Strictly Come Dancing series 2

Strictly Come Dancing returned for its second series on 23 October 2004 on BBC One. Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly returned to present the main show on BBC One, while Claudia Winkleman presented a new spin-off show called Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two on BBC Two. Series 1 winner Natasha Kaplinsky filled in for Daly during the first five weeks due to Daly's maternity leave. Len Goodman, Arlene Phillips, Craig Revel Horwood, and Bruno Tonioli returned to the judging panel.

Actress Jill Halfpenny and Darren Bennett were announced as the winners on 11 December 2004, while Olympic heptathlete Denise Lewis and Ian Waite finished in second place, and comedian Julian Clary and Erin Boag finished in third.

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.

Couples
This series featured ten celebrity contestants.

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|tan|Third place}}

• {{legend|lightblue|Bottom two}}

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

Weekly scores
Unless indicated otherwise, individual judges scores are given (in parentheses) in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Arlene Phillips, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.

Week 1
Couples performed either the cha-cha-cha or the waltz, and are listed in the order they performed.

Week 2
Couples performed either the quickstep or the rumba, and are listed in the order they performed.

Week 3
Couples performed either the jive or the tango, and are listed in the order they performed.

Week 4
Couples performed either the foxtrot or the paso doble, and are listed in the order they performed.

Week 5: Blackpool Week
This week's episode was staged in the Tower Ballroom at the Blackpool Tower in Blackpool, Lancashire. Couples performed the samba, and are listed in the order they performed.

Week 6: Quarterfinal
Each couple performed two unlearned routines, and are listed in the order they performed.

Week 7: Semifinal
Each couple performed two unlearned routines, and are listed in the order they performed.

Week 8: Final
The series finale was staged in the Tower Ballroom at the Blackpool Tower. Each couple performed three routines: their favourite ballroom dance, their favourite Latin dance, and their showdance routine. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Dance chart
The couples performed the following each week:
 * Week 1: One unlearned dance (cha-cha-cha or waltz)
 * Week 2: One unlearned dance (quickstep or rumba)
 * Week 3: One unlearned dance (jive or tango)
 * Week 4: One unlearned dance (foxtrot or paso doble)
 * Week 5: Samba
 * Week 6 (Quarterfinal): Two unlearned dances
 * Week 7 (Semifinal): Two unlearned dances
 * Week 8 (Final): Favourite ballroom dance, favourite Latin dance & showdance

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