STRICTLY Come Dancing lovers have slammed the 20th anniversary BBC show special – and how one particular pro was excluded from the celebration.
Viewers took to social media to vent their rage over former Strictly professional Darren Bennett’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment with partner Lilia Kopylova.
A variety of famous faces and their professional partners returned to the sequin-studded programme to celebrate its 20th anniversary, but Darren wasn’t given the time he deserved – according to fans.
The pro won the second series in 2002 with actress Jill Halfpenny – who was also interviewed for the special.
Fans complained: “I don’t understand why they bothered asking Darren and Lilia to be on it! Lilia didn’t even speak and Darren only spoke once about the Jill Halfpenny jive. It’s a shame because I’d have liked to have heard more off them.”
A second user barked: “I didn’t really like how there was so much focus on the past two years either. I thought the whole point was to reminisce on what once was not a quick recap of modern strictly basically identical to today.”
A third insisted: “Way too much focus on recent times – this was supposed to be a celebration of 20 years! The old stuff was so blink-and-you-miss it, especially Darren and Lilia. I’d love if there was a longer version on iPlayer with more stuff from pros 10 plus years ago.”
A fourth declared: “Way too much recent stuff! Recent pro dances and everything. I want to see more of the pre [choreographer] Jason Gilkison days with OLD pros and people who were there then.”
The one-off Strictly celebration featured archive footage from some of the programme’s most memorable routines – both good and bad – as well as interviews with hosts, judges, pro dancers and celebrities.
The show aired for an hour and 25 minutes and during that time, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman revealed there had been over 300 celebrities who had taken part during its run.
Ore Oduba, Harry Judd and Jay McGuinness also shared their memories, but Strictly viewers quickly picked up on those that didn’t feature at all.
Yet another famous face who didn’t make the cut was series 11 winner Abbey Clancy, who didn’t appear at all.
Abbey took part in 2013 and won alongside Aljaz Skorjanec, who did appear on the special.
Another winner who was missing was former pro-dancer Aliona Vilani, who won the show twice; once with Harry Judd and again with Jay McGuinness.
Winner Rose Ayling-Ellis did not appear in the show — despite her victory with Giovanni Pernice.
Sources said she did not want to talk after bullying allegations against her Italian pro partner.
The EastEnders actress made history as the first deaf contestant and went on to win the Glitterball trophy with Giovanni in 2021.
But while her dances were fondly remembered on Strictly Come Dancing: 20 Fabulous Years, Rose was absent.
Former judge Arlene Phillips was a guest while tributes were paid to late stars including judge Len Goodman, host Bruce Forsyth, Caroline Flack and dancer Robin Windsor.
A number of winners also appeared on the programme to discuss how it felt to life the Glitterball Trophy, from the very first winner Natasha Kaplinsky to last year’s victor, Ellie Leach.
Whilst watching back some of the show’s most memorable performances, viewers have called for the BBC to produce an ‘All Star’ spin off special.
