Who Is on Strictly 2025: Confirmed Cast & Lineup

Strictly Come Dancing returns for its 23rd series, and the 2025 lineup has delivered the kind of mixed bag that keeps viewers tuning in week after week. From Olympic athletes to soap opera stars, the BBC confirmed a roster of 15-plus celebrities competing for the Glitterball trophy. With the series now concluded, Karen Carney and Carlos Gu emerged as champions on 20 December 2025 — but the journey there included sudden withdrawals, dramatic eliminations, and a few surprise breakthroughs worth tracking.

Series: 23 · Hosts: Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman · It Takes Two: Janette Manrara and Fleur East · Winner: Karen Carney & Carlos Gu

Who’s on Strictly Come Dancing 2025?

The BBC confirmed the full Strictly Come Dancing series 23 cast on 15 August 2025, with Harry Aikines-Aryeetey becoming the first contestant announced on 11 August 2025 via Newsround (Wikipedia). The lineup brought together a diverse mix of celebrities from television, sport, and entertainment.

Celebrity Contestants

• Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (aka Nitro) — Olympic sprinter and TV presenter, partnered with Karen Hauer
• Alex Kingston — Actress known for ER and Doctor Who, partnered with Johannes Radebe
• Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink — Former Premier League footballer, partnered with Lauren Oakley
• Balvinder Sopal — EastEnders actor, partnered with Julian Caillon
• George Clarke — Social media personality and podcaster, partnered with Alexis Warr
• La Voix — RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star, partnered with Aljaž Škorjanec
• Chris Robshaw — Former England rugby captain, partnered with Nadiya Bychkova
• Ellie Goldstein — Model and influencer, partnered with Vito Coppola
• Karen Carney — Former England footballer OBE, partnered with Carlos Gu
• Amber Davies — Actress, replacement entry for Dani Dyer, partnered with Nikita Kuzmin
• Dani Dyer — Actress (original contestant, withdrew after fracturing her ankle on 23 December 2025)
• Lewis Cope — Emmerdale actor, replacement for Kristian Nairn, partnered with Katya Jones
• Vicky Pattison — Geordie Shore star, partnered with Kai Widdrington
• Thomas Skinner — Actor, partnered with Amy Dowden
• Ross King — Actor, partnered with Jowita Przystał
• Stefan Dennis — Neighbours actor, withdrew on 20 October 2025
• Kristian Nairn — Game of Thrones actor, withdrew on 21 August 2025 before the series aired

Alex Kingston explained her motivation for joining, stating she was inspired to take part after seeing her friend Sarah Hadland finish as a runner-up on the 2024 series (The Independent).

What are the Pairings for Strictly 2025?

The pairings were revealed during the launch show on 20 September 2025, with two new professional dancers receiving celebrity partners for the first time (Wikipedia).

All Confirmed Pairings

Julian Caillon is an Australian ballroom dancer making his Strictly debut in 2025, while Alexis Warr joined the professional lineup after competing on Dancing with the Stars US (The Independent). Carlos Gu, a Chinese National Champion who joined Strictly in 2022, paired with eventual winner Karen Carney.

The implication: the partnership dynamics created an interesting blend of experience levels, with debut pros Caillon and Warr landing high-profile celebrity partners who reached the semi-finals and finals respectively.

Who are the Strictly Professionals 2025?

The professional dancer roster for series 23 included established names alongside two fresh faces joining the Strictly family.

Professional Dancers

• Dianne Buswell
• Nadiya Bychkova
• Amy Dowden
• Karen Hauer
• Katya Jones
• Neil Jones
• Nikita Kuzmin
• Gorka Márquez
• Aljaž Škorjanec
• Carlos Gu
• Johannes Radebe
• Jowita Przystał
• Kai Widdrington
• Vito Coppola
• Lauren Oakley
• Julian Caillon (debut)
• Alexis Warr (debut)

Notably, five professional dancers did not receive partners during the launch show: Neil Jones, Gorka Márquez, Luba Mushtuk, Michelle Tsiakkas, and Nancy Xu (Wikipedia). This marked a structural change from previous series, where all pros typically received celebrity partners.

Who is Still in Strictly 2025?

With the series concluded on 20 December 2025, the full elimination order is now established, with Karen Carney and Carlos Gu claiming the Glitterball trophy after an impressive run (Wikipedia).

Elimination Order

La Voix withdrew on 22 December 2025 and did not appear in the elimination order. The pattern of eliminations showed sports backgrounds correlating with early exits, while contestants with entertainment and acting experience advanced further into the competition.

Strictly 2025 Start Date?

Strictly Come Dancing series 23 officially launched on 20 December 2025, with the launch show revealing all pairings on BBC One (Wikipedia). The live competitive shows began the following week on 27 September 2025.

Launch Details and Presenters

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman returned as main hosts for what would become their final series, with their departure announced on 23 October 2025 (Wikipedia). Janette Manrara and Fleur East continued hosting the companion show It Takes Two.

The judging panel remained consistent with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, and Anton Du Beke presiding over the competition.

Series Timeline

Related reading: Cast of the Larkins · Cast of New Amsterdam

The confirmed Strictly 2025 cast sparks buzz, while Strictly 2025 line-up details delve into pro dancers, pairings, and early elimination forecasts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Alex Kingston (Contestant): “I was inspired to join the show after seeing my friend, Miranda actor Sarah Hadland, finish as a runner-up on the 2024 series.”

Janette Manrara (It Takes Two host): “Wow — what an incredible line-up of couples we have on the tour next year. Arena audiences around the country are in for a real treat.”

Karen Carney’s victory with Carlos Gu marked a breakthrough for the Chinese National Champion dancer, whose partnership with the former England footballer proved popular with viewers throughout the competition. For audiences, the 2026 series will signal a clear departure from the familiar Daly-Winkleman era, with the BBC yet to announce who will take over presenting duties.