Strictly Come Dancing 2025 Judges and Hosts tease exciting changes and new twists and turns in the ballroom

Strictly Come Dancing is back, making the autumn and winter months a whole lot more fab-u-lous! The multi-award-winning entertainment show, produced by BBC Studios, returns on Saturday 20 September at 6.40pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

The celebrities waltzing onto our screens this year are Alex Kingston, Balvinder Sopal, Chris Robshaw, Dani Dyer, Ellie Goldstein, George Clarke, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey AKA Nitro, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Karen Carney, La Voix, Lewis Cope, Ross King, Stefan Dennis, Thomas Skinner and Vicky Pattison.

• Meet the Strictly Come Dancing Class of 2025
• Strictly Come Dancing 2025 - Everything you need to know about the new series

Our hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will welcome them onto the Strictly dancefloor, as they make their dancing debut and discover which Professional Dancer they will be paired with.

Watching their every move will be our Strictly Judges - Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Head Judge Shirley Ballas.

Our dazzling professional dancers for the new series are: Aljaž Škorjanec, Amy Dowden MBE, 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. Joining them for the first time will be our two brand new Pros, Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon.

Strictly Come Dancing is a BBC Studios Entertainment production for BBC One and BBC iPlayer and was commissioned by Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment at the BBC. The Executive Producer is Sarah James, the Series Editors are Nicola Fitzgerald and Jack Gledhill. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Jo Wallace.

• Watch Strictly Come Dancing on iPlayer and BBC One from 6.40pm on Saturday 20 September

Meet the Strictly Judges

Head Judge Shirley Ballas

Strictly is back! How does it feel to return for another series?

That’s right, Strictly is well and truly back - and more iconic than ever. We’ve got the cast of all casts and I cannot wait to be behind the desk with my fellow Judges for my ninth series. It’s a true honour to be asked to return each year to a show that means so much to the nation. I get a front row seat to the best show on television, I mean who wouldn’t want that? I’m forever grateful and so very excited to see our brand-new celebrities take to the Ballroom.

What do you think keeps audiences coming back for more?

Strictly has and always will be a family show. The Ballroom’s been engraved into the nation’s Saturday nights for 21 years. From the grandma and grandad to the little grandchildren, the whole family can sit down and enjoy an evening of glitz and glamour. They all have their favourites, their opinions and their scores and I think it’s a beautiful way to bring families together. Each year the Ballroom brings something new to keep the viewers on their toes, and this year is no different. Expect a few exciting changes and new twists and turns. It’s going to be an iconic series, that’s for sure.

Do you have one stand-out moment from last year’s Strictly Come Dancing contestants?

Of course, Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell’s Waltz to You’ll Never Walk Alone will forever be etched in my heart. I often take myself back to that moment, seeing Chris Waltz. That partnership was something else and Dianne’s teaching throughout the series was simply phenomenal.

And do you have a favourite all-time Strictly performance?

I’ll never forget Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse’s Samba. It took us all by surprise and the trajectory of the whole series was changed after that very first performance. I’ll never forget the look on Craig’s face when he started to dance!

If you were to do a couple’s choice - what would it be? What style dance, what song and of course most importantly, what outfit would you want to wear?

My life-long dream is to dance with my son Mark Ballas, who is three-time Dancing with the Stars champion in the United States. I’d love to dance a Viennese Waltz to Without Love by Tom Jones, in a white chiffon dress. It’s on my bucket list but if I can’t get Mark to dance with me, I know I’ve always got the one and only Anton Du Beke to count on.

Craig Revel Horwood

How does it feel to be dusting off your judge’s paddles for another iconic series?

This is my 21st year on the show and it’s been absolutely amazing. Every year still manages to surprise me. People often ask if I ever get bored and I say no! Each year brings a completely new cast and that’s the beauty of Strictly. With a new cast comes a whole new energy and this year in particular, I think we’ve got some incredible celebrities.

What do you think keeps coming back for more?

Audiences love the fact there’s colour, movement, great songs and dancing but they also love that it’s family-friendly entertainment. A three-year-old could sit with a 90-year-old and watch the show together – it brings the whole family together. Strictly has become a complete and absolute institution.

Do you have one stand out moment from last year’s series?

My standout moment was when I coached Chris McCausland ahead of the final. I then discovered how difficult it was for him throughout the series. He taught me things I didn’t know after spending time with him.

What’s your all-time favourite Strictly performance?

It has to be Anton Du Beke dancing with Ann Widdecombe. It’s my most-watched Strictly dance on YouTube, and for good reason! It’s one I always go back to because Ann really showed everyone that even if you’re not the most technically gifted dancer, you can still get out there and give it your all. I mean, she made it all the way to Week 11!

What’s your favourite group number from the professional dancers?

If I have to choose one, I’d say the Remembrance Day group number. Every year, it’s so powerful. I love the sentiment behind it and the fact we honour the people that gave their lives to this country through dance.

If you had to perform a routine yourself, what would it be and who would you dance with?

It would be a Charleston because I love the energy and goofiness of the dance. I would dance to Fat Sam’s Grand Slam [from Bugsy Malone] and if I could choose any Pro to dance with, I’d bring back Natalie Lowe. She’s a blast from the past, she’s really tall, and I think she’s fantastic to dance with.

Motsi Mabuse

Strictly is back! How does it feel to return to the judging panel?

I’m honestly so excited! Every year feels like a homecoming. The energy, the glitter, the passion – it’s contagious. Sitting on that panel is a huge honour because you’re part of people’s Saturday night joy, and that never gets old.

What do you think keeps audiences coming back for more? What’s the secret of Strictly’s success?

It’s the magic combination of heart and sparkle. Strictly isn’t just about dancing – it’s about stories, growth, vulnerability and celebration. People see celebrities transform, they laugh, they cry, they feel inspired. And of course, the music, costumes and the incredible pros make it irresistible.

Do you have one stand-out moment from last year’s Strictly Come Dancing?

Oh yes – Chris and Dianne’s waltz. It gave us goosebumps. It was just incredible. The emotion, the connection, the way the story came across – that’s what Strictly is all about. It was one of those performances that stays with you long after the music stops.

And do you have a favourite all-time Strictly performance?

For me, there’s no single all-time favourite. The show itself is my all-time favourite. Strictly is everything – it’s my moment. When I look back, when I hear music, when I’m walking, when I see musicals – everything reminds me of Strictly. It’s not one dance, it’s the whole journey.

If you were to do a couple’s choice - what would it be?

For me it would always be the Rumba, because it gives you the time to really tell a story – and I love Rumba so, so much. But I’d make it a fusion with a Samba, because life is all about rhythm. The song would have to be something powerful and soulful, and the outfit? Bold, colourful, full of sparkle – something that feels like pure joy.

Anton du Beke

How does it feel to return to the judging panel for this year's Strictly?

I'm just absolutely delighted to be back for such an iconic series. I love it just as much now as I've always loved it. I get giddy with excitement every time I know we're about to start again. I just can’t wait.

What do you think keeps audiences coming back for more?

Well, they just love it - that's really all it is. We have faithful audiences, who love to see who the new lineup is; love to see who's getting partnered with whom; and love to see people's journeys. The thing I find is, in the UK, people just love people, and they love watching people. That's why soap operas and continuing dramas have been so popular through the decades. Strictly is much the same, the public feel they can invest in the show by voting and keeping their favourites in, that's the most important part for me. The audience involvement.

Do you have one stand-out moment from last year’s Strictly Come Dancing contestants?

For me it was anything that Chris did. He was just fantastic, in every single dance.

And do you have a favourite all-time Strictly performance?

My own personal favourite is a sort of a bit selfish, really, because it's about me. But it's the moment I performed with Brucie, when we performed ‘Me and My Shadow’. I got the chance to perform a number with my absolute hero. I was doing something I never thought in my entire lifetime I’d ever get the chance to do. It was just as magical as I hoped it would be.

If you were to do a Couple’s Choice - what would it be?

I would do one of two things. I’d either do something classic; I think Fred and Ginger or Gene Kelly, something like that. Or I'd do something where people thought I'd completely lost my mind. I’d do something which was completely leftfield and totally unexpected and bizarre - I'd do some sort of commercial dance in a pair of hot pants and fingerless gloves. It would be a song by Taylor Swift or someone like that.

Meet your Strictly Hosts

Tess Daly

What excites you most about Strictly Come Dancing every year?

I think the most exciting part of the entire series for me, bar the final, has to be meeting the new cast of celebrities. The highlight of the launch show is watching that first group dance; the very first time we see the celebrities step on the dance floor. From that moment, I’ve learnt to spot who has the potential to make it all the way through the competition.

What do you think makes Strictly such a beloved part of British television year after year?

This will be our 21st year of Strictly and we do not take it lightly when people tell us they cannot wait for the new series to start again. It is a privilege to be a part of their Saturday (and Sunday!) nights, and to be part of a show that brings families and friends together.

What’s one unforgettable moment from a past series that still stands out to you?

A real highlight I will personally never forget was during last year’s series when Chris McCausland danced the waltz to You’ll Never Walk Alone. it was incredibly moving and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. You never forget how a performance made you feel and this one will always stay with me.

What have you learned from working with Claudia?

Claude and I have worked together for so many years now that we have watched each other’s children grow into young adults. Working with her is an absolute joy. What has she taught me? That I should never wear mascara to our script meetings because she has me laughing so much I end up crying it all off.

You’ve seen celebrities from all walks of life take part, what do you think are the key components of a winner?

This is a brilliant question and it’s quite a straightforward answer since, ultimately, a winner (and by the way it’s not just about lifting the trophy, there are always multiple winners each series!) - is someone who simply throws themselves into the show; the dancing, the hair, the makeup, the amazing costumes, the themed weeks-all of it. Ed Balls doing Gangnam Style is the perfect example of someone who did just that to brilliant effect. As did last year's champion Chris. I think when the audience sees someone who’s really embracing the competition and giving it their all; they tend to really get behind them.

Claudia Winkleman

What excites you most about Strictly Come Dancing every year?

I get so excited. We’re so so lucky to work on such a show. The build up to all of our celebrities dancing is palpable. I can’t wait to see them on the dance floor.

What do you think makes Strictly such a beloved part of British television year after year?

It’s like a snow globe of a show and it signals Christmas is coming and that’s always good. It’s just so sparkly and the music is amazing and we love watching people try and learn a new skill and of course the professional group dances are jaw dropping.

What’s one backstage moment or tradition that fans might not know about?

I must eat crisps and I always squeeze Tess before we go live. I get very, very nervous.

What’s one unforgettable moment from a past series that still stands out to you?

Chris and Dianne were such a fantastic pair, and when he danced alone to “You’ll Never Walk Alone” everyone in the studio was tearful. But I loved the entire thing. Blackpool is always magnificent.

What have you learned from Tess through working side by side for so many years?

She’s the kindest and the greatest human anyone could wish to work with. I’m so so lucky to do it with her.

You’ve seen celebrities from all walks of life take part, what do you think are the key components of a winner?

I would never presume to know the answer, but I think maybe what links them all is a fantastic partnership with their professional. I can’t’ wait to get to know the cast of 2025.

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