Strictly Come Dancing winners - where are they now?

From Natasha Kaplinsky to Ore Oduba, former champions have been busy

It's time to ask series 14 winner Ore Oduba to give the glitterball back - series 15 of Strictly Come Dancing comes to a spectacular end on Saturday night. Finalists Gemma Atkinson, Debbie McGee, Joe McFadden and Alexandra Burke will be throwing their very best shapes on the dancefloor as they give it their all to be crowned this year’s Strictly champion.

As Strictly fans ponder who the victor will be, here's a reminder of what the show's previous winners are up to now:

14 Ore Oduba

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Ore Oduba

BBC presenter Ore Oduba took to the dancefloor like a natural, peaking with a dazzling jive that has gone down Strictly history
(Image credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Since lifting the glitterball trophy last year, Oduba has returned to his day job as a BBC presenter. In 2018, he is set to host a Saturday night game show for Sport Relief.

13 Jay McGuiness

Jay McGuiness

McGuiness has not abandoned the dancefloor since winning series 13 of Strictly. This year, he toured with ex-Strictly pro Natalie Lowe in her 1950s-themed dance musical Rip It Up!, alongside another fellow winner, gymnast Louis Smith.

12 Caroline Flack

Caroline Flack

After winning Strictly in 2014, Flack was promoted from presenter of The Xtra Factor to hosting The X Factor alongside Olly Murs. She also hosts the reality dating show Love Island and spinoff Love Island: Aftersun.

11 Abbey Clancy

Abbey Clancy

After winning the 2013 Strictly crown, Clancy gave birth to a second daughter, Liberty. Since 2014, she has been a judge in the reality TV series Britain’s Next Top Model - a series in which she herself was runner-up ten years ago, in 2006.

10 Louis Smith

Louis Smith

Having retired from sport shortly before the 2012 Strictly series, Smith announced his return to gymnastics in January 2014. In 2016, he scooped a silver on the pommel horse at the Rio Olympics, making him the only British gymnast to win medals in three separate Olympic games.

9 Harry Judd

Harry Judd

The former McFly star has appeared in several TV shows since his victory, including All Star Family Fortunes, Celebrity Juice, The Million Pound Drop Live and Celebrity The Chase. In 2015 he was the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special winner. His first daughter was born in 2015, followed by a son in 2017.

8 Kara Tointon

Kara Tointon

Tointon has enjoyed good reviews for West End roles in recent years, in addition to appearances in films and TV series including Mr Selfridge and The Halcyon. In 2015, she played Maria in a live ITV version of the Sound of Music.

7 Chris Hollins

Chris Hollins

A BBC Breakfast sports reporter before winning Strictly in 2009, Hollins went on to present Watchdog from 2010 until 2015. In 2016, he co-presented the BBC countryside programme Secret Britain.

6 Tom Chambers

Tom Chambers

After Strictly, Holby City actor Chambers joined the cast of BBC drama Waterloo Road for ten episodes. He has since had leading roles in West End musical Top Hat and a touring production of Crazy For You.

5 Alesha Dixon

Alesha Dixon

The former Mis-Teeq singer’s career enjoyed a massive revival following her Strictly victory - as well as a three-year stint as a Strictly judge, her 2008 comeback album The Alesha Show went platinum and spawned top five singles The Boy Does Nothing and Breathe Slow. In 2017, she presented ITV reality show Dance Dance Dance.

4 Mark Ramprakash

Mark Ramprakash

Ramprakash sashayed his way to the Strictly trophy in 2006 with professional partner Karen Hardy, making him the second cricketer in a row to take the title. He then returned to the world of cricket, this time as a coach, and was appointed batting coach to the England national squad in 2014.

3 Darren Gough

Darren Gough

The legendary England fast bowler proved just as speedy on the dance floor, winning the show's third series. Having retired from sport in 2008, he now presents an afternoon show alongside Adrian Durham for TalkSport radio.

2 Jill Halfpenny

Jill Halfpenny

The Eastenders actress's victory in series two of Strictly wasn't without controversy, as viewers pointed out that her theatre school training gave her an unfair advantage in the contest. In the years since her victory, Halfpenny has enjoyed an illustrious return to the stage in major West End shows including Chicago and Legally Blonde, for which she won an Oliver award.

1 Natasha Kaplinsky

Natasha Kaplinsky

The newsreader set a high standard as she waltzed her way to victory in the first ever series of Strictly – which makes it even more surprising to learn that she was "cajoled" into appearing by her BBC bosses. Since 2011, she has been a presenter for ITV, which has so far not forced her to participate in any talent contests. In 2017, she was made an OBE for her work with Holocaust charities.

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