Strictly Come Dancing 2025 full list of celebrities and pro partners confirmed

WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Strictly Come Dancing.

Strictly Come Dancing 2025 has begun and fans now know exactly who will be entertaining them throughout this year's run.

BBC fans have been waiting for Strictly to make its comeback following comedian Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell lifted the Glitter Ball Trophy last year.

Now a new bunch of 15 celebrities will try and impress not only viewers at home but the eagle-eyed judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and head judge Shirley Ballas.

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Saturday, September 20, saw the famous contestants meet their professional matches who will be guiding them through the competition and showing them the steps each week.

Here's a full rundown of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 celebrities and their professional partners.

Jimmy is a former professional footballer and football manager who is probably best remembered for his "prolific goal scoring career".

Speaking about joining the Strictly family, Jimmy shared: "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."

He has been matched with Birmingham-born dancer Lauren Oakley who has been with the show since 2022.

Ellie is a model, actress and influencer who made history two years ago when she became the first woman with Down syndrome to feature on the front cover of British Vogue.

It was earlier this year that she joined the cast of BBC's Malory Towers as Nancy Mahe.

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."

She will be dancing with Italian dancer Vito Coppola who won the show in 2023 with Coronation Street actress Ellie Leach.

Balvinder Sopal has worked in theatre, radio, film and television but soap fans will best recognise her as Suki Kaur Panesar - now Unwin - on EastEnders since 2019.

She will be matched with Australian-born newcomer Julian Caillon who has previously performed on America's Dancing With The Stars.

Balvinder commented: "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 Clarke has been paired up with fellow newcomer Alexis Warr who won So You Think You Can Dance three years ago.

George, also known as George Clarkey, is a YouTuber, podcaster and social media influencer.

He joked: "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."

Former England rugby union player and captain Chris Robshaw says that he is out of his "comfort zone" with Strictly and hopes to take his "dad dancing to a whole new level".

He added: "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."

Chris will dance alongside Ukrainian professional Nadiya Bychkova who has been with Strictly since 2017.

Alex Kingston will be remembered for starring as River Song in the 2006 series of the fantasy sci-fi drama.

Some of her other most notable roles have been in Douglas Is Cancelled, A Discovery of Witches, The Widow and in iconic medical drama ER as Elizabeth Corday.

She is dancing with Strictly fan-favourite South African dancer Johannes Radebe who currently has a biopic film based on his life story and his memoir JoJo: Finally Home, in development.

Love Island winner and actor Danny Dyer's daughter Dani Dyer is gearing up to waltz around the ballroom with professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin.

She shared: "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."

Ukrainian dancer Nikita spent some time away from Strictly last year to star in Celebrity Big Brother and was announced as the runner-up.

Actor Stefan Dennis, who is best known for portraying Paul Robinson in Neighbours, says this is an "opportunity" for him to step out of his comfort zone.

He added: "Looking forward to the sparkle and reaching for the sky."

Stefan has been partnered up with last year's winner Dianne Buswell who recently announced that she was pregnant with former contestant and boyfriend Joe Sugg.

Vicky Pattison may have rose to fame on the reality show Geordie Shore but she has since become a household name.

Not only did she win season 15 of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here, she is now a presenter, author, podcaster and radio host.

She will be dancing with Kai Widdrington who has previously been matched with presenters AJ Odudu, Kaye Adams and broadcaster Angela Rippon.

Vicky said she was "absolutely buzzing" to be part of the Strictly world but is also "terrified".

Two years ago, Harry Atkines-Aryeetey was announced to be joining the cast of the Gladiators reboot as Nitro.

Prior to joining the BBC show, Harry was an Olympian, having won multiple gold medals for Team GB as a sprinter.

He is matched with Venezuelan dancer Karen Hauer who has been with the Strictly family for 13 years.

Ross King is a regular face on morning television, featuring on ITV's Good Morning Britain and on Lorraine as their Los Angeles correspondent.

He 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!'"

Ross has been partnered up with Polish dancer Jowita Przystal who has recently shared that she is now in a relationship with former Towie star Pete Wicks who she was matched with last year.

Karen is an ex-footballer who has played for Arsenal, Birmingham City, England and Chelsea.

She is now the leading female pundit for both men's and women's football across TNT and ITV.

She said: "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!

Karen will be spending her Strictly journey with Chinese dancer Carlos Gu who has been with the show for the past three years.

Actor Lewis Cope joined the world of ITV's Emmerdale in 2022 as Nicky Miligan but has been acting since he was a child, starring in the West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical.

He will be dancing with Strictly veteran Katya Jones who famously performed the Gangnam Style routine with former politician Ed Balls.

Thomas will be best recognised for starring in the business reality show The Apprentice in 2019 but was fired in week nine.

He has since featured on various shows including 8 Out of 10 Cats, Michael McIntyre's Big Show and Celebrity Masterchef and often posts motivational videos.

Thomas will be dancing with Welsh star Amy Dowden who had to pull out from the competition early last year because of a stress fracture in her foot.

She wasn't able to perform the previous year either as she was diagnosed with grade three breast cancer but thankfully, she is now in remission.

La Voix is a drag performer, presenter and singer who competed in the 2024 series of BBC's RuPaul's Drag Race UK.

She will be dancing with Slovenian dancer Aljaz Skorjanec who joined the show in 2013 and is married to former fellow Strictly star Janette Manrara who is also one of the spin-off It Takes Two hosts.

Strictly Come Dancing continues every Saturday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.