Sir Ian McKellen Strictly Come Dancing Halloween cameo takes a gothic turn

Sir Ian McKellen has recorded a surprise vocal cameo for the Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Halloween results show, reading an excerpt from Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula during a special professional group performance.

According to the BBC and reporting from the PA News Agency, the stage and screen star recorded the voiceover to serve as the dramatic climax for a routine set to Tame Impala’s song “Dracula”. The performance is scheduled to broadcast during the pre-recorded results show on Sunday, November 1, on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Inside the vampire routine

The vampire-themed group number was filmed earlier in 2026. It centers on professional dancers Alexis Warr and Nikita Kuzmin on a first date at a drive-in cinema before Kuzmin is revealed to be a vampire, drawing the rest of the professional dancing cast into the performance.

Reports published by the Lancashire Telegraph and the Manchester Evening News confirm McKellen’s reading enters at the peak of the routine. The specific excerpt from Stoker’s 1897 gothic horror novel has not been disclosed, and it remains unconfirmed whether McKellen will appear on screen in visual footage or contribute entirely by voice.

When the special airs

While the celebrity couples take to the ballroom floor for their Halloween Week routines during the live broadcast on Saturday, October 31, at 6:30 p.m. in the UK, viewers will have to wait until Sunday evening to hear McKellen’s performance.

The results program airs Sunday, November 1, at 7:10 p.m. In addition to McKellen’s reading and the professional ensemble dance, the broadcast features a guest musical performance by singer Becky Hill.

A historic dance-off twist

Sunday’s Halloween results show will also introduce a major format shift for the long-running British ballroom competition. The episode will feature the first three-couple dance-off in the series’ history.

Under the new setup, the judging panel will vote directly to eliminate one pair from the competition, rather than choosing one couple to save as in traditional two-way dance-offs.

Series 24 of Strictly Come Dancing launched on September 19, 2026, with live competition shows starting on September 26. The 2026 series introduced a new hosting trio composed of Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe, who took over the ballroom following the exits of longtime presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman at the end of the 2025 series.