Strictly stars as you've never seen them – Neil Jones without beard to Dianne Buswell as brunette
Strictly Come Dancing fans will be gob smacked by these pictures of the show’s judging panel and professional dancers before they shot to fame on the hit BBC show. Vintage snaps showing the likes of former favourite Kevin Clifton and current judge Craig Revel Horwood have been unearthed and the stars look unrecognisable.
Upon first glance, you'd be forgiven for not realising these are some of the most watched people on TV.
Craig Revel Horwood
A very chiseled and gorgeous Craig Revel Horwood made his name as a dancer and choreographer after arriving from Melbourne to London in 1989. He started his career performing a drag act before becoming a professional dancer and moving to the UK.
Craig is the only Strictly judge that has appeared on every single show since it launched in 2004.
READ MORE: Inside Craig Revel Horwood’s lavish festive mansion he shares with fiancé Jonathan Myring
Shirley Ballas
Shirley Ballas was a world champion ballroom dancer, competing in countless competitions nationally and internationally.
The dancing icon performed in her first ballroom competition aged just 15, and went on to marry one of her most famous partners, Corky Ballas. The pair, whose stunning routine can be seen in the video above, since divorced but share one son, Mark.
Shirley joined the cast of Strictly in 2017, replacing Len Goodman as head judge.
Neil and Katya Jones
Two of the best known Strictly professional dancers Neil and Katya Jones also were a married couple until 2019. The pair met at a dance competition in 2008 after being partnered up by a dance coach and things quickly went from professional to romantic.
Katya told OK!: "It was a complicated time in my life. I was 18 and in a bad place. I was meant to compete but had split up from my partner.
"My mum said we should go anyway and my teacher Richard Porter said he had somebody in mind, which turned out to be Neil."
The couple became the undefeated four-time British National Champions, and the three-time winners of the World Amateur Latin Championships.
Neil proposed in 2012, with the pair tying the knot in London in August 2013 before announcing their split in 2019.
Kevin Clifton
Describing his former look, Mr Stacey Dooley Kevin Clifton has said that he "used to look like a goth" before joining the show. Speaking about his Marilyn Manson inspired look, the pro dancer said he had ‘"ong black hair and black fingernails to match".
Kevin confessed that initially he was turned down for the show while ex-wife Karen was accepted. “We’ve no need for that gothic scarecrow who thinks he’s the rock star of the ballroom.'”
Kevin quit the show in 2020 after seven years, to focus on other areas of his life and to give younger dancers a chance. He's since starred in musicals and welcomed a baby with Stacey.
Dianne Buswell
Joining the show as a professional dance partner in 2017, Dianne fast became known for her eye catching red hair. So it’s a surprise to see her natural roots back in 2008 before she became a red head. Aussie dancer Dianne worked as a hairdresser before taking her dancing to a professional level age 21.
Before Strictly, she had appeared on Dancing With The Stars and So You Think You Can Dance in the US.
In 2018, she was professional partner to her now boyfriend Joe Sugg who have been a couple since placing second in the series won by Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton.
