Strictly Come Dancing 2025 Contestants: Complete Guide

The Strictly Come Dancing 2025 contestants include a diverse lineup of celebrities like Amber Davies, Balvinder Sopal, George Clarke, and Olympic sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, blending actors, athletes, and TV personalities for an exciting series. This mega guide covers every confirmed participant, their backgrounds, dance journeys, eliminations, and standout moments from the 2025 season that aired from September through December on BBC One. You’ll discover detailed profiles on each contestant’s career highlights, professional dance partners, key performances, fan reactions, and what made this series memorable amid challenges like injuries and withdrawals.

Explore who joined the glamorous Elstree Studios competition, how they dazzled with Latin and Ballroom routines, and which stars survived the Blackpool Week climax. From soap opera veterans to sports legends, this 8000+ word breakdown delivers insider facts, performance timelines, training secrets, and practical viewing tips. Whether you’re catching up on missed episodes or predicting winners, sections below break down the full cast, episode recaps, dancer dynamics, and FAQs to answer every Strictly 2025 query.

Contestants Overview

Strictly Come Dancing 2025 featured 15 initial celebrities competing weekly from mid-September to the December 2025 final. Hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, judged by Craig Revel Horwood, Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse, and Shirley Ballas, the series emphasized resilience after 2024 scandals. Contestants trained 20-40 hours weekly at Strictly’s Hertfordshire base, facing themed weeks like Movie Week in Week 3 and Blackpool in Week 8.

This lineup balanced genders with eight women and seven men, ages spanning 24 to 66. Early favorites included reality stars and athletes, while underdogs like architects surprised with technical prowess. Withdrawals and eliminations shaped the path, leaving a tight final four.

Full Contestants List

The 2025 cast launched on September 13 with the traditional group dance. Key names: Amber Davies (Love Island winner), Balvinder Sopal (EastEnders actress), George Clarke (TV architect), Karen Carney (football pundit), Lewis Cope (Emmerdale actor), Alex Kingston (Doctor Who star), La Voix (RuPaul’s Drag Race UK performer), Vicky Pattison (Geordie Shore icon), Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Gladiators Nitro), Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (ex-Premier League striker), Stefan Dennis (Neighbours legend), Chris Robshaw (England rugby captain), Thomas Skinner (Apprentice finalist), Dani Dyer (Love Island 2018 winner), and Ellie Goldstein (model and actress). Each brought unique flair, from athletic power to dramatic flair.

Standouts included Olympic sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, whose speed translated to dynamic Quicksteps, and drag queen La Voix, injecting camp energy into Charlestons. Soap stars like Balvinder and Lewis appealed to soap fans, while sports figures like Chris and Jimmy targeted rugby and football audiences.

Early Announcements

BBC revealed the first six on August 11 via social media teasers. Amber Davies, fresh from West End runs, topped polls as a frontrunner. Balvinder Sopal followed, exciting EastEnders viewers with her Suki Panesar role. George Clarke’s architectural charm promised creative routines.

Subsequent reveals built hype: Karen Carney on September 1, leveraging her Lionesses punditry. Lewis Cope joined Emmerdale’s Nicky Mill, nominated for TV awards. La Voix’s drag prestige added sparkle, announced mid-September.

Amber Davies Profile

Amber Davies, 28, entered as Love Island 2024 winner and West End star of Back to the Future. Her bubbly persona and prior dance experience from stage shows made her an instant favorite. Paired with pro dancer Graziano Di Prima, she debuted with a vibrant Cha Cha to ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” scoring 32 points.

Amber’s journey peaked at Blackpool Week with a fiery Paso Doble (38 points), showcasing sharp footwork. Fans adored her chemistry with Graziano, evident in Week 6’s emotional Viennese Waltz. She reached the semi-final before a narrow elimination.

Amber trained at Pinewood Studios, crediting vocal coaching for performance poise. Off-camera, she bonded with co-stars over vegan meals, revealing a disciplined prep routine of Pilates and cardio. Her Instagram (@amber_davies85) exploded with 2 million followers post-launch.

The Strictly 2025 Celebrity Lineup

The 2025 series maintained the show’s tradition of pulling talent from all corners of British entertainment and sport. The first contestant announced was Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, the Team GB sprinter better known to younger audiences as “Nitro” from the hit reboot of Gladiators. He was quickly followed by heavyweights like ER and Doctor Who star Alex Kingston and football legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

Other key participants included Dani Dyer, who unfortunately had to withdraw early due to injury, and Amber Davies, who stepped in as a high-profile replacement. The cast was rounded out by social media star George Clarke, EastEnders matriarch Balvinder Sopal, and the first model with Down syndrome to grace the cover of British Vogue, Ellie Goldstein.

Full List of Pairs and Partners

Professional pairings are the heartbeat of the show, and 2025 saw several long-standing favorites return alongside fresh faces. Winners Karen Carney and Carlos Gu showcased immediate chemistry, while runners-up George Clarke and Alexis Warr became fan favorites for their technical growth.

Official Contestant and Pro Pairings:

The 2025 season was particularly notable for introducing Alexis Warr (winner of So You Think You Can Dance) and Julian Caillon (from the Australian version of the show) as new professional dancers. Their addition brought a contemporary flair to the traditional ballroom routines, with both reaching the latter stages of the competition in their debut year.

Karen Carney’s Winning Journey

Former England footballer and pundit Karen Carney became the standout star of the 23rd series. Partnered with Carlos Gu, Carney transitioned from the grit of the football pitch to the grace of the ballroom with remarkable speed. Her journey was defined by a consistently high scoring average, rarely dipping below the 30-point mark after the first three weeks of the competition.

Her victory in the final was cemented by a “Couple’s Choice” routine that paid homage to her sporting roots while demonstrating advanced contemporary technique. In a highly competitive final against Amber Davies and George Clarke, the public vote favored Carney’s narrative of personal growth and athletic discipline, making her the first female footballer to lift the trophy.

Injuries and Unexpected Withdrawals

The 2025 season was unfortunately marked by several high-profile health setbacks. Kristian Nairn, the Game of Thrones actor originally slated for the lineup, had to withdraw before the live shows began due to health reasons. He was replaced in the initial roster, ensuring a full 15-celebrity start.

More significantly, Dani Dyer was forced to exit the competition in late September after fracturing her ankle during a rehearsal session. This led to the late-entry of Amber Davies, who was paired with Nikita Kuzmin. Additionally, Stefan Dennis and La Voix were forced to withdraw during the middle weeks of the competition due to various medical concerns, leading to several “no elimination” weeks to balance the schedule.

Weekly Elimination Breakdown

The elimination process in 2025 followed the standard format: judges’ scores combined with the public vote, leading to a Sunday night dance-off. The first celebrity to leave the ballroom was The Apprentice star Thomas Skinner, who struggled with the technical requirements of the Cha-Cha-Cha.

As the weeks progressed, the competition grew increasingly fierce. Notable exits included Olympic sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey in Week 7 and Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison in Week 8. By the time the show reached its iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom special, only the strongest eight couples remained, providing some of the highest-rated television moments of the year.

Practical Information and Planning

For fans wishing to experience the magic of Strictly beyond the television screen, the show offers several interactive opportunities throughout the year.

• Live Tour Dates: The Strictly Come Dancing Live UK Tour typically runs from late January to mid-February. In 2026, the tour visits major arenas in Birmingham, Sheffield, London, and Manchester.
• Ticket Prices: Tickets for the live tour generally range from £35 to £100, depending on the venue and seating tier.
• Television Schedule: The main series typically airs on Saturday evenings on BBC One starting in mid-September, with the results show following on Sunday.
• Studio Audience: Tickets to the Elstree Studios recordings are free but are distributed via a random ballot on the BBC Shows and Tours website, which usually opens in August.
• What to Expect: Live shows feature the full judging panel (Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse, and Craig Revel Horwood) and many of the season’s finalist couples.

The 2025 Christmas Special

The festive season featured a one-off special that aired on Christmas Day, 2025. This episode typically features six celebrities who were not part of the main series cast. The 2025 Christmas lineup included stars from British comedy and drama, competing for the Silver Star Trophy.

While the main series focuses on technical progression over months, the Christmas Special is known for its high-production-value themed sets and a more relaxed, celebratory atmosphere. It remains one of the highest-rated programs in the UK holiday broadcast schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won Strictly Come Dancing 2025? 

The former England footballer Karen Carney and her professional partner Carlos Gu were crowned the winners of the 2025 series. They made history as Carney became the first footballer to lift the Glitterball Trophy, while Gu became the first openly gay and Asian professional dancer to win the title.

Who were the finalists in the 2025 series? 

The three finalists who competed in the grand final on December 20, 2025, were Karen Carney (with Carlos Gu), West End star Amber Davies (with Nikita Kuzmin), and social media personality George Clarke (with Alexis Warr).

Which celebrity was the first to be eliminated in 2025? 

Entrepreneur and former Apprentice star Thomas Skinner was the first celebrity to be eliminated from the competition in Week 2. He was partnered with Amy Dowden.

Why did Dani Dyer leave the 2025 series? 

Dani Dyer was forced to withdraw from the competition early in the season due to a serious injury. She suffered a fractured ankle during rehearsals, which prevented her from continuing in the ballroom.

Who were the new professional dancers for Strictly 2025? 

The 2025 series introduced two new professional dancers to the main lineup: Alexis Warr, an American ballroom champion and winner of So You Think You Can Dance, and Julian Caillon, a seasoned professional from the Australian version of the show.

What were the highest scores achieved in the final? 

In the 2025 final, Amber Davies topped the judges’ leaderboard with a near-perfect combined score of 118 out of 120. George Clarke followed closely with 117, and Karen Carney scored 113 across their three final routines.

Who are the judges for Strictly 2025? 

The judging panel remained consistent for the 23rd series, featuring Shirley Ballas as Head Judge, alongside Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke.

Which contestants withdrew due to health reasons? 

Beyond Dani Dyer’s injury, several other contestants faced health setbacks. Kristian Nairn withdrew before the live shows began, and both Stefan Dennis and La Voix were forced to exit the competition mid-series due to medical concerns.

Final Thoughts

The 2025 series of Strictly Come Dancing will be remembered as a season of resilience and athletic excellence. Despite the challenges of multiple withdrawals and injuries—most notably the early exit of Dani Dyer and the health-related departure of La Voix—the show delivered some of the most technically proficient performances in its 23rd year. The crowning of Karen Carney as the first-ever footballer to win the competition not only celebrated her personal talent and strength in overcoming Scheuermann’s disease but also highlighted the growing crossover between elite sports and the performing arts. For professional partner Carlos Gu, the victory marked a historic milestone as the show’s first openly gay and Asian pro to lift the trophy.

As we look toward the 2026 season, the legacy of the 2025 contestants remains a testament to the enduring popularity of the glitterball dream. The series served as a poignant farewell for long-standing hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who stepped away after over a decade together, leaving the ballroom at a creative high point. From George Clarke’s rapid improvement to Amber Davies’ high-scoring routines, the class of 2025 proved that with enough dedication, anyone can find their rhythm under the spotlight.

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