Locals set to dance in Strictly Come Hospice final

The sequins are ready, the music is set and the spotlight is waiting as the final of Strictly Come Hospice 2026 comes to the Watersmeet Theatre in Rickmansworth on Friday 30 January 2026.

Tickets are on sale now for the grand final event that will see 22 locals showcase the dance skills they have learned during ten weeks of professional tuition, as part of Strictly Come Hospice in aid of Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care.

The hospice charity fundraising event kicked off in November 2025 when a group of 22 locals gathered for the first dance lesson of the challenge. With a wide range of ages, backgrounds and levels of experience with dancing, the contestants were paired up and have been meeting weekly since then to perfect a dance routine for the final show.

On Friday 30 January 2026, the dancers will come together to showcase their routines in front of an audience of 500 before one couple is named the winners of Strictly Come Hospice 2026. The winners will be chosen by a panel of judges including Kellie Bright, who took part in series 13 of the BBC’s Strictly Come dancing, reaching the final with her dance partner, Kevin Clifton.

Dawn Sanders from Tring is one of this year’s contestants. Dawn says: ‘Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care is a local charity that has a special place in my heart. I have volunteered at its Tring office, answering calls from patients and their families and supporting the nursing teams, as well as working with the fundraising department.

‘I receive the charity’s monthly newsletter and last summer spotted a story about Strictly Come Hospice. I’ve always ‘dabbled’ in dancing and it felt like a great way to support the charity so I signed up.

‘I’ve been matched with a dance partner, Rukmal, and we’re working on a routine that has elements of salsa and the cha cha. Our teachers, Scott and Lauren, are absolutely fantastic. For the first few weeks they taught us some of the key moves for both dance styles. Then we started learning our own routine for the grand final. It’s very challenging. But I am absolutely loving it!

‘As well as the dancing, fundraising is a vital part of this experience. The fundraising team at Rennie Grove Peace has been so supportive.’ If you would like to sponsor Dawn, visit www.justgiving.com/page/dawn-sanders-1.

Emma Stewart is Events Manager at Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care. She says: ‘Strictly Come Hospice is about more than dance – it’s about learning a new skill, meeting extraordinary people and putting yourself out of your comfort zone to raise vital funds for hospice care. Six weeks ago, some of the dancers joked that they had two left feet, having never danced before. So to see their transformation from nervous supporters to Strictly Showstoppers has been sensational.

‘The grand final event will be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their achievements, show support for the contestants and raise funds to support compassionate hospice care in our community. So grab your tickets now for a night of sparkles and surprises while supporting your local hospice care charity.’

Tickets to the grand final of Strictly Come Hospice 2026, cost £22 for adults, £16 for children and £69 for a family (2 adults and 2 children). To buy tickets, visit renniegrovepeace.org/strictly2026.