Strictly Come Dancing’s first ever drag queen contestant Tayce Szura-Radix was crowned the winner of its Christmas special on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old Welsh artist, along with her dance partner Kai Widdrington, wowed the judges with a dynamic Cha-Cha routine set to the popular song “100 Degrees” by Kylie and Danni Minogue. Their performance culminated in them clinching the prestigious Strictly Christmas star-shaped trophy.
Upon her arrival, the drag queen made a grand entrance by descending from a dazzling moon that was suspended high above the ballroom, creating a mesmerizing spectacle for the audience.
Their high-energy performance, which featured a sequence of remarkable lifts, earned them a flawless score, receiving four perfect 10s from the panel of judges consisting of Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse, and Craig Revel Horwood.
They faced stiff competition from fellow contestants comedian Josh Widdicombe, Irish presenter Vogue Williams, EastEnders actress Tamzin Outhwaite, Formula 1 driver Billy Monger, and Gladiator star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey.
Tayce, who wore a blonde wig and a festive gold dress, revealed that she did her own make up for her appearance on the show.
She is the first drag artist to compete on the dance show in its 20 year history, after finding fame on the BBC talent competition Ru Paul’s Drag Race.
After the pair were announced as winners, Tayce was completely overwhelmed as she asked: ‘Is it me?’
Asked how she felt she added: ‘Honestly surreal, I felt like it feels like a dream that it went as well as it did! I’m so happy I couldn’t make it up, I am speechless. Thank you so much!’
The performer also previously said she received online abuse following her ‘controversial’ appearance in the line-up of Strictly’s upcoming Christmas special.
She said: ‘I’ve seen hate, I’ve seen it’s controversial, it’s provocative but that’s all the things that I am I wouldn’t change that for the world.
‘I think there was a lot of backlash from people being like “oh, it’s the man or they’re taking up a woman’s space” and things like that.
‘I think some people honestly just have a bit of a complex because I look hot and they can’t take it. It’s true.’
Asked how she felt to be Strictly’s first drag contestant, she said: ‘It feels correct, pushing boundaries, pushing the envelope baby’.
‘I’m here to make it clear. I think there’s gonna be a lot of pressure on me with that as well. But I like pressure, it makes you work harder’.
Meanwhile partner Kai added: ‘Dancing is about dancing.
‘It’s not male female or whatever they choose to be. It doesn’t bother me.
‘Tayce will tell you that we get on like a house on fire. I think it’s fantastic that Tayce is the flag bearer for the drag community.’
Josh Widdicombe, 41, dressed as a penguin to dance a Charleston to Let It Snow with professional Karen Hauer, 42, as the couple bagged a score of 36, including a 10 from Anton.
Skating across the floor while lying down on a skateboard with a fish in his mouth, Anton said: ‘I have to tell you one thing though, it has finally happened, the moment has come. Karen has turned into me.
She is the longest-serving professional on Strictly and they give you a Widdicombe, congratulations, you’ve earned it. I am gobsmacked, that was totally, totally brilliant.’
Also part of the festive line-up Vogue and Gorka jived to Rockin’ Robin by Bobby Day as they received a score of 33 for their routine by the judges.
Elsewhere, former EastEnders star Tamzin and Nikita danced a Viennese waltz to KD Lang’s version of Hallelujah.
Former racing car driver Billy Monger and Nadiya Bychkova danced the American smooth to Merry Christmas by Ed Sheeran and Sir Elton John.
Meanwhile Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and his dance partner Nancy Xu danced street commercial to the Glee cast version of Christmas Wrapping.
Josh previously told The Mail on Sunday: ‘There’s a lot of joy. We’re penguins, there’s a skateboard and a slide, there’s a fish in my mouth. It’s quite a thoughtful piece and if you look deep it’s about the state of the world in 2024.’
Speaking ahead of the prerecord, the television personality feared that there could be some mishaps during his comical routine.
He said: ‘It’s not going to be easy because you think of the worst thing that could happen, like hitting Karen while flying through the air on national television on Christmas Day.
‘Or falling on your a***. Then you’ve got to overcome those fears. It wasn’t easy. Anyone who says it’s easy isn’t really considering everything that could go wrong physically.’
The Last Leg presenter said that he was taking part in the dance competition because his seven-year-old daughter Pearl is a big fan and they will watch it as a family.
He also said he introduced her to Karen, he said: ‘She was so thrilled. She wouldn’t stop talking about her. She’s written her a Christmas card with four dogs on it because Karen’s got 4 dogs.’
Josh also paid tribute to comedian Chris McCausland who won the series earlier this month.
He said: ‘What a guy, what an incredible human. Let’s not patronise him by saying he’s heroic, he’s a really good dancer and that shouldn’t be lost underneath the fact he’s doing something amazing because he’s blind.
‘He’s genuinely got great dancing skills. That shouldn’t be lost.’
The Christmas special also featured a performance from Spice Girls singer Emma Bunton who sang 1996 smash hit 2 Become 1.
