La Voix bid a dramatic farewell to Strictly Come Dancing during Blackpool Week, as the latest dance off was cancelled.
The 45-year-old drag queen — whose real name is Christopher Dennis — was forced to pull out of the competition due to injury, missing out a chance to dance a Blackpool’s historic Tower Ballroom. But La Voix was still able to give a performance during the results show on Sunday, 23 November, as she was lowered onto the dance floor on a giant light-up heart to the sounds of disco classic Love Is in the Air.
La Voix said she was sad to leave, but joked she was pleased to give one of the other contestants a chance to win. And her professional partner Aljaž Škorjanec touchingly revealed he has made two friends – the La Voix he danced with on Saturday nights, but also her alter-ego Dennis, who he rehearsed with all week.
Meanwhile, the results show also featured an energetic performance from returning finalists Ashley Roberts, Danny Mac, Jay McGuiness and Layton Williams
La Voix says goodbye
La Voix was devastated to pull out, and miss the chance to dance in Blackpool Week. (BBC)
La Voix and partner Škorjanec sat down with hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman to discuss their exit from the competition.
La Voix said: “This has been the most extraordinary experience of my entire life, it really has. What have I loved most, don’t hate me, but it’s not been the dancing. It’s been just been welcomed on this show with the most amazing warmth from everyone, from the whole crew backstage, the judges to the pros, to the celebs, to you too, to everyone who’s been amazing.
“I came into the show as a minority, you know, as a redhead, and, you know, and you’ve just all embraced me wonderfully. And I just, I cannot thank you enough for just this most magical, magical journey. It’s been amazing.”
Škorjanec said: “La Voix had everyone in stitches on a Saturday and Sunday night, but I was in stitches seven days a week.
And, you know, we always say, I’ve made a friend for life on Strictly. But I’ve been lucky this year because I feel like I made two friends for life. On Saturdays and Sundays, we all laughed with La Voix, but from Monday to Thursday and Friday, I had the best time with Chris, and, Genuinely, I haven’t done a single crunch in the last four months, but I got my six pack back, which is amazing.
“You are like I, I think Motsi [Mabuse] said it the best. We all need it. I feel like the world needs more of you and I think Strictly needed it and you made my life just a joy for the last weeks and I’m going to miss going to rehearsals. I’m going to miss dancing with you.
“I’m going to miss creating with you, and you are so brilliant at what you do and it was. And I feel like you both feel incredibly lucky that you got each other.
La Voix said: “I’m just so lucky. I mean, what you see on that dancefloor is a fraction of the love and the passion and the heart that this man has for dance and his craft, and you have made me carry on when I’ve questioned myself, you’ve made me laugh through the toughest days, and when I haven’t thought I could do something. You never gave up on me once, not once.
“And I’m going to leave this experience braver, happier, and such a more confident person, and that’s because of you, so thank you. I love you.”
She added: “It’s so sad to say goodbye. Of course we have, you know, and I just think with me leaving unexpected, it is not how I wanted my journey to end. At least it gives someone else in this competition a chance to win now.”
La Voix was a finalist in Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK in 2024. She also performed for Simon Cowell on Britain’s Got Talent in 2014 and had a cameo in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie.
The media is already abuzz with speculation about which famous faces could replace Daly and Winkleman since they announced this week that they are stepping down at the end of this year.
La Voix has already put herself forward, asking Winkleman where “a friend” should send their CV if they were interested in applying for the job of presenting Strictly.
Dance off rollover
Because of La Voix’s exit due to injury there was no dance off on Sunday night’s results show. (BBC)
With only six celebrities left in the competition and four weeks remaining, La Voix’s exit meant the dance off had to be cancelled. Her departure due to injury follows that of DJ and actor Kristian Nairn and reality TV star Dani Dyer before the competition had even begun. And Neighbours actor Stefan Dennis also pulled out due to injury just four weeks in.
The judges’ scores for the dancers in Blackpool Week, and the viewers votes will roll over and be combined with the scores and votes for next week.
EastEnders‘ Balvinder Sopal, influencer George Clarke, Love Island star Amber Davies, Emmerdale and West End actor Lewis Cope, Doctor Who and ER star Alex Kingston and footballer Karen Carney remain in competition for the glitterball.
Cope was top of the leaderboard after receiving another score of 40 from the judges. Clarke and Carney both achieved 39, Davies earned a score of 36 and Kingston and Sopal were bottom of the leaderboard with scores of 35 and 33 respectively. Sopal has already been in the dance off three times.
What the viewers thought
La Voix said goodbye to her fellow Strictly contestants at Blackpool. (BBC)
Some viewers felt confused following La Voix’s exit interview, as neither Daly nor Winkleman asked her how or why she was injured in rehearsals. The star suffered an injury to her right ankle and her long purple dress is thought to have hidden a recovery boot. Škorjanec lifted her and spun her around for their last dance.
One viewer wrote on social media platform X: “Did I miss it? Why didn’t Tess or Claudia ask why La Voix couldn’t continue? We still don’t know? How or why or what injury occurred? Is this the big interview advertised? #Strictly”
Another asked: “Did they explain what actually happened with La Voix? #Strictly”
But one shared on Blue Sky: “Massive skirt for La Voix to hide the boot #Strictly”
Many fans were delighted to see La Voix get a proper goodbye.
One said: “Lovely send-off for La Voix – such a shame she had to go out on an injury #Strictly”
And another posted: “Huge well done to @LaVoixTheShow and @AljazSkorjanec you have both been amazing and you will be missed as well wishing you a speedy recovery La Voix and you will always be remembered on the dancefloor such a superstar #Strictly”
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Familiar faces on the dancefloor
Strictly finalists Ashley Roberts, Danny Mac, Jay McGuiness and Layton Williams returned for Blackpool Week 2025. (BBC)
Previous Strictly finalists Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts, Hollyoaks actor Danny Mac, The Wanted singer Jay McGuiness and Bad Education star Layton Williams made a comeback to open the results show, performing a medley with the professional dancers for Blackpool Week.
McGuiness was crowned Strictly champion in 2015, while Mac and Roberts reached the finals of their Strictly series in 2016 and 2018 respectively. Williams was the most recent Strictly finalist in 2023. All four danced in Blackpool as part of their series. The new routine featured elements of McGuiness and Roberts’ iconic Jives, Mac’s famous Samba, and Williams’ showstopping Quickstep. The dance set to classic rock and roll hits including Ray Charles’ Twist It and Chuck Berry’s Your Never Can Tell.
Strictly Come Dancing 2025 continues on BBC One at 6.35pm on Saturday, 29 November.