STRICTLY’s 2025 dancefloor has taken shape.
The refreshed line-up of professional dancers includes two new faces joining the fold, and there’s already been two high-profile withdrawals from the celeb cast.
Two brand-new professionals are joining the Strictly Come Dancing family this year: Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon.
The BBC has confirmed both pros for the 2025 series, expanding the stable with fresh talent ahead of launch.
Here’s who’s in, who’s out, and when we’re back in the ballroom.
Who are the Strictly dancers 2025?
Alongside the newcomers, fan favourites are returning in the 2025 professional line-up:
- Dianne Buswell
- Nadiya Bychkova
- Amy Dowden
- Karen Hauer
- Katya Jones
- Neil Jones
- Nikita Kuzmin
- Gorka Marquez
- Luba Mushtuk
- Jowita Przystal
- Johannes Radebe
- Aljaž Škorjanec
- Kai Widdrington
- Nancy Xu
- Carlos Gu
- Lauren Oakley
- Michelle Tsiakkas
- Vito Coppola
- Julian Caillon
- Alexis Warr
There’s also set to be a history-making moment: Dianne Buswell will become the first pregnant professional to compete on the show.
Dianne and partner Joe Sugg announced they’re expecting a baby, and she’s since reassured fans she’s well and still training with the Strictly team as the series builds up, making telly history in the process.
Glitterball champ Oti Mabuse is also making a comeback to the Strictly mothership in 2025.
It’s her first on-show appearance since leaving the pro line-up, and bosses are bringing her back in a special capacity that’s set to delight long-time fans.
After stepping away to front other TV projects, Oti’s return is being teed up as a headline moment for the new series.
Which dancers have left Strictly for this year?
On the professional side, the key change is addition rather than subtraction — Warr and Caillon join the team, while the BBC’s published list for 2025 sets out who is in the pro line-up this year.
If a pro is not on that official 2025 list, they won’t be competing for the Glitterball this series.
For example, Strictly signed rising Italian Latin star Simone Arena to the professional team earlier this year, with the Vice Italian Latin Champion drafted in to replace Giovanni Pernice following last year’s off-show turmoil.
Bosses have rolled out “militant” new rules to stamp out bad behaviour among the pro ranks this series, with stricter oversight and a tougher code of conduct designed to protect celebs and staff.
Meanwhile, Gorka Marquez will not have a partner as he will be making sporadic appearances on this year’s show as he films Spain’s version of Strictly, Bailando con las Estrellas.
Neil Jones, Luba Mushtuk, Nancy Xu and Michelle Tsiakkas will also only be dancing in the group and star performance numbers.
What are the Strictly 2025 pairings?
There has been two celebrity withdrawals already ahead of the first live show.
Game of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn pulled out for medical reasons and was replaced by Emmerdale star Lewis Cope.
While Dani Dyer suffered a fractured ankle and was forced out of the show.
Dyer has been replaced by Love Island winner Amber Davies.
- Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin
- Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon
- Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Bychkova
- Ellie Golstein and Vito Coppola
- George Clarke and Alexis Warr
- Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Karen Hauer
- Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Lauren Oakley
- Karen Carney and Carlos Gu
- La Voix and Aljaž Škorjanec
- Lewis Copa and Katya Jones
- Ross Kind and Jowita Przystal
- Stefan Dennis and Dianne Buswell
- Thomas Skinner and Amy Dowden
- Vicky Pattison and Kai Widdrington
When is Strictly 2025 on?
Strictly returned on Saturday, 20th September, on BBC One and iPlayer, with the launch show setting pairings and the first live show following shortly after.
From there, it’s the classic Strictly journey — paso dobles, salsas, waltzes and those leaderboard-shaping showstoppers — building to Blackpool and beyond as the competition tightens.
The first elimination Sunday is taking place on October 5th.
