Sir Ian McKellen joins Strictly Halloween special as historic dance-off puts three couples at risk

Sir Ian McKellen is bringing a touch of gothic horror to Strictly Come Dancing this Halloween, lending his voice to a special Dracula-inspired performance during Sunday's results show, which will also feature an unprecedented dance-off involving three celebrity couples.

The 87-year-old actor has recorded an extract from Bram Stoker's Dracula, which will be heard during the climax of a professional group routine set to Tame Impala's song of the same name. The performance forms part of a Halloween weekend that will also see Becky Hill take to the stage and the judges face a different elimination decision.

Sir Ian McKellen brings Dracula to the Strictly ballroom

The professional routine, filmed earlier this year, begins at a drive-in cinema where Alexis Warr and Nikita Kuzmin appear to be enjoying an ordinary first date, before the evening takes a sinister turn when Nikita reveals himself to be a vampire.

The remaining professional dancers then join the couple for a dramatic tango-inspired performance, with Ian's distinctive voice providing the final reading from the classic horror novel.

The appearance brings together two very different areas of entertainment for an actor whose celebrated career includes the Royal Shakespeare Company, Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and Magneto in the X-Men films.

It also comes during an emotional week for Ian following the death of his close friend and fellow actor Sir Patrick Stewart, who died on Wednesday 28 October at the age of 86. The pair shared a friendship spanning decades, appeared together in the X-Men franchise and worked alongside one another on stage, with Ian paying a heartfelt tribute to Patrick following the news of his death.

Strictly makes history with first three-couple dance-off

Sunday's results show will introduce a major departure from the programme's usual elimination format, with three couples competing in the dance-off rather than the traditional two.

The three partnerships with the lowest combined judges' scores and public votes will perform again, before Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke decide which couple should leave.

In another significant difference, the judges will vote to eliminate a couple rather than save one, although only a single partnership will be departing the competition.

The change follows last weekend's elimination of former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips, who lost his dance-off against Jaime Winstone after the judges voted three to one in favour of keeping Jaime and Carlos Gu in the competition.

EastEnders stars join Halloween dance line-up

Saturday's live Halloween special will feature 11 remaining couples, with EastEnders star Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola performing a Charleston to Cheryl and Tinie Tempah's Crazy Stupid Love, while Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu return to the ballroom with a salsa to Scissor Sisters' Filthy/Gorgeous.

Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin will perform a Viennese waltz to My Favourite Things by Rodgers and Hammerstein, while Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington have chosen the same dance style for Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers.

The Halloween soundtrack continues with Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał performing a tango to Ray Parker Jr's Ghostbusters, while Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu take on a jive to Fifth Harmony's I'm in Love with a Monster.

Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita will dance a quickstep to Little Mix's Black Magic, with Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby performing an Argentine tango to Michael Abels' Pas de Deux.

Elsewhere, Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley will perform a samba to Harry Nilsson's Coconut, John Nellis and Katya Jones will dance a tango to Slayyyter's DANCE…, and Will Best and Dianne Buswell will take on Couple's Choice to Big Brovaz's Nu Flow.

For more on the special, including the Halloween performances and what viewers can expect, read our Strictly Come Dancing Halloween Special 2026 guide.

When is Strictly Come Dancing on BBC One?

Strictly Come Dancing's Halloween special airs on Saturday 31 October at 6.30pm on BBC One, with the results show following on Sunday 1 November at 7.10pm.

Sunday's programme will include the Dracula-themed professional performance featuring Ian McKellen, a musical appearance from Becky Hill and the first three-couple dance-off in the programme's history.

Both programmes are available on BBC iPlayer.

Images: BBC