Strictly Come Dancing is returning to the BBC Children in Need spotlight with two familiar faces confirmed for a special dance segment on Friday 13 November 2026. Alex Jones and Tyler West are the first names reported for the Strictly-themed performances, with their professional partners and the personal stories behind the routines now emerging.
Alex Jones reunites with a Strictly professional
The One Show presenter Alex Jones is set to dance with Aljaž Škorjanec for the charity broadcast. It is a return to a format she knows well: Jones competed in the main Strictly Come Dancing competition in 2011, finishing fifth alongside James Jordan. This appearance is a separate fundraising performance rather than a return to the current series as a contestant.
Jones is also among the presenters of this year’s Children in Need appeal. Her involvement therefore has two distinct parts: helping to guide viewers through the live fundraising evening and taking part in the newly reported dance segment. The pairing with Škorjanec gives the programme a familiar professional face, while the charity setting changes the emphasis from weekly scores and eliminations to personal tributes.
Tyler West’s dance has a personal dedication
Radio presenter Tyler West is reported to be partnering Strictly professional Alexis Warr. West competed in the 2022 series, finishing eighth, and his return will include a routine dedicated to his fiancée, EastEnders actress Molly Rainford. The personal dedication is the confirmed point of interest; the reports do not establish a competitive result, a judges’ score or an elimination for the special.
West also has a presenting role in the wider Children in Need programme, alongside Jones, Mel Giedroyc, Sara Cox and Rylan. That combination makes the dance announcement a crossover between the appeal’s hosting team and Strictly’s professional dancers. It is not a new contestant announcement for the regular 2026 ballroom competition.
When can viewers watch the Children in Need special?
BBC Children in Need’s 2026 live appeal is scheduled for Friday 13 November at 7pm on BBC One. The programme is also available through BBC iPlayer. Published television listings give the live show a three-hour slot, ending at approximately 10pm. They identify Jones, West, Giedroyc, Cox and Rylan as the presenting team.
The appeal is broadcasting from MediaCityUK in Salford and will combine entertainment with fundraising stories about children and young people supported by the charity. The advertised programme includes performances, comedy, contributions from BBC shows and the Children in Need Choir. The Strictly routines are part of that broader evening rather than a standalone episode of the Saturday night dance contest.
Viewers planning to watch specifically for the dances should note that the sources consulted do not confirm a precise minute-by-minute running order for the two routines. The safest option is to follow the live broadcast or check the full programme on iPlayer afterwards, rather than assume either performance will open the show.
How is this different from the regular Strictly series?
Strictly Come Dancing’s main competition continues separately. Its most recent results show saw Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu leave after a split judges’ vote, with head judge Shirley Ballas casting the deciding vote. The charity performances involving Jones and West should not be confused with that result or with the couples still competing for the 2026 trophy.
For the appeal, the key confirmed developments are the two returning celebrity dancers, their professional partners and West’s dedication. Reports describe them as the first two participants announced for the special, so it would be premature to present them as the entire performance line-up. Further details may emerge before Friday’s broadcast.
What happens next?
The next confirmed appointment is the Children in Need live show on 13 November. Viewers can expect the wider BBC fundraising programme to introduce the personal stories connected to its entertainment segments, while the regular Strictly series proceeds on its own schedule. Until the BBC or programme-makers release additional details, there is no verified basis for naming extra dance pairings, predicting routines or claiming a surprise appearance.
For Strictly followers, the appeal offers a chance to see Jones and West back on the dancefloor for a different purpose: supporting the charity rather than chasing the Glitterball Trophy. Their announced partnerships and the scheduled broadcast are the facts to watch as Friday approaches.
Sources
The Sun, 10 November 2026: Strictly Children in Need dance pairings
TV24: BBC Children in Need, 13 November broadcast listing
TV Zone: Children in Need presenting line-up