Strictly Come Dancing series 12

Strictly Come Dancing returned for its twelfth series beginning from 7 September 2014 with a launch show, and the live shows began on 26 and 27 September. Tess Daly returned to present the main show on BBC One alongside Claudia Winkleman, who was promoted to co-presenter in addition to the results show after Sir Bruce Forsyth departed the show after the eleventh series; however, Forsyth continued to host the Christmas and Children in Need specials. Zoe Ball returned as presenter of the spin-off show Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two on BBC Two. Judges Darcey Bussell, Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood, and Bruno Tonioli also returned.

The shows from 1 to 16 November were hosted by Daly and Zoe Ball, after one of Winkleman's children was involved in an accident. Winkleman returned to co-host the show on 22 November.

Caroline Flack and Pasha Kovalev were announced as the winners on 20 December.

Format
The couples dance each week in a live show. The judges score each performance out of ten. The couples are then ranked according to the judges' scores and given points according to their rank, with the lowest scored couple receiving one point, and the highest scored couple receiving the most points (the maximum number of points available depends on the number of couples remaining in the competition). The public are also invited to vote for their favourite couples, and the couples are ranked again according to the number of votes they receive, again receiving points; the couple with the fewest votes receiving one point, and the couple with the most votes receiving the most points.

The points for judges' score and public vote are then added together, and the two couples with the fewest points are placed in the bottom two. If two couples have equal points, the points from the public vote are given precedence. As with the previous series, the bottom two couples have to perform a dance-off on the results show. Based on that performance alone, each judge then votes on which couple should stay and which couple should leave, with Len Goodman, as head judge, having the last and deciding vote.

Professional dancers
On 1 June 2014, it was revealed that Artem Chigvintsev, Anya Garnis, and James Jordan would not return as professionals, but that Garnis would still be part of the choreography team. They were replaced by two new professionals, Joanne Clifton and Tristan MacManus, as well as Natalie Lowe, who returned after missing the last series due to a foot injury. On 6 August, it was announced that Robin Windsor would not be competing as a professional in the series as previously announced due to a back injury; he was replaced by Trent Whiddon.

Couples
This series featured fifteen celebrity contestants. Frankie Bridge was the first contestant announced on 13 August, and additional celebrities were announced throughout the month. The full line-up was revealed by the BBC on 29 August.

Scoring chart
The highest score each week is indicated in with a dagger (†), while the lowest score each week is indicated in  with a double-dagger (‡).

Color key: • {{legend|gold|Winners}}

• {{legend|silver|Runners-up}}

• {{legend|lightblue|Bottom two}}

• {{legend|#f4c7b8|Eliminated}}
 * Notes

Weekly scores
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, Darcey Bussell, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.

Week 1
Six of the couples performed on the first night and the other nine couples performed on the second night. There was no elimination this week; all scores and votes carried over to the following week. Couples are listed in the order they performed.


 * Night 1 (Friday)
 * Night 2 (Saturday)

Week 2
Musical guests: Jamie Cullum & Gregory Porter — "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"

Couples are listed in the order they performed.
 * Judges' votes to save
 * Horwood: Jennifer & Tristan
 * Bussell: Jennifer & Tristan
 * Tonioli: Jennifer & Tristan
 * Goodman: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Jennifer & Tristan

Week 3: Movie Week
Individual judges scores given in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell, Donny Osmond, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.

Musical guest: Donny Osmond — "Moon River" Osmond also appeared as a guest judge.

Couples are listed in the order they performed.
 * Judges' votes to save
 * Horwood: Simon & Kristina
 * Bussell: Simon & Kristina
 * Osmond: Simon & Kristina
 * Tonioli: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Simon & Kristina
 * Goodman: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Simon & Kristina

Week 4
Musical guests: Lady Gaga & Tony Bennett — "Anything Goes" & "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)"

Couples are listed in the order they performed.
 * Judges' votes to save
 * Horwood: Mark & Karen
 * Bussell: Mark & Karen
 * Tonioli: Mark & Karen
 * Goodman: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Mark and Karen

Week 5
Musical guest: Culture Club — "Karma Chameleon"

Couples are listed in the order they performed.
 * Judges' votes to save
 * Horwood: Thom & Iveta
 * Bussell: Thom & Iveta
 * Tonioli: Simon & Kristina
 * Goodman: Simon & Kristina (Since the other judges were not unanimous, Len Goodman, as head judge, made the final decision to save Simon & Kristina.)

Week 6: Halloween Week
Musical guest: Annie Lennox — "I Put a Spell on You"

Couples are listed in the order they performed.
 * Judges' votes to save
 * Horwood: Alison & Aljaž
 * Bussell: Alison & Aljaž
 * Tonioli: Alison & Aljaž
 * Goodman: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Scott & Joanne

Week 7
Musical guest: Katherine Jenkins — "We'll Gather Lilacs"

Couples are listed in the order they performed.
 * Judges' votes to save
 * Horwood: Caroline & Pasha
 * Bussell: Caroline & Pasha
 * Tonioli: Caroline & Pasha
 * Goodman: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Caroline & Pasha

Week 8: Blackpool Week
Musical guests: Shirley Bassey — "Goldfinger" and McBusted—"Air Guitar"

This week's episode was staged in the Tower Ballroom at the Blackpool Tower in Blackpool, Lancashire. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
 * Judges' votes to save
 * Horwood: Sunetra & Brendan
 * Bussell: Sunetra & Brendan
 * Tonioli: Sunetra & Brendan
 * Goodman: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Sunetra & Brendan

Week 9
Musical guest: Barry Manilow — "Copacabana" & "What a Wonderful World"

Couples are listed in the order they performed.
 * Judges' votes to save
 * Horwood: Sunetra & Brendan
 * Bussell: Steve & Ola
 * Tonioli: Sunetra & Brendan
 * Goodman: Sunetra & Brendan

Week 10: "Around the World" Week
Musical guests: André Rieu & Alfie Boe — "Volare" Dance guests: Michael Flatley & Lord of the Dance

Couples are listed in the order they performed.
 * Judges' votes to save
 * Horwood: Mark & Karen
 * Bussell: Mark & Karen
 * Tonioli: Mark & Karen
 * Goodman: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Mark & Karen

Week 11: Quarter-final
Musical guest: OneRepublic — "Counting Stars"

Each couple performed one routine and then all couples participated in a waltz marathon for additional points. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
 * Judges' votes to save
 * Horwood: Pixie & Trent
 * Bussell: Simon & Kristina
 * Tonioli: Pixie & Trent
 * Goodman: Simon & Kristina (Since the other judges were not unanimous, Len Goodman, as head judge, made the final decision to save Simon & Kristina.)

Week 12: Semi-final
Musical guest: Paloma Faith — "Changing"

Each couple performed two routines, and are listed in the order they performed.
 * Judges votes to save
 * Horwood: Mark & Karen
 * Bussell: Jake & Janette
 * Tonioli: Jake & Janette
 * Goodman: Mark & Karen (Since the other judges were not unanimous, Len Goodman, as head judge, made the final decision to save Mark & Karen.)

Week 13: Final
Musical guest: Take That — "Greatest Day", "These Days" & "Never Forget"

During the first show, each couple performed two routines, one of which was their showdance routine and the other chosen by the judges. At the beginning of the second show, the couple with the lowest public vote was eliminated. During the second show, the remaining couples performed their favourite dance of the series. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
 * Show 1
 * Show 2

Dance chart
The couples performed the following each week:
 * Weeks 1–10: One unlearned dance
 * Week 11: One unlearned dance & waltz marathon
 * Week 12: Two unlearned dances
 * Week 13 (Show 1): Judges' choice & showdance
 * Week 13 (Show 2): Favourite dance of the series

Reception
Donny Osmond's role as a judge in week three was panned by viewers, as he, unlike the other judges, was not a professional dancer. Viewers also deemed his scoring too inconsistent, as he awarded unusually high marks, including the first ten of the series.

Ratings
Weekly ratings for each show on BBC One. All ratings are provided by BARB.