Strictly Come Dancing returned for its fifth series on 29 September 2007 on BBC One. Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly returned as co-presenters of the main show on BBC One, while Claudia Winkleman returned to present spin-off show Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two on BBC Two. Len Goodman, Arlene Phillips, Craig Revel Horwood, and Bruno Tonioli returned to the judging panel.
The first programme was a catch-up show and preview of the new series before the start of the competition on 6 October. In a change to the previous format, the results show aired on Sunday rather than later on Saturday.
Mis-Teeq singer Alesha Dixon and Matthew Cutler were announced as the winners on 22 December, while EastEnders actor Matt Di Angelo and Flavia Cacace finished in second place.
Format
The couples dance each week in a live show. The judges score each performance out of ten. The couples are then ranked according to the judges' scores and given points according to their rank, with the lowest scored couple receiving one point, and the highest scored couple receiving the most points (the maximum number of points available depends on the number of couples remaining in the competition). The public are also invited to vote for their favourite couples, and the couples are ranked again according to the number of votes they receive, again receiving points; the couple with the fewest votes receiving one point, and the couple with the most votes receiving the most points.
The points for judges' score and public vote are then added together, and the two couples with the fewest points are placed in the bottom two. If two couples have equal points, the points from the public vote are given precedence. The bottom two couples then perform a dance-off on the results show. Based on that performance alone, each judge then votes on which couple should stay and which couple should leave, with Len Goodman, as head judge, having the last and deciding vote.
Couples
This series featured fourteen celebrity contestants.
Scoring chart
The highest score each week is indicated in with a dagger (), while the lowest score each week is indicated in with a double-dagger ().
Color key:
Notes
Weekly scores
Unless indicated otherwise, individual judges scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Arlene Phillips, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.
Week 1
Only half of the couples performed this week, and they performed either the cha-cha-cha or the waltz. The couples who did not compete this week performed a group swing dance that was not scored. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
Judges votes to save
Horwood: Brian & Karen
Phillips: Kenny & Ola
Tonioli: Kenny & Ola
Goodman: Kenny & Ola
Week 2
Only half of the couples performed this week, and they performed either the quickstep or the rumba. The couples who did not compete this week performed a group merengue that was not scored. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
Judges votes to save
Horwood: Letitia & Darren
Phillips: Stephanie & Vincent
Tonioli: Letitia & Darren
Goodman: Letitia & Darren
Week 3
Couples performed either the jive or the tango, and are listed in the order they performed.
Judges votes to save
Horwood: John & Nicole
Phillips: John & Nicole
Tonioli: John & Nicole
Goodman: Did not vote, but would have voted for John & Nicole
Week 4
Couples performed either the American Smooth or the samba, and are listed in the order they performed.
Judges' votes to save
Horwood: Gabby & James
Phillips: Penny & Ian
Tonioli: Penny & Ian
Goodman: Penny & Ian
Week 5
Couples performed either the foxtrot or the paso doble, and are listed in the order they performed.
Judges' votes to save
Horwood: John & Nicole
Phillips: John & Nicole
Tonioli: John & Nicole
Goodman: Did not vote, but would have voted for John & Nicole
Week 6
Couples performed either the salsa or the Viennese waltz, and are listed in the order they performed.
Judges' votes to save
Horwood: Matt & Flavia
Phillips: Penny & Ian
Tonioli: Matt & Flavia
Goodman: Matt & Flavia
Week 7
Couples are listed in the order they performed.