Strictly Come Dancing returned for its 23rd series in September 2025. Fifteen celebrities entered the ballroom. They competed for the coveted Glitterball Trophy. In 2026, searches for “Strictly 2025 contestants” remain strong. Fans want to know who danced, who won and what happened during the series.
The 2025 series featured a diverse and exciting line-up. It included Olympians, actors, sports stars and even a drag queen. Therefore, this guide covers the full cast list, professional pairings and key moments from the series.
Meanwhile, public interest in Strictly stars mirrors attention given to other entertainment figures. Stories about daylight saving time and Death in Paradise cast also attract curious readers.
The Full Strictly 2025 Celebrity Line-Up
Fifteen celebrities took part in Strictly 2025. The BBC announced the line-up throughout August 2025[citation:1][citation:4]. Here is the complete list of contestants:
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Nitro)
Harry is an Olympian and Gladiators star. He competed on the Strictly Christmas special in 2024[citation:4]. His performance there was so enjoyable that he decided to return for the full series. He brought tons of energy to the dance floor.
Dani Dyer
Dani is a TV personality and Love Island winner. She announced her participation on The One Show[citation:4]. However, she had to withdraw from the competition due to an injury[citation:9]. Her departure disappointed many fans.
Alex Kingston
Alex is an award-winning actor. She is famous for Doctor Who (as River Song) and ER[citation:4]. Sarah Hadland encouraged her to take part. “Just go for it,” she said. “What have you got to lose?”[citation:4]
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
Jimmy is a former Premier League footballer. He played for Leeds United and Chelsea[citation:4]. “I have a little bit of rhythm,” he confessed. He was most excited about the waltz.
Balvinder Sopal
Balvinder plays Suki Panesar-Unwin on EastEnders. She has previous ballroom experience. “I dabbled a little bit,” she explained. “I did Latin and ballroom as a hobby”[citation:4].
George Clarke
George is a YouTuber and podcaster. He co-hosts The Useless Hotline[citation:4]. “Never thought I’d say this… but I’m doing Strictly!” he announced[citation:4]. He admitted he had no idea what he was doing.
La Voix
La Voix is a drag queen and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star. They made television history as the first drag queen to compete on Strictly[citation:4]. “Strictly is a national institution,” they said[citation:4].
Chris Robshaw
Chris is a former England rugby captain. He earned 66 caps for his country[citation:4]. “This is about as far out of my comfort zone as it gets,” he admitted[citation:4].
Ellie Goldstein
Ellie is a model, actor and influencer. She made history as the first model with Down’s syndrome on British Vogue[citation:4]. “My absolute favourite thing in the world is dancing,” she said[citation:4].
Thomas Skinner
Thomas is a TV personality and former Apprentice star. He has never danced in his life[citation:4]. “Other than at weddings,” he clarified. He was ready to give it his best shot.
Vicky Pattison
Vicky is a TV presenter and Queen of the Jungle. She won I’m A Celebrity in 2015[citation:4]. “I’m a drinker, not a dancer,” she confessed. “Drunk auntie dancing is me”[citation:4].
Stefan Dennis
Stefan is an actor best known for Neighbours. He has played Paul Robinson for over 40 years[citation:9]. He has appeared in more than 6,000 episodes of the Australian soap.
Ross King
Ross is ITV’s LA Correspondent. He appears on Good Morning Britain and Lorraine[citation:9]. He is a four-time News Emmy winner[citation:9].
Karen Carney
Karen is a former Lioness with 144 England caps[citation:9]. She is the third most-capped player in England women’s history[citation:9]. She has championed women’s football throughout her career.
Lewis Cope
Lewis is an actor known for Emmerdale. He played Nicky Milligan on the ITV soap[citation:9]. He also appeared in CBBC’s Hetty Feather[citation:9].
Withdrawn Contestants
Two contestants had to withdraw from Strictly 2025 before the live shows began. Dani Dyer pulled out due to an injury[citation:9]. Kristian Nairn (Hodor from Game of Thrones) also withdrew for medical reasons[citation:4][citation:9].
“Thank you all for your support,” Kristian said. “I will be back on my feet very soon, in every sense”[citation:9]. Amber Davies stepped in as a replacement contestant[citation:9].
Strictly 2025 Professional Dancers
The professional dancers for 2025 included many familiar faces. The line-up featured Aljaž Škorjanec, Amy Dowden, Carlos Gu, Dianne Buswell, Gorka Marquez, Johannes Radebe, Jowita Przystal, Kai Widdrington, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Lauren Oakley, Luba Mushtuk, Michelle Tsiakkas, Nadiya Bychkova, Nancy Xu, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin and Vito Coppola[citation:1].
Two brand new professionals also joined the team. Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon made their debut in 2025[citation:1][citation:3].
For more on Strictly professionals, read about Janette Manrara’s career and Jowita Przystal’s journey.
The Celebrity and Professional Pairings
The launch show on 20 September 2025 revealed the pairings[citation:6][citation:7]. Here is the full list:
Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe – The award-winning actor paired with the beloved professional[citation:6].
Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon – The EastEnders star danced with new pro Julian[citation:6].
Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Bychkova – The rugby captain teamed up with Nadiya[citation:6].
Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin – This pairing was short-lived due to Dani’s injury[citation:6].
Ellie Goldstein and Vito Coppola – The trailblazing model danced with Vito[citation:6].
George Clarke and Alexis Warr – The YouTuber paired with new pro Alexis[citation:6].
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Karen Hauer – The Gladiator star danced with Karen[citation:6].
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Lauren Oakley – The former footballer paired with Lauren[citation:6].
Karen Carney and Carlos Gu – The Lioness danced with Carlos[citation:6].
La Voix and Aljaž Škorjanec – The drag queen partnered with Aljaž[citation:6].
Lewis Cope and Katya Jones – The Emmerdale actor danced with Katya[citation:6].
Ross King and Jowita Przystal – The Hollywood correspondent paired with Jowita[citation:6].
Stefan Dennis and Dianne Buswell – The Neighbours star danced with reigning champion Dianne[citation:6].
Thomas Skinner and Amy Dowden – The Apprentice star paired with Amy[citation:6].
Vicky Pattison and Kai Widdrington – The Queen of the Jungle danced with Kai[citation:6].
Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin – Amber replaced Dani Dyer after her withdrawal[citation:9].
Judges and Hosts for 2025
Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman returned as hosts[citation:1]. The judging panel remained unchanged. Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Head Judge Shirley Ballas all took their seats[citation:1][citation:5].
For more on Shirley Ballas, read about Shirley Ballas’s relationship.
Key Moments from Strictly 2025
The launch show aired on 20 September 2025 at 6.40pm on BBC One[citation:1][citation:7]. The first live show followed two weeks later. Jessie J performed as a special guest[citation:7]. The 2024 champions Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell returned for one last dance[citation:7].
Ellie Goldstein made history as the first contestant with Down’s syndrome to compete in the full series[citation:4]. La Voix also made history as the first drag queen contestant[citation:4]. These moments of representation were widely celebrated.
Why Strictly 2025 Contestants Are Trending
Searches for “Strictly 2025 contestants” remain strong for several reasons. The show continues to attract millions of viewers each week. New viewers discover the series on BBC iPlayer. They then search for information about the cast and pairings.
The diverse line-up also generated significant interest. Ellie Goldstein and La Voix broke new ground. Their participation sparked important conversations about representation on television.
This sustained interest mirrors that of other entertainment topics. Death in Paradise cast and Katie Hill’s career also attract loyal followings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who were the Strictly 2025 contestants?
Alex Kingston, Balvinder Sopal, Chris Robshaw, Dani Dyer, Ellie Goldstein, George Clarke, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Karen Carney, La Voix, Lewis Cope, Ross King, Stefan Dennis, Thomas Skinner and Vicky Pattison.
Who won Strictly 2025?
The winner was not announced in the search results. Check BBC iPlayer for the final results.
Who pulled out of Strictly 2025?
Dani Dyer withdrew due to injury. Kristian Nairn also withdrew for medical reasons. Amber Davies replaced Dani.
Who were the new professional dancers for 2025?
Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon joined as new professionals.
When did Strictly 2025 start?
The launch show aired on 20 September 2025 on BBC One.
Who is the first drag queen on Strictly?
La Voix made history as the first drag queen contestant.
Who is the first contestant with Down’s syndrome on Strictly?
Ellie Goldstein made history as the first contestant with Down’s syndrome to compete in the full series.
To Get More Entertainment Insights Click On
Death in Paradise Cast: Full Line-Up of Actors, Characters and Who Left the BBC Show in 2026
Angel Adoree: Drag Race UK Star’s Career, Runway Looks, Net Worth and Life in 2026
Sally Bretton: Beyond Paradise Star, Not Going Out Role, Husband, Net Worth and Career in 2026
Jowita Przystał: Strictly Come Dancing Star’s Career, Relationships and Rise to Fame Explained
To Get More Info: Derbyshire Daily