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Who was the first celebrity winner of Strictly Come Dancing?
It’s hard to believe that it’s been 20 years since the beloved entertainment show, Strictly Come Dancing, first graced our TV screens. With the 2023 series now underway, it’s the perfect time to reminisce about the past winners who have danced their way into our hearts.
To date, 21 different celebrities have had the honor of being crowned with the iconic ‘Glitterball Trophy,’ from the inaugural winner Natasha Kaplinsky to the most recent champion, Hamza Yassin in 2022. Let’s turn back the clock and revisit the journey of the very first Strictly Come Dancing victor, Natasha Kaplinsky.
Series 1 Winner – Natasha Kaplinsky
In the summer of 2004, the BBC newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky became the pioneer celebrity to clinch the Strictly Come Dancing title. Paired with professional dancer Brendan Cole, Natasha’s remarkable journey saw her triumph with a whopping 39-point lead over her fellow finalist, Christopher Parker. She dazzled the judges and the audience alike, securing the highest points in eight out of the ten dances featured on the series.
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Natasha’s victory not only marked a historic moment in the world of dance entertainment but also kick-started her journey into motherhood. She welcomed two children, Arlo and Angelica, and was later awarded an OBE for her dedicated services to the Holocaust Commission. Her career in journalism continued, albeit with a change of scenery, as she left the BBC in 2008 to join Channel 5 and subsequently ITV.
Though Natasha Kaplinsky’s Strictly Come Dancing win was the first of its kind, it set the stage for countless more celebrities to follow in her graceful footsteps, making the show a beloved staple of British television.
As we celebrate two decades of Strictly Come Dancing, let’s not forget the trailblazing victory of Natasha Kaplinsky, whose dance journey paved the way for countless others to shine on the glittering dancefloor. The show’s enduring popularity and the remarkable journeys of its winners have kept us entertained and inspired for 20 memorable years.
As the 2023 series unfolds with new celebrity contestants and exciting dance routines, we can’t help but look back at where it all began, with Natasha Kaplinsky as the inaugural celebrity winner of Strictly Come Dancing.
