Strictly Come Dancing champion Bill Bailey reveals mishap during show’s live finale

Comedian nearly fell down the stairs in opening sequence

Bill Bailey, the champion of Strictly Come Dancing 2020, has revealed there was a behind-the-scenes mishap during the show’s live finale on Saturday (19 December).

The comedian spoke about the near-accident on Lorraine, saying he almost caused a fire on the set after he and fellow finalist Jamie Laing missed their “count-on” at the start of the episode.

“The stage manager said, ‘No, I will count you in,’” recalled Bailey. “We said OK… and then Jamie and I were like, ‘We are fine between the two of us we can count to eight.’

“And just as I said that, I kicked over one of the pyrotechnic boxes, tripped over that and nearly fell down the stairs. I was like, ‘We can’t be left alone for a second.’"

He continued: “I thought that would be a great way to start the show – Bill Bailey has ignited his trousers and the fire alarm goes off, and I fall over and set fire to the studio.”

Bailey won this year’s series with his pro partner Oti Mabuse, beating runner-ups Laing, Maisie Smith and HRVY.

In a five-star review of the finale, The Independent’s Emma Bullimore wrote of Bailey: “The nation fell in love with the offbeat comedian over the past few weeks, as he shook off any suggestion of being a joke act. 

“Working his sequinned socks off for every dance, from a Metallica-themed tango to his epic ‘Rapper’s Delight’ street dance, he proved it isn’t just whippersnappers who can waltz.  

“When the showdance came, he channelled the theatrics of Freddie Mercury, dancing to the ‘The Show Must Go On’. ‘We Are the Champions’ would have been more apt.”