Strictly announces huge shake-up for 2025 as 'outdated' element is axed
Big changes are heading for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Strictly Come Dancing 2025 is heading for our screens next week, bringing glitz and glamour back to our Saturday nights once again. But, there is a big change heading for the series as the way we vote has altered.
It was announced by the BBC that phone voting has been dropped from the show, meaning all fans of the series will now need to vote for their favorites online.
The BBC says: "For years, shows like Strictly Come Dancing, BBC Sports Personality of the Year and Eurovision let viewers vote by calling premium-rate numbers. However, this is now an outdated system and also expensive to run.
"Online voting has become the go-to choice for most viewers. In fact, the overwhelming majority of votes for the last Strictly series were cast online."
Online-only voting can be done via your BBC account, which the BBC explains 'offers a more personalised iPlayer experience and weather updates tailored to your location'.
Back for the new series are Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman in their presenting roles, with Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Anton du Beke all returning to the judging panel.
The celebrity lineup includes Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Dani Dyer, Vicky Pattison, Alex Kingston, Balvinder Sopal, Stefan Dennis, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Chris Robshaw, Ellie Goldstein, George Clarke, La Voix, Ross King, Karen Carney, and Lewis Cope.
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Actor Kristian Nairn was also announced but had to withdraw for medical reasons, with Lewis Cope replacing him.
How to vote
If you already have a BBC account, you don’t need to do anything. During voting, you’ll be directed to the show’s website where the voting link will be clearly shown.
If you don’t have an account yet, signing up is simple and free at www.bbc.com/register.
Strictly Come Dancing returns to our screens on Saturday, September 20, 2025.

Claire is Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch and has been a journalist for over 15 years, writing about everything from soaps and TV to beauty, entertainment, and even the Royal Family. After starting her career at a soap magazine, she ended up staying for 13 years, and over that time she’s pulled pints in the Rovers Return, sung karaoke in the Emmerdale village hall, taken a stroll around Albert Square, and visited Summer Bay Surf Club in sunny Australia.
After learning some tricks of the trade at websites Digital Spy, Entertainment Daily, and Woman & Home, Claire landed a role at What’s On TV and whattowatch.com writing about all things TV and film, with a particular love for Aussie soaps, Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off.
She’s interviewed everyone from June Brown — AKA Dot Cotton — to Michelle Keegan, swapped cooking tips with baking legend Mary Berry backstage at the NTAs, and danced the night away with soap stars at countless awards bashes. There’s not a lot she doesn’t know about soaps and TV and can be very handy when a soapy question comes up in a pub quiz!
As well as all things soap-related, Claire also loves running, spa breaks, days out with her kids, and getting lost in a good book.
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