The ballroom is officially open, the sequins are sparkling, and the dancefloor drama has already begun. The 23rd series of Strictly Come Dancing 2025 launched with a dazzling premiere, revealing the 15 celebrity-professional pairings set to compete for the coveted Glitterball Trophy. This year’s line-up promises a captivating mix of talent from the worlds of acting, sport, music, and social media, with early performances already hinting at who might have the moves to go all the way.
The series, which kicked off its live shows on September 27, 2025, has already seen its first share of unexpected twists. A last-minute injury forced one celebrity to withdraw, leading to a surprise replacement, while two brand-new professional dancers have been introduced to the Strictly family. With two weeks of competition now complete, the leaderboard is taking shape, and the first elimination looms, setting the stage for a fiercely contested season.
The Class of 2025: Full Celebrity and Professional Pairings
The highly anticipated pairings for Strictly Come Dancing 2025 were unveiled during the glittering launch show on September 20. This year’s couples are a diverse mix of household names and rising stars, each bringing their unique strengths to the ballroom.
- Alex Kingston & Johannes Radebe: The acclaimed ER and Doctor Who actress is paired with fan-favourite Johannes Radebe.
- Amber Davies & Nikita Kuzmin: The West End star and Love Island 2017 winner was a late addition, stepping in for the injured Dani Dyer.
- Balvinder Sopal & Julian Caillon: The EastEnders actress, known for her role as Suki Panesar, is dancing with new professional Julian Caillon.
- Chris Robshaw & Nadiya Bychkova: The former England Rugby captain is swapping the pitch for the parquet with seasoned professional Nadiya Bychkova.
- Ellie Goldstein & Vito Coppola: Model and actress Ellie Goldstein, who made history as the first model with Down syndrome on the cover of British Vogue, is partnered with reigning champion Vito Coppola.
- George Clarke & Alexis Warr: The YouTuber and social media personality is paired with new American professional dancer Alexis Warr.
- Harry Aikines-Aryeetey & Karen Hauer: The Olympic sprinter and Gladiators star is partnered with the show’s longest-serving female professional, Karen Hauer.
- Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink & Lauren Oakley: The former Chelsea and Netherlands football star is teamed up with Lauren Oakley.
- Karen Carney & Carlos Gu: The former Lioness and football pundit is taking to the dancefloor with Carlos Gu.
- La Voix & Aljaž Škorjanec: The RuPaul’s Drag Race UK finalist is paired with returning pro Aljaž Škorjanec.
- Lewis Cope & Katya Jones: The former Emmerdale actor is dancing with Katya Jones.
- Ross King & Jowita Przystał: The television presenter and actor is partnered with former winner Jowita Przystał.
- Stefan Dennis & Dianne Buswell: The legendary Neighbours actor is dancing with a history-making Dianne Buswell.
- Thomas Skinner & Amy Dowden: The Apprentice contestant and businessman is paired with the inspirational Amy Dowden.
- Vicky Pattison & Kai Widdrington: The television personality and I’m a Celebrity… winner is partnered with Kai Widdrington.
The Story So Far: Leaderboard and Expert Analysis
After two weeks of competition, the combined scores from the judges—Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood, and Motsi Mabuse—have provided an early glimpse of the competition’s frontrunners.
Top 5 Couples (Combined Scores from Week 1 & 2, as of October 4, 2025):
| Rank | Celebrity Couple | Week 1 Score | Week 2 Score | Total Score |
| 1 | Amber Davies & Nikita Kuzmin | 27 | 29 | 56 |
| 2 | Lewis Cope & Katya Jones | 28 | 27 | 55 |
| 3 | George Clarke & Alexis Warr | 24 | 30 | 54 |
| 4 | Alex Kingston & Johannes Radebe | 21 | 31 | 52 |
| 4 | Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink & Lauren Oakley | 27 | 25 | 52 |
Latecomer Amber Davies has firmly established herself as a contender, with her background in West End performance leading her and Nikita Kuzmin to the top of the leaderboard. She described the sudden call-up as “the craziest 24 hours of my life,” adding, “I hope I do [Dani Dyer] proud.” (BBC News).
YouTuber George Clarke has emerged as a surprise package, with bookmakers placing him as the current favourite to win after an impressive Paso Doble in week two. Judge Shirley Ballas declared him a “potential frontrunner,” praising his performance as “outstanding, controlled and full of intent.” (Daily Express, October 5, 2025).
Meanwhile, at the other end of the scoreboard, presenter Ross King and his partner Jowita Przystał are at the bottom with a combined score of 25, followed by businessman Thomas Skinner and Amy Dowden with 29. They will be hoping to win the public’s support to avoid the first dance-off.
The series also features powerful personal stories. Actress Alex Kingston was inspired to join after “seeing her friend, Miranda actor Sarah Hadland, finish as a runner-up on the 2024 series.” (The Independent). The journeys of professionals Amy Dowden and Dianne Buswell are also captivating audiences. Dowden’s return after significant health battles has been a major storyline, while Buswell’s history-making run as the first professional to compete while pregnant is being watched with admiration.
What to Watch Next
The first elimination of Strictly Come Dancing 2025 is set to take place on Sunday, October 5, 2025. The judges’ scores from the first two weeks will be combined with the results of the first public vote. The two couples with the lowest combined total will face each other in the dreaded dance-off, with the judges deciding who stays and who becomes the first to leave the competition. As the pressure mounts, the coming week will be a crucial test of nerves, skill, and public appeal.
