Strictly Come Dancing professional Neil Jones has been given a celebrity partner for a special Children in Need performance, after missing out on a partner for the main 2026 series. The BBC Children in Need appeal programme this Friday (November 13) will see five main hosts step into the ballroom for a one-off dance in aid of the cause.
Line-up for the special
Neil will partner presenter Mel Giedroyc, while TV personality Rylan Clark performs with Amy Dowden, and BBC Radio 2 presenter Sara Cox teams up with Julian Caillon. The One Show's Alex Jones dances with Aljaž Škorjanec, and Kiss radio presenter Tyler West partners Alexis Warr.
Following the announcement, fans took to social media to urge that Mel sign up for the main series of Strictly. On X, formerly known as Twitter, one fan wrote: "I want Mel to do the main series so bad." Another added: "I need Mel to do the main show," and a third said: "I want Mel to do the main Strictly show."
Previous dance success
This is not the first time Neil and Mel have danced together. The pair competed in the 2021 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, achieving a perfect score of 40. They performed a Couple's Choice routine to "Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice, which aired on Christmas Day, wearing matching 90s retro tracksuits in bright shades of pink, blue and white, complete with visor sunglasses and trainers.
They closed the show and earned 10s across the board from judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, and Anton Du Beke. Despite finishing joint-top of the leaderboard alongside Anne-Marie and Graziano Di Prima, the studio audience vote crowned pop star Anne-Marie and former pro Graziano Di Prima as the 2021 Christmas Champions.
Appeal details
Mel, Alex, Rylan, Sara and Tyler host three hours of entertainment to celebrate this year's fundraising efforts. The programme will feature famous faces, dazzling performances, exclusive sketches, surprise appearances, and a return from the Children in Need Choir. Inspiring stories from children and young people across the UK will highlight the impact of BBC Children in Need.
Speaking about the campaign, Mel said: "BBC Children in Need has an incredible ability to bring people together to make a difference for children and young people across the UK." She added: "This year's Appeal is all about making sure every child has someone by their side when they need it most, and everyone can play a part in that."
Children in Need 2026 airs Friday, November 13 from 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
