Strictly Come Dancing New Year Special is a South African reality competition television special produced by Rapid Blue based on the ballroom and Latin show will sees four celebrity contestants competing on the dancefloor.
The first such special aired on New Year's Eve 2006. There was no special in 2007.
Strictly Come Dancing New Year Special 2008 aired on SABC2 on Wednesday 31 December 2008, at 21h30. It was 90 minutes long.
Synopsis
Four new celebrities take to the dancefloor to compete for the crown of Strictly Come Dancing ballroom champion in this one-off live spectacular.
The four celebrities taking part in the New Year Special are:
Celebrity: Ingrid Paulus
Actress, best known for her role as Vanessa Beukes on the SABC2 soapie 7de Laan.
Ingrid's Partner: Grant Esterhuizen
Made his debut in Season 5, partnering Tessa van Duuren. The couple were runners-up.
Celebrity: JC Engelbrecht
SABC weather presenter.
JC's Partner: Hayley Bennett
Participated in seasons 2, 3 and 5, placing 3rd, 1st and 5th respectively.
Celebrity: Leanne Manas
Radio and television presenter, finance journalist and motivational speaker best known for hosting the SABC2 breakfast news show Morning Live.
Leanne's Partner: Marcel Vilonel
Partnered Patricia Lewis in Season 3. The couple were eliminated third.
Celebrity: Meshack Mavuso
Actor and director, best known for his role as Vusi Moletsane in the SABC3 soapie Isidingo.
Meshack's Partner: Robynn Soules
Made her SCD debut in Season 5, partnering Adil More. The couple were eliminated third.
Format
Each couple will perform two dances from the Strictly Come Dancing selection - the tango, quickstep, foxtrot, samba, jive, rumba, cha-cha and the paso doble.
The dance assignments are as follows:
Ingrid Paulus and Grant Esterhuizen: Quickstep & Paso Doble
JC Engelbrecht and Hayley Bennett: Waltz & Samba
Leanne Manas and Marcel Vilonel: Tango & Cha Cha
Meshack Mavuso and Robynn Soules: Foxtrot & Jive
As with the main series, votes are counted 50% judges and 50% studio audience.
The special will be hosted by regular series hosts Ian von Memerty and Sandy Ngema, while head judge Lilian Phororo returns to judge the competition, with regulars Dave Campbell, Salome Sechele and Tyrone Watkins.