Drag queen Tayce is introduced as second star to be collaborating within the Strictly Christmas Special – after comic Josh Widdicombe was confirmed

Tayce has been announced as the second celebrity for the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special.

The drag queen, 30, is one of six famous faces who will be taking to the dancefloor for the festive edition of the BBC competition.

It comes after comedian Josh Widdicombe was revealed as the first star to be taking part on Monday. 

Making the announcements on Strictly: It Takes Two this week, it was revealed Josh would be partnered with professional dancer Karen Hauer, while Tayce would be paired with Kai Widdrington. 

Welsh-born Tayce shot to fame as a finalist on season two of RuPaul‘s Drag Race UK.

She has often been given the moniker as the Naomi Campbell of Drag and models across the world in runway fashion shows. 

She has also done presenting stints on BBC Radio 1, MTV and Sky and even released her own rap single.

Speaking about joining the Strictly festive line-up, Tayce gushed: ‘I cannot wait to sleigh on the Strictly Ballroom floor. 

‘My partner and I are going to dance for our lives! In all seriousness, it’s an incredible honour to be the first Drag artist to be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing. 

‘I hope I do all of my Drag Race and Welsh fans proud! Sign me up for all the glitz, glam and discoballs.’

A source close to Tayce revealed to MailOnline on Tuesday: ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race star Tayce will be on the Christmas special this year, and she is set to make history. It is the first time they’ve ever featured a drag queen. This is a massive moment for her and for the drag community.

‘The BBC had been in talks with various drag performers in the past, but Tayce clinched the spot, impressing producers instantly.’

It comes after on Monday Josh joked that he may be ‘about to ruin’ Christmas for everyone with his participation, while Tayce confessed she was honoured to be the first drag artist to take to the Strictly dancefloor.

Speaking about the announcement on Monday, Josh said: ‘I am utterly terrified this will end in humiliation and worried I’m going to be so bad I will ruin Christmas for the nation. Why have I done this?’

Fans of Strictly and Josh alike went wild for the news, taking to X shortly after the announcement to share their delight he would be taking part. 

They said: ‘Josh Widdicombe Strictly oh I’ve PRAYED for days like these’; ‘Oh my god Josh Widdicome is doing Christmas Strictly this is huge’; ‘Josh Widdicombe is going to be on the Christmas Special of Strictly oh my god’;

‘Josh Widdicome on the Strictly Special with Karen!! We looove to see it’; ‘Josh Widdicombe is going to be on the Christmas Special of Strictly oh my god’. 

Over the course of his career, Josh has become known for hosting The Last Leg alongside Alex Brooker and Adam Hills for Channel 4 and has also appeared on the likes of A League Of Their Own, Have I Got News For You and Taskmaster. 

Josh is currently best known for his popular parenting podcast, Parenting Hell, which he hosts alongside fellow funnyman Rob Beckett.

Josh and Rob release episodes twice a week and typically one of the episodes will include a celebrity parent who they interview for the show.

The pre-recorded episode – which airs on December 25 – will see each of the couples perform a festive-themed routine in the hope of impressing the judges, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas, as well as the voting studio audience. 

The remaining Christmas lineup will be announced on Strictly: It Takes Two in due course. 

Last year, celebrities such as television presenter Dan Snow, Sugababes singer Keisha Buchanan and BBC Breakfast host Sally Nugent all competed for the festive version of the Glitterball Troph.

In the end, it was EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick and his professional partner Nancy Xu who reigned supreme. 

The soap star is currently competing in the regular edition of this year’s Strictly, where he is dancing alongside professional Michelle Tsiakkas. 

The news about Josh taking part on Strictly comes weeks after it was revealed he had also signed up for Celebrity Gogglebox.

Josh sat down with his friend and fellow comedian Stephen Merchant, who co-wrote the The Office with Ricky Gervais.

Stephen, 49, who has since starred in blockbusters Logan and Jojo Rabit alongside Scarlett Johansson has said he isn’t usually much of a talker in front of the TV but was excited to sit down with Josh.

He said: ‘I don’t usually allow talking when the TV is on, because I know how much hard work goes into making shows, so I try to give them my full attention.

‘But I’m happy to break my own rule for Stand Up to Cancer and join the Gogglebox special this year with my pal Josh Widdicombe.’

Josh, who is a regular face on the stand-up circuit and has starred on a number of panel, said: ‘The does fantastic work, raising for life-saving research, and it’s a privilege to be involved.

‘Stand Up to Cancer is an incredible cause so I am honoured to be involved. I love Stephen and particularly like working with him when we are sitting down so I don’t look like a hobbit next to him.’

Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day.