bye

Kym Marsh

Matt Goss

9 LETTER NAMES

Pete Wicks

Tony Adams

10 LETTER NAMES

Adam Thomas

Jamie Laing

John Whaite

Paul Merson

Sara Davies

Shayne Ward

Will Mellor

Wynne Evans

11 LETTER NAMES

Hamza Yassin

Nick Knowles

Nikita Kanda

Tasha Ghouri

12 LETTER NAMES

Annabel Croft

Toyah Willcox

13 LETTER NAME

LETTER NAME

Angela Scanlon

Layton Williams

~

WORD SEARCH: DANCE TERMS

Find all the following dance terms in the word search. In the remaining squares another dance term is hidden. What is it?

Arch turn

Chaîné

Chassé

Fleckerl Gancho Heel lead Heel turn New Yorker Ronde Samba roll Shimmy Volta

WHAT THEY SAID

What did the following actually say?

1. What did Jake Wood tell Emma Barton?

‘If all else fails, …’

a) just keep smiling.

b) just keep dancing.

c) just wiggle those hips.

2. Pete Wicks at the start of series 22 said, ‘It’s weird, but my biggest fear …’

a) is getting a 1 paddle.

b) is going up the stairs to the Clauditorium.

c) is not dancing in sync with the music.

3. Montell Douglas always wanted to do Strictly, but added, ‘I’m nervous about …’

a) the preparations beforehand.

b) the heels.

c) wearing a ballgown.

WORD LADDER

In many routines the couples move fast around the dance floor, and here’s a chance to possibly follow suit. In this word ladder, change one letter at a time to change ‘move’ into ‘fast’ – see if you can do it in ‘quick steps’.

MOVE FAST

FOLLOW THE LEADER

The names of three professional dancers have been entered in the grid below. The individual letters in each of the three names appear in the right order when the grid is followed anti-clockwise, but the names have been mixed together. Starting from the C, bottom right, discover who they are.

O R L A R D Y O A E R E N M W U U K S A A D N G H E C

Solve the cryptogram to discover an interesting observation made by Motsi Mabuse.

To give you a start, Z = B, M = P, S = L and T = W.

K L F A J P G L Z U N B B

HIDDEN AWAY

Solve the clues correctly and the shaded squares will reveal something that dancers need to choose with great care.

1. Suggest, recommend – and what the judges often do

2. Instantly memorable – like some of Dave Arch’s arrangements

3. Not outdoor

4. As shown on the paddles

5. Savour, enjoy

TAKE YOUR PICK

1. After watching Debbie McGee perform the Tango, what did Craig Revel Horwood do?

a) He went over to Debbie McGee and raised her arm in the air in triumph.

b) He poured a glass of water and raised it in her honour, saying that he wished it was Champagne.

c) He got on his knees and bowed.

2. In order to pay for his dancing lessons as a young man, Anton used to get up at 3 a.m. – but to do what?

a) He sorted newspapers at his local newsagent as well as having a delivery round.

b) He worked as a milkman.

c) He worked as a baker.

3. Strictly has sometimes featured the bandoneon, but what is it?

a) A South American accordion.

b) A sparkling headpiece.

c) A turn in the Argentine Tango.

WORD BUILDER

The letters spelling out something that is often seen and enjoyed on Strictly have been numbered one to nine. Solve the clues to discover what it is. The answer is two words.

Letters 8, 9, 2 and 5 is to take charge on the dance floor

Letters 7, 2, 3 and 9 give us a foundation

Letters 7, 6, 8 and 5 give us something daring

Letters 4, 1, 2 and 8 give us a whitish gemstone

Letters 1, 2, 5, 5, 8 and 9 give us something held up on Strictly

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9