Strictly Come Dancing series 8

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Strictly Come Dancing returned for its eighth series on BBC One with a red carpet launch show on 11 September 2010, and the competitive live shows began on 1 October. According to BARB data, this series was the consistently highest-rated of the show to date, peaking at 14.28 million viewers.^[1] Alesha Dixon, Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood, and Bruno Tonioli all returned as judges.

Five professional dancers from the last series did not return for this series: Darren Bennett, Matthew Cutler, Brian Fortuna, Lilia Kopylova, and Ian Waite. Three new professionals joined this series: Artem Chigvintsev, Jared Murillo, and Robin Windsor. For the eighth series, the set was totally revamped: the backstage room where scores were given was replaced by a tower above the dance floor so that the couples could watch as their teammates performed. During week 8, the live show was transmitted from the Tower Ballroom at the Blackpool Tower.^[2]

Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly returned to present the main show on BBC One. For the results show, Daly was joined by Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two presenter Claudia Winkleman.

The celebrities did not know their professional partners until they were introduced to each other at the launch show.^[3] The series concluded on 18 December when EastEnders actress Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev were announced as the winners, while television presenter Matt Baker and Aliona Vilani finished in second place, and psychologist Pamela Stephenson and James Jordan finished in third.