Strictly Come Dancing Stars Lead Parliamentary Cha-Cha-Cha Class
Celebrities from the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing programme, including Angela Rippon and Alex Kingston, have cha-cha-chad their way into Parliament's Portcullis House to teach MPs some dance moves. The event, held on Wednesday 04 March 2026, saw more than 40 parliamentarians stepping and twirling under the glass atrium, led by choreographer Kai Widdrington.
Promoting Dance for National Health and Wellbeing
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle danced with Angela Rippon after welcoming the stars to Westminster. The initiative aims to highlight the advantages of dance for the nation's health and wellbeing, with Rippon emphasising its potential to save money on the NHS. Before the class, the 81-year-old broadcaster stated: "Dance can be such a valuable tool in getting the nation healthy and saving money."
Rippon urged politicians to encourage exercise in their constituencies, saying: "Collectively you can make a difference and individually in your constituencies you can do so much in supporting the dance teachers and the communities in your constituencies, helping them through dance, persuading all the GPs to use more social prescribing and write less expensive prescriptions."
MPs and Celebrities Join the Footwork
Among the parliamentarians practising their footwork were new Green Party MP Hannah Spencer, shadow culture secretary Nigel Huddleston, Conservative MP Caroline Nokes, and Labour's Kim Leadbeater. They were joined by former Strictly contestant Alex Kingston, professional dancers Flavia Cacace and Neil Jones, and ex-judge Dame Arlene Phillips.
Rippon, whose Let's Dance initiative was inspired by her time on Strictly Come Dancing in 2023, argued that dance could help cure medical conditions, tackle obesity and mental health crises, and assist older people. She explained: "If we can get more people who are older to improve their core strength, their balance and their co-ordination and the strength in their legs, they will have less falls. Again we can save money on the NHS."
Political Support and Criticism
The campaign has received backing from Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who described it as having a positive impact on people's health and wellbeing while reducing the risk of serious illnesses. However, not all reactions were positive. Former Labour MP Zarah Sultana commented on social media: "The optics of MPs doing Strictly Come Dancing in Parliament while the world teeters on the brink of World War Three is completely inappropriate. It says all you need to know about Westminster."
Despite the criticism, the event showcased a bipartisan effort to promote physical activity, with MPs from various parties participating in the dance class to advocate for healthier lifestyles across the UK.
