The first 13 celebrities for the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 line-up have been confirmed.
The BBC reality competition series hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman is back for another year of jaw-dropping dance routines and emotional journeys for our cohort of famed contestants.
Strictly has had a difficult couple of years after pros Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima were removed from the show (and replaced) after behavioural accusations from former partners came out against them.
Earlier this month, the long-running series came under scrutiny once more with reports that two stars had used cocaine, and one veteran worker had been offered drugs at a party.
Meanwhile, beloved pro Gorka Marquez confirmed he would not be competing this year, much to everyone’s devastation, but would make a cameo in some of the group performances.
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Amid all changes, however, it remains one of the BBC’s flagship shows with a fresh set of faces ready to take to the dance floor. So who is in the official 2025 line-up?
Ross King
Lorraine’s very own US showbiz reporter Ross King was confirmed as the 13th contestant on the TV show.
The star revealed the news on Friday morning on Lorraine, revealing he flew into the UK this morning to announce the news.
On joining Strictly Come Dancing, Ross King says: ‘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!’
Stefan Dennis
Stefan Dennis, who’s best known for playing Paul Robinson on the popular soap Neighbours, will be swapping the Australian beach for the ballroom.
The actor, 66, was the twelfth celebrity to join the new series and the news was announced when he met his fellow dancer Vicky Pattison on the This Morning sofa.
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Stefan says he’s signed up for the series because he’s been looking for an opportunity to step out of his comfort zone in the world of television, adding he’s ‘looking forward to the sparkle and reaching for the sky.’
While Stefan’s best known for spending 40 years on Ramsay Street – appearing in 6,000 episodes of Neighbours – he’s also appeared on a number of UK TV shows including The Bill, Dream Team, River City and Casualty as well as starring in the West End musical Blood Brothers.
Vicky Pattison
Vicky Pattison is the eleventh celebrity contestant announced to appear on the show, as announced on This Morning on August 14.
The star is best known for appearing on Geordie Shore, but has made a name for herself since appearing on the show as a TV personality and presenter.
The star admitted on the morning TV show that she’s a ‘drinker not a dancer’, comparing herself to moves to a ‘drunk aunty’.
On joining Strictly Come Dancing, Vicky commented: ‘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 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!’
This won’t be the first competition series Vicky has appeared on after becoming Queen of the Jungle on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2015, plus appearing on Celebrity MasterChef and Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
Thomas Skinner
Thomas Skinner is the tenth celebrity contestant confirmed to be part of the show, as confirmed on Hits Radio with Sam Thompson.
The TV personality, social media star and businessman is best known for his appearances on The Apprentice.
The star said he was delighted to be joining the show: ‘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!’
Skinner is somewhat controversial after spending time with JD Vance earlier this week.
The star shared snaps with the vice president at a beer-fuelled BBQ on Monday, captioning one post: ‘Here is a pic of Me and Vice President @JDVance towards the end of the night after a few beers.
‘I’m overdressed in my suit, but when the VP invites you to a BBQ, you don’t risk turning up in shorts an flip-flops. Cracking night in the beautiful English countryside with JD, his friends and family. Once in a lifetime. Bosh’.
Ellie Goldstein
Trailblazing model Ellie Goldstein has been announced as the ninth contestant on Strictly Come Dancing this year.
She made history in 2023 as the first model with Down syndrome to grace the cover of British Vogue.
The news was announced on BBC Breakfast with Ellie saying: ‘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!’
Some fans may also recognise her from CBBC’s Mallory Towers where she plays a guest lead role.
After showing off her dancing skills in the studio the disabliity campaigner told the hosts she was ‘honoured and excited’.
She has already declared her dream partner would be Nikita Kuzmin, saying she ‘loves him so much’ and even quipped her plan is to ‘marry him’.
The star is coming with some experience under her belt, explaining that she has regular dance lessons.
Chris Robshaw
Former England rugby captain Chris Robshaw will join the Strictly Come Dancing cohort as the eighth celebrity.
The sporting icon became captain at 23 years old, earning 66 caps for England and captaining the national team 43 times. In 2016 he led the team to a Six Nations Grand Slam victory.
‘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,’ he said.
He confirmed her appearance on The Scott Mills Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2.
It’s not the first reality show he has competed on. He last appeared on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins but was forced to withdraw after an injury.
La Voix
Singer and 2024 RuPaul’s Drag Race UK finalist La Voix is the seventh contestant sliding onto the dance floor.
On joining Strictly Come Dancing, La Voix 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.’
She confirmed her appearance on The Scott Mills Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2.
In fact, the entertainer is a force to be reckoned with on the reality TV stage, previously appearing on Queens for the Night and Queen of the Universe.
Not only is she a Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist but she even has her own live show, La Voix meets, in which she interviews names like Dawn French and Joanna Lumley.
George Clarke
The sixth and latest contestant twirling onto the ballroom will be George Clarke.
George is known as George Clarkey online, where he is a YouTuber and social media star known to millions for his comedy content. He also co-hosts The Useless Hotline podcast.
On joining Strictly, 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.’
George confirmed the news in an appearance on BBC Radio 1’s Going Home Drivetime Show on Tuesday (August 12).
When he was revealed as the sixth star, George joked: ‘I feel like a lot of people will still be saying, who?’
So how did he keep this a secret when he has a podcast? ‘I was meant to be doing a marathon at the end of the month. Can’t really do that, because I’m dancing. So I’ve had to be like, “Oh God, I’m still training. I promise.”‘
Balvinder Sopal
Balvinder Sopal was confirmed as the latest celebrity to join Strictly Come Dancing on Tuesday morning during Good Morning Britain.
Richard Arnold was in Walford to confirm that an EastEnders legend was joining the ranks.
‘I can’t stop butterflies. Every time I think about it, they just go, so, yeah,’ the actress who plays Suki in the soap said.
‘I dabbled a little bit. I did ballroom and Latin as a kind of hobby, and I really love it. And I think when you’ve got a passion for something, you’re naturally kind of inclined to enjoy it. So I’ll definitely enjoy it.’
‘I don’t know if I’ll be any good!,’ she added, saying she loved the drama of Latin dancing.
‘It is about telling the story with your feet, with your body, and not speaking. So, you know, won’t have to learn any lines, which would be great, but it’ll be like learning a new language, I think!’ she said.
She confirmed she’d still be appearing on EastEnders during her stint, and wasn’t sure how she’d hack it – but was excited to find out.
She added that she thought her mother would be proud of her: ‘This is her dream. Actually, I think she would have been extremely proud. So, yeah, hold mom’s legacy.’
Dani Dyer
The latest additions to the Strictly line-up were confirmed on Monday’s instalment of The One Show, with the secret even kept from hosts Alex Jones and Roman Kemp.
The BBC show confirmed three new names who will battle it out for the glitterball trophy, with Dani Dyer the first to walk out into the studio.
How hard was it keeping this a secret? ‘So hard,’ Dani said on the show. ‘Especially when there was speculation and stuff, people kept coming up to me, and I’m such a bad liar. I’m going to have to send so many apologies.’
The 28-year-old reality star, and daughter of national treasure Danny Dyer, was rumoured to have signed a pre-show contract earlier this year.
When asked what her parents made of the news, Dyer said they’re ‘so excited’.
‘It’s just such a fun, magical show,’ she said, ‘and to be asked to do it was just such an honour. So, yeah, they’re just so excited for me.’
She did admit she’s nervous though. ‘I think it’s picking up the routines and being on live telly, it petrifies me. It’s just the whole thing of being able to perform.’ The training starts now!
Alex Kingston
Next up on The One Show was Alex Kingston, who tuned in from a holiday in Italy to confirm she had signed up for the Strictly ballroom.
The 62-year-old actor, who played River Song on Doctor Who (aka The Doctor’s wife) opposite three Doctors on screen, was one of the names rumoured to be involved ahead of the line-up announcements this week.
‘I was super excited, and now I actually am terrified,’ she told the programme.
Speaking about why she decided to take the plunge, Alex said it was 2024 contestant and fellow actor Sarah Hadland who convinced her.
‘In 2019 I did a play with Sarah Hadland and we both admitted that we desperately wanted to be in Strictly,’ she told hosts Alex Jones and Roman Kemp. ‘When I then saw Sarah performing last year, I just thought, she’s done it, and not only has she done it, she went all the way.
‘I reached out and just asked her what her experience of having been part of the show was, and she was really honest with me about how hard it is, how overwhelming it can be, but also how it absolutely changed her life, and she would do it again in a heartbeat.
‘It just gave me the chance to make the decision for myself as to whether I wanted to go for it. And I just thought, I’m in my 60s, just go for it.’
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was the third contestant to appear on The One Show, confirming he will be swapping the pitch for the ballroom.
Alex Jones in the BBC One studio was clearly in shock when he appeared, saying she didn’t think he would ever agree to it.
The ex pro footballer said his four daughters were part of the reason he decided to sign on up to the show.
The 53-year-old said from the red studio sofa: ‘A few years ago, I would say the same, but I’m a father of all girls, and Strictly is part of our home life. I’ve got into it. I like the show, and let’s have a go.
‘Honestly, I have no idea what to expect. I have a little bit of rhythm.’
Jimmy played for clubs including Leeds United, Atlético Madrid and Chelsea, carving out a prolific goal-scoring career in the Premier League and across Europe.
Since retiring, Jimmy has become a familiar face in football punditry as well as a football club manager of clubs including Burton Albion and Northampton Town. He also served as an assistant coach for the England national team.
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey
Olympian and star of BBC’s Gladiators, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, was the first famous face confirmed to grace the Strictly ballroom this autumn.
The TV personality already took part in last year’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special with pro-partner Nancy Xu and now he is back for round two.
‘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,’ he said in a statement.
The multi-gold-medal-winning Team GB sprinter was announced as Nitro in the high-stakes BBC gameshow in 2023.
He will no doubt be bringing all his skills to the dance floor.
If there is one thing Harry is used to, it’s being the best of the best, not only competing at the 2016 Rio Olympics but also securing the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award in 2005 aged 17.
Not to mention being a three-time European champion and two-time Commonwealth champion. So he’ll be a force to be reckoned with on the dancefloor.
Every celebrity rumoured for Strictly Come Dancing 2025
As we eagerly await the full line-up, there is still plenty of speculation over who will be joining the confirmed names this year.
There are a couple of celebrities who have come out at the top of the rumour mill – including Natalie Imbruglia, 50, and Delta Goodrem, 40, who are said to be in talks to join the show.
A source told The Sun: ‘Delta and Natalie would bring some glamour to the programme, and be some of this year’s most eagerly anticipated competitors.
‘If all three former Neighbours stars end up performing, the Strictly dance floor will end up looking more like Ramsay Street. But the next 24 hours of discussions between execs and the stars’ reps are critical.’
When is Strictly Come Dancing 2025 starting?
Strictly Come Dancing returns on September 20, 2025, a week later than its usual start date.
A version of this article was originally published on August 11.
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