Joanne Clifton
Joanne Clifton | |
|---|---|
| Born | Joanne Kirsty Clifton 26 October 1983 Waltham, Lincolnshire, England |
| Occupations | Dancer, presenter, actress, singer |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Partner | AJ Jenks |
| Relatives | Kevin Clifton (brother) |
Joanne Kirsty Clifton (born 26 October 1983) is an English professional dancer, presenter, actress, and singer. She won the World Ballroom Showdance Championship in 2014,[1] and won the European Professional Ballroom Championship and World Dancesport Games.[2] She was a professional dancer on the BBC TV series Strictly Come Dancing from 2014 to 2016, winning the fourteenth series with Ore Oduba. She also appeared as an expert presenter on Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two in 2015 and 2019.[3]
Since leaving Strictly, Clifton has starred in multiple stage productions such as the UK tours of Shrek the Musical and The Addams Family. She has been nominated for two Offies.
Dancing career
Clifton started dancing ballroom and Latin as a child in her home village of Waltham, taught by her parents, former world number ones Keith and Judy Clifton.[4] She competed nationally and internationally as a child, initially partnering her brother Kevin.[5] Later, she chose to specialise in ballroom so as not to directly compete against her brother.[6] She has competed in both ballroom and Latin since the age of 4. She has been a British Champion five times and Italian Champion three times, and was Professional Ballroom European Champion in 2012 and Professional World Dancesport Games Champion in 2013.[7]
In 2000, Clifton moved to Bologna, Italy, to train with Team Diablo, the biggest dance school in Europe. She was initially partnered with Marco Cavallaro, reaching sixth in the world in amateur rankings with him.[8] She moved to professional competition when she was chosen to partner Paolo Bosco in 2011.[9] In 2013, they were amongst ten other professional dancing couples to be invited to perform at the Kremlin.[10] She and her partner became champions of the World Dancesport Games in Taiwan in 2013[11] and won the World Professional Ballroom Showdance Championships in Merano, Italy, later that year.[12] Clifton danced with Bosco competitively until his retirement on 15 December 2013.[13] She retired from competitive dancing on 19 December 2013.
From April to May 2014, she joined her brother as a dancer in the Burn the Floor Dance Company, performing in the show's tour of Australia and Japan.
Strictly Come Dancing
In 2014, Clifton was confirmed as a professional dancer on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. She was partnered with the DJ Scott Mills.[14] They made it through to week six but were eliminated in the Halloween show.[15] On 6 November 2014, Clifton appeared on BBC Radio 1's Innuendo Bingo.[16] Clifton remained part of the professional line up for the following series but was not given a partner for the main show. She did, however, compete in the Children in Need special with the actor Stephen McGann and went on to win the Christmas Special with the series 9 winner Harry Judd. Clifton returned full-time to the main show for the fourteenth series and was paired with the TV presenter Ore Oduba. On 17 December, they were crowned the winners, giving her first win of the main series.
It was announced on 21 June 2017 that Clifton was to leave Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer after three years, due to wanting to progress in her musical theatre career.[17]
| Series | Partner | Place | Average Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Scott Mills | 11th | 18.2 |
| 14 | Ore Oduba | 1st | 35.7 |
Performances
Series 12 with Scott Mills
| Week # | Dance/song | Judges' scores | Total | Result | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horwood | Bussell | Osmond | Goodman | Tonioli | ||||
| 1 | Cha-Cha-Cha / "Rock DJ" | 2 | 4 | – | 5 | 5 | 16 | None |
| 2 | Tango / "Stop" | 4 | 5 | – | 6 | 5 | 20 | Safe |
| 3 | Samba / "Under the Sea" | 2 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 25 | Safe |
| 4 | American Smooth / "Total Eclipse of the Heart" | 2 | 5 | – | 4 | 4 | 15 | Safe |
| 5 | Charleston / "Flash, Bang Wallop" | 4 | 5 | – | 5 | 5 | 19 | Safe |
| 6 | Foxtrot / "The Addams Family Theme" | 3 | 6 | – | 6 | 6 | 21 | Eliminated |
| Week # | Dance/song | Judges' scores | Total | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horwood | Bussell | Goodman | Tonioli | ||||
| 1 | Tango / "Geronimo" | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 27 | None |
| 2 | Cha-Cha-Cha / "Hot Stuff" | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 27 | Safe |
| 3 | American Smooth / "Singin' in the Rain" | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 35 | Safe |
| 4 | Jive / "Runaway Baby" | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 39 | Safe |
| 5 | Waltz / "I Will Always Love You" | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 36 | Safe |
| 6 | Charleston / "I Want Candy" | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 33 | Safe |
| 7 | Salsa / "Turn the Beat Around" | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 34 | Bottom two |
| 8 | Rumba / "Ordinary People" | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 35 | Safe |
| 9 | Viennese Waltz / "That's Life" | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 38 | Safe |
| 10 | Paso Doble / "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" Cha-cha-cha Challenge / "I Like It Like That" |
8 awarded |
9 4 |
9 extra |
10 points |
36 40 |
Safe |
| 11 | Foxtrot / "Pure Imagination" | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 36 | Bottom two |
| 12 | Quickstep / "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" Argentine tango / "Can't Get You Out of My Head" |
8 9 |
10 10 |
10 10 |
10 10 |
38 39 |
Safe |
| 13 | American Smooth / "Singin' in the Rain" Showdance / "I Got Rhythm" Jive / "Runaway Baby" |
9 9 10 |
10 10 10 |
10 10 10 |
10 10 10 |
39 39 40 |
Winners |
Stage career
In 2015, Clifton appeared in her first musical, the production of Face the Music at Ye Olde Rose & Crown Theatre, playing Street Walker; she was nominated for a 2016 Offie.[18] In 2016, she appeared in Norma Jeane The Musical, playing the title character, Marilyn Monroe.
In 2017, Clifton played the title role of Millie Dillmount in the UK tour of Thoroughly Modern Millie. She also played the lead role of Alex Owens in the UK Tour of Flashdance the Musical.[19] Between December 2017 and January 2018, Clifton played the role of Dale Tremont in the musical Top Hat[20], her second nomination for an Offie.[18]
In 2019, she starred as the lead role of Janet Weiss in the UK tour of The Rocky Horror Show. In 2021, she starred as Morticia Addams in the second UK Tour of The Addams Family. In 2023, she toured with Shrek The Musical in the role of Princess Fiona. Clifton also starred as Velma von Tussle in the 2024 UK tour of Hairspray, and in the 2025–2026 UK tour of Fawlty Towers: The Play as Polly.
| Year | TItle | Role | Venue | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Face the Music | Street Walker | Ye Olde Rose & Crown Theatre | Offie nomination | |
| 2016 | Norma Jean the Musical | Marilyn Monroe | Lost Theatre | [21] | |
| 2017 | Thoroughly Modern Millie | Millie Dillmount | UK tour | [22] | |
| Flashdance the Musical | Alex Owens | UK tour | [23] | ||
| 2017–2018 | Top Hat | Dale Tremont | Highgate Theatre | Offie nomination | [24] |
| 2019 | The Rocky Horror Show | Janet Weiss | UK tour | ||
| 2021 | The Addams Family | Morticia Addams | UK tour | ||
| 2023 | Shrek the Musical | Princess Fiona | UK tour | [25] | |
| 2024 | Hairspray | Velma von Tussle | UK tour | [26] | |
| 2025–2026 | Fawlty Towers: The Play | Polly | UK tour | [27][28][29] |
Personal life
Clifton grew up in the small North East Lincolnshire village of Waltham with her older brother, Kevin Clifton, mother, Judy Clifton and father Keith Clifton. She attended East Ravendale Primary School and Caistor Grammar School.[30]
In 2017, Clifton appeared with her dance partner Ore Oduba in an episode of Celebrity Antiques Road Trip on BBC Two and rebroadcast in the US on PBS stations.[31][32]
Since 2020, Clifton has been in a relationship with fellow stage actor AJ Jenks.[33][34] On 29 September 2025, Clifton and Jenks announced their engagement, writing, "Got bored..... so we're getting married. Cheers!".[29]
In July 2026, Clifton announced she was pregnant with her first child.[35][36]
References
- ↑ "Strictly Come Dancing: James Jordan and Artem Chigvintsev quit show as Kevin Clifton's sister Joanne joins up". Mirror. 1 June 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
- ↑ "Dancesportinfo". Retrieved 4 November 2014.
- ↑ "Local Dancers set Strictly Come Dancing Return". Grimsby Telegraph. 1 June 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
- ↑ "Cliftons Dance Academy". Archived from the original on 29 July 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
- ↑ "Stage Star to put on Show in Grimsby". Grimsby Telegraph. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
- ↑ "Strictly Come Dancing's Karen Hauer and Kevin Clifton: 'If you get that one shot, you must hang on to it'". The Telegraph. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
- ↑ "Burn The Floor". Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
- ↑ "It's a waltz for Joanne Clifton as she takes European Professional Ballroom Championship crown". Grimsby Telegraph. 25 October 2012. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
- ↑ "Local dancer chosen to be world ballroom champion's partner". Grimsby Telegraph. 28 October 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "Dancer Joanne Clifton performs in Grimsby". Grimsby Telegraph. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "United Agents". Retrieved 28 June 2014.
- ↑ "Parents' pride as Kevin Clifton reaches Strictly Come Dancing final with Susanna Reid". Grimsby Evening Telegraph. 17 December 2013. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
- ↑ "World Dance Sport Federation". Retrieved 26 June 2014.
- ↑ "The Mirror". Retrieved 8 September 2014.
- ↑ "The Mirror". Retrieved 4 November 2014.
- ↑ "Strictly Come Bingo: Scott & Joanne". BBC Radio 1. 6 November 2014 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "Strictly Come Dancing: Joanne Clifton quits and new dancers revealed". BBC. 21 June 2017.
- 1 2 Powell, Ken (9 February 2022). "Joanne Clifton to Star in the Addams Family". northernartsreview.co.uk. Northern Arts Review. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- ↑ "Joanne Clifton and Ben Adams to Star in UK Tour of FLASHDANCE THE MUSICAL". Broadway World. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
- ↑ "Full Casting Announced for TOP HAT at Upstairs at the Gatehouse". 10 November 2017.
- ↑ Simmonds, Samantha (3 June 2016). "Norma Jeane The Musical, LOST Theatre – Review". Everything Theatre. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
- ↑ "Review: Thoroughly Modern Millie (UK tour)". 27 January 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
- ↑ "Joanne Clifton to star in UK tour of Flashdance this summer". 22 June 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
- ↑ "Strictly Come Dancing winner Joanne Clifton joins cast of Top Hat". Camden New Journal. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
- ↑ "Joanne Clifton". Shrek The Musical. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
- ↑ "Joanne Clifton (from 9 Sep)". Hairspray the Musical UK tour. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
- ↑ "Fawlty Towers The Play". fawltytowerstour.co.uk. Fawlty Towers. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- ↑ "Fawlty Towers: The Play | CAST". fawltytowerstour.co.uk. Fawlty Towers. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- 1 2 Corken, Hannah; Cronin, Rachel (29 September 2025). "Strictly professional Joanne Clifton's huge personal news thrills fellow dancers". uk.news.yahoo.com. Yahoo! News / Daily Record. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- ↑ "Dancing her way to the top of the world!". Grimsby Telegraph. 26 September 2008. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "Celebrity Antiques Road Trip Episode 4 Celebrity Antiques Road Trip Series 7 Episode 4". bbc.co.uk. BBC Two. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- ↑ "Celebrity Antiques Road Trip". pbs.org. PBS. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- ↑ Stevens, Gavin (10 June 2024). "Joanne Clifton honoured as Patron of IDTA at Musical Theatre Awards". International Dance Teachers' Association. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
- ↑ Fleet, Holly (29 August 2020). "Strictly star Joanne Clifton breaks silence on new romance". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
- ↑ Morris, Sasha (21 July 2026). "Strictly icon announces she's pregnant with first child as stars all say same thing". express.co.uk-news. Daily Express. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
- ↑ Rigney, Catriona (21 July 2026). "Strictly's Joanne Clifton, 42, pregnant with her first child and reveals due date". ok.co.uk. OK!. Retrieved 27 July 2026.