Over recent years, Autumn has become synonymous with cosying up on the sofa each weekend to watch all the glam, glitter, sequins and sparkle of BBC's Strictly Come Dancing.
This year sees the 21st year since the BBC first had the inspired idea to bring celebrities together with the Strictly professional ballroom dancers and let the great British public, guided by a panel of expert Strictly judges, decide on which couple would go the distance and ultimately lift the coveted glitter ball trophy. Since then we've seen celebs show off their moves on the dance floor and some have even gone on to appear in the Strictly Come Dancing tour.
If you're keen to make sure your favourite celebrity doesn't get voted off, make sure you know the different ways you can vote on Strictly each week and make your vote count.
When will Strictly Come Dancing 2025 start?
Strictly Come Dancing 2025 hasn't got an official launch date yet, but publicity around the show is beginning to ramp up, with the celebrity lineup being gradually revealed. If the 2025 series follows the usual pattern, then live shows usually begin a few weeks after launch, around mid-late September. The show will run until December when the winner of Strictly Come Dancing 2025 will be crowned.
Strictly Come Dancing celebrity contestants 2025
The following celebrities are confirmed to be taking part in Strictly 2025:
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey aka Nitro
Harry Aikines- Aryeetey is better known as Gladiator Nitro. He is also a former Team GB sprinter, winning Gold in the relay at the European Championships and Commonwealth Games. He has also competed at the Olympics. Harry took part in last year's Strictly Christmas special.
He said: "After the Christmas Special, it was so nice I just had to do it twice! I’m so excited to be part of the Strictly family this series and I’m ready to give it all I’ve got. I’ll be bringing tons of energy to light up the dance floor. Let’s hope I’m as quick picking up the routines as I am on the track."
Dani Dyer
Daughter of actor Danny Dyer, Dani is a TV personality and broadcaster, and mother of 3. She said: “Getting the opportunity to be on Strictly is the second most amazing thing I’ve done this year! I feel very very blessed and cannot wait to get my dancing shoes on." (The most amazing thing presumably having been getting married to West Ham footballer Jarrod Bowen.)
Alex Kingston
Alex is a multi-award winning actress and has appeared in many top-rated TV shows including ER in the US and Doctor Who, where she played River Song, the Doctor's wife. And who can forget her turn as Moll Flanders?!
All Alex had to say about joining Strictly was: "Aaaaagghhh!!!!!!” which probably sums up how most of us would be feeling!
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is a former professional footballer and football manager best known for his prolific goal-scoring career in the Premier League and across Europe.
A Dutch international, Jimmy played for clubs including Leeds United, Atlético Madrid and Chelsea and is now a regular pundit.
On joining Strictly, Jimmy said “Swapping the pitch for the ballroom is certainly not something I’ve done before but I’m looking forward to tackling a fun challenge! Bring on a new type of footwork, with hopefully no own goals.”
Balvinder Sopal
Balvinder is most well-known for playing the infamous Suki Kaur Panesar (now Unwin) on EastEnders since 2019.
She said: "Being on Strictly is a dream that I held on to, with no proof that it would ever happen. Working on EastEnders and being a part of Strictly Come Dancing is the stuff that dreams are made of. I’m far too excited to put into words how I feel but I’m incredibly excited at the prospect of dancing across the ballroom!”
George Clark
George Clark is a YouTube star and the 6th Strictly contestant to be announced. He said: "Never thought I’d say this… but I’m doing Strictly! Honestly, I’ve got no idea what I’m doing but I’m excited to get stuck in... and potentially fall over a fair bit."
La Voix
La Voix is a Drag Queen, performer and singer who competed in the 2024 series of Ru Paul's Drag Race. She was also a semi-finalist in Britain's Got Talent. La Voix, also known as Chris Dennis, said: "I've performed for royalty, RuPaul and Simon Cowell, but nothing fills me with more excitement (and quite a bit of terror) than the thought of dancing in front of millions on live Saturday night TV. Strictly is a national institution and I can't wait to get started. All that's left to say is: good luck to my partner! Here's hoping they can help me go from La Voix into La Danse."
Chris Robshaw
Former England Rugby captain Chris Robshaw is the eighth celebrity confirmed for Strictly 2025. Now retired, Chris is looking forward to embarrassing his family! “This is about as far out of my comfort zone as it gets! I’m hoping to take my dad dancing to a whole new level, and my mum can’t wait to drag me along to her Zumba class. Let’s see if a rugby sidestep works in the Cha Cha Cha.”
Ellie Goldstein
Ellie is a groundbreaking model and actor, who made history by becoming the first model with Down syndrome to appear on the cover of Vogue. She has also appeared in Glamour and Elle, and fronted advertising campaigns for Gucci and Adidas. She recently teamed with Mattel to launch the first Barbie with Down syndrome and is also appearing in CBBC's Malory Towers.
Ellie said: “I’m absolutely over the moon to be joining the cast and pros of Strictly Come Dancing this year. It’s a show I’ve loved watching for so long, and the chance to now be part of it feels like a dream. I know it’s going to be challenging, but I’m ready to do it with the glitter and glamour and make some magic on that dancefloor. Let the Strictly journey begin!”
Thomas Skinner
Apprentice and social media star Thomas Skinner - most well-known for his catchphrase 'Bosh!' is the tenth Strictly celebrity.
Talking about signing up for the show, Thomas said: “I’m beyond excited to be joining Strictly Come Dancing. I’ve tackled the boardroom and some big breakfasts in my time but stepping onto the dance floor under that glitter ball is next level stuff! I’ve never danced in my life (other than at weddings) but I’m ready to graft and of course have a laugh. Bring on the sequins, sambas and most importantly, the BOSH to the ballroom!”
Vicky Pattinson
Vicky Pattison is a TV presenter, author, podcast and radio host who won the nation’s heart after being crowned Queen of the Jungle on I'm A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2015. On joining Strictly 2025, Vicky said: "I’m absolutely buzzing to be part of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing lineup... but I'd be lying if I said I wasn’t terrified. I am a not a natural dancer! However, it’s such an amazing opportunity for me to step out of my comfort zone and to challenge myself in a completely new way and I just really hope I don't make too much of a fool of myself!"
Stefan Dennis
TV legend (and I don't use that word lightly), Stefan Dennis is the 12th Strictly celebrity, and I am very excited for this one. Now that Neighbours has finished (sob!), he's free to pursue other activities, having played Paul Robinson in the long-running Australian soap for 40 years.
Stefan said: “This is an opportunity for me to once again learn to step out of my comfort zone in the world of television. Looking forward to the sparkle and reaching for the sky.”
Ross King
Who remembers Ross from his Pebble Mill at One days? I do! He's now ITV’s Good Morning Britain and Lorraine's Los Angeles Correspondent. On joining Strictly, Ross said: “From the bright lights of Hollywood to the glittering ballroom - it’s a dream come true to be part of such an iconic show. I can’t wait to learn from the best, meet my fellow contestants, and, most importantly… try not to step on too many toes! Let’s give this the best that I can! As my mum always said: “You’ll never know till you give it a go!”
Karen Carney
Karen Carney is a former footballer who played for Chelsea, Arsenal, Birmingham City and England, and is now the lead female pundit for both men's and women's football, across TNT and ITV. She said: “It really is a dream come true to be a part of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing line up. I’m such a huge fan of the show and I can’t believe I’m finally getting the chance to take part. I’m so excited to meet everyone and get dancing!"
Kristian Nairn
Kristian is an actor and DJ. You might know him as Hodor from Game of Thrones, or as Wee John Feeny in Our Flag Means Death. Kristian said: “This will be a huge challenge for me physically, but I’m ready to rise to it! It’s a surreal and wonderful opportunity to shed one of my left feet!”
Strictly Come Dancing presenters and judges
Tess Daly will be back to host, as she has been every year since the first series of Strictly in 2004. She will be joined by co-host and partner in crime, Claudia Winkleman. The panel of judges will remain unchanged too, with the BBC confirming that Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke will all return.
Strictly Come Dancing professionals 2025
The pro-dancer line-up for 2025 is confirmed, with all the dancers from 2024 returning:
Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Aljaž Škorjanec, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas and Vito Coppola will all take to the Strictly dancefloor, and that's not all.
2 new professionals will also be joining the lineup; Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon. The BBC states:
American-born Alexis is best known for winning US dance series So You Think You Can Dance in 2022 and was crowned as ‘America’s Favourite Dancer’, becoming the first female Ballroom and Latin dancer to claim the title. She has performed as a guest Professional Dancer and in the dance troupe on the US version of Strictly, Dancing With The Stars, and has been part of the series' accompanying US tour for the past three years. Alexis has also danced on America's Got Talent, World of Dance, and on national tours across the States - including three with Dancing With The Stars judge Derek Hough, in addition to his Las Vegas residency.
Australian-born Julian has been dancing since the age of 10, specialising in Ballroom and Latin American, and going on to represent Australia on the international stage. He appeared as a Professional Dancer on three seasons of Australia’s Dancing With The Stars, has toured the globe with hit dance show Burn The Floor, and also competed on So You Think You Can Dance in Australia. Julian has a degree in Exercise Physiology from UNSW Sydney and, alongside his dance career, has worked as a Personal Trainer and Exercise Physiologist. Julian is a keen athlete, and 2025 has so far seen him complete two triathlons.
When is Strictly Come Dancing 2025?
Strictly Come Dancing will begin in September. You can watch it on BBC One or iPlayer. It will air every Saturday and Sunday until Christmas.
Who won Strictly Come Dancing in 2024?
Chris McCausland (Comedian and actor) and Dianne Buswell won Strictly 2024, capturing the nation's hearts with their sweet friendship and unique pairing. 47-year-old comedian and actor Chris McCausland was the first celebrity announced to be joining the Strictly Come Dancing line-up.
He is blind and has a genetic condition called retinitis pigmentosa, which caused him to gradually lose his sight. Dianne could only teach him by physically placing him into the required positions, and trusting his instincts.
Speaking to the BBC before Strictly began, Chris said: "If anybody out there is thinking - How the hell is he going to do that? - then rest assured that I am thinking exactly the same thing. I don't dance, I haven't danced, I can't dance, I can't see the dancing I will have to do. What can possibly go wrong? Ok don't answer that…!”
However, Chris' courage, determination and good nature, paired with Dianne's exceptional choreography skills, patience and resilience, led them to lift eh glitter ball - the first time Dianne has won it.
Previous Strictly Come Dancing winners include former EastEnders actress Ellie Leach, and the show's first--ever deaf contestant, Rose Ayling-Ellis; actor Joe McFadden; television presenter and journalist Stacey Dooley; Emmerdale star, farmer and model Kelvin Fletcher; actress Jill Halfpenny; singer and reality TV judge Alicia Dixon and comedian and musician Bill Bailey.
Strictly Come Dancing gifts
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Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Yours at Bauer Media. She's a bookworm who is passionate about TV, film and theatre. She enjoys cooking, scrapbooking, playing board games and spending time with her pet dogs, tortoise and chickens.