The BBC One dance competition, Strictly Come Dancing, has been a staple on our screens for two decades. As we gear up for the 2024 series, it's time to take a trip down memory lane and revisit the first-ever Strictly champion.The latest instalment of Strictly Come Dancing is set to grace our screens this Saturday evening (September 14), marking the launch of its 2024 series.

Over the past 20 years, the primetime spectacle has amassed a huge following, with each series featuring an all-star line-up of 15 contestants vying for the coveted Glitterball Trophy on the dance floor.However, when the show first aired 20 years ago, only eight celebrities were paired with professional dancers in the competition.

The inaugural season of Strictly Ballroom kicked off in the summer of 2004, hosted by Tess Daly and the legendary Bruce Forsyth.The original celebrity-pro pairs included: David Dickinson and Camilla Dallerup, Lesley Garrett and Anton du Beke, Verona Joseph and Paul Killick, Natasha Kaplinsky and Brendan Cole, Martin Offiah and Erin Boag, Christopher Parker and Hanna Karttunen, Claire Sweeney and John Byrnes, and Jason Wood and Kylie Jones.The initial judging panel comprised Len Goodman, Arlene Phillips, Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli.

However, it was newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky who made history as the first celebrity to clinch the Strictly crown, alongside her partner Brendan Cole.She received the highest marks for eight out of ten dances throughout the series and ultimately finished a staggering 39 points ahead of fellow finalist, actor Christopher Parker.

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