Strictly Come Dancing Rewind: Series Two

Back in 2004, ex EastEnder Jill Halfpenny was crowned Strictly Come Dancing winner. Along with professional partner Darren Bennett, she wowed the judges and audience with three different dances. She beat athlete Denise Lewis and comic Julian Clary, whose popularity rather than dancing ability secured his place in the final. More than seven million votes were cast during the series, raising £850,000 for Children in Need. Here's a refresher of all the celebrities that took part.

 

Carol Vorderman MBE (professional partner was Paul Killick)

Countdown presenter famed for her IQ of 154, Carol received an MBE in 2000. She's often referred to as 'the thinking man's crumpet' and has presented a variety of other shows including The Pride of Britain Awards, Better Homes and Stars And Their Lives. At the time, Carol said: "I'd been saying to friends how I'd wanted to take dance lessons for some time but couldn't fit it in with work so this is the best of both worlds. I love dancing but I've never had any training before." Maybe Carol's inexperience told as she was voted out in week 2.

 

Diarmuid Gavin (professional partner was Nicole Cutler)

Sometimes dubbed the bad boy of gardening, Dublin born Diarmuid has presented several shows on the BBC, including Home Front In The Garden and Gardener Of The Year. At the time, he was anticipating having a great deal of fun on Strictly Come Dancing, terming it: "a very disciplined way of getting fit". He didn't rate his chances of lasting very long, but at least he managed to make it to week 4.

 

Esther Rantzen OBE (professional partner was Anton Du Beke)

If she isn't a TV institution, I don't know who is. She presented consumer rights show That's Life for over 20 years. Arguably her greatest achievement is Childline, which now has ten counselling centres across the UK and answers more than 1.5 million calls a year. She has also presented a wide range of other programmes including her own talk show, Esther. She thinks Strictly Come Dancing is "brilliant" labelling it, "the most enormous fun". Esther Rantzen was "gobsmacked" when she received the invitation to take part. She was voted out in week 3.

Jill Halfpenny (professional partner was Darren Bennett)

She's no stranger to soap fans: on BBC soap EastEnders she played Kate Mitchell, wife of Phil. Previously, she played Martin Platt's love interest in Coronation Street. She started her acting career at the age of six and landed the role of Nicola Dobson in the children's drama Byker Grove when she was 13. Jill was a big fan of the last series of Strictly Come Dancing, saying: "I always used to watch Come Dancing as a little girl and thought the last series looked amazing fun. "I said to my boyfriend that if I was asked to be involved I would say yes without a doubt." Jill went on to win the second series.

 

Denise Lewis OBE (professional partner was Ian Waite)

One of Great Britain's most successful athletes, Denise won a gold medal in the Heptathlon at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and was awarded her OBE shortly afterwards. At the time, she said: "I watched the Strictly Come Dancing avidly and have always wanted to be involved in something like this. When I was asked to be involved, all my childhood fantasies came together so it was a definite 'yes please' from me!" As you'd expect from this professional sportswoman, she focussed on the prize and did very well, finishing in second place. 

 

Roger Black MBE (professional partner was Camilla Dallerup)

Silver medal Olympian Roger Black had planned to go to university before training with Kris Akabusi who made him realise how good he was at the 400 metres. The highlight of his athletics career was winning a silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and achieving a personal best of 44.37 seconds. Always personable, it's no surprise that he's carved out a career as a TV presenter, often for the BBC. Asked what made him take part in the show, he replied: "I just thought, 'Why not?' "But I wouldn't have done it if I didn't think it would be a real challenge and an opportunity to learn a great new skill because I really can't dance". Roger was voted out in week 6.  

 

Quentin Willson (professional partner was Hazel Newbury)

A man who knows everything about motoring, Quentin started his TV career on BBC's Top Gear programme and presented a number of series called Britain's Worst… For five. At the time, he said his wife was a major factor in him choosing to compete: "She said it would be fantastic. I think she's hoping it'll make me less clumsy and stop me stepping on the dog. I really am the worst dancer!" In that respect, he was absolutely right; Quentin was the first celebrity voted off the show.