By Jessica Sansome
Copyright manchestereveningnews
It’s been a long wait but as the nights start drawing in, Srictly Come Dancing is back to bring the glitz and glam back into our lives right through until Christmas. The award-winning show, hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, launches its 2025 series on Saturday night, September 20, when the 15 new famous faces enter the famous ballroom for the first time. The first show of the series will also see Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke back on the judging panel, ready to cast their expert eyes over the new couples, which will be revealed on the night. There will also be a number of other Strictly treats and surprises, including a sizzling group routine from the show’s talented pros as well as a special musical performance. The competition, however, will officially begin when the first live show of the series airs the following week, on Saturday, September 27), which is when the new couples will take to the floor for their first dance. But Strictly’s return means that weekends over the next three months will be filled with Strictly sparkles, as this pairs take to the dancefloor on Saturday night to impress the judges – before finding out who will be leaving the show on Sunday until we finally get out winning couple for 2025. While the series is only just getting underway, a number of key dates, including this year’s Strictly final, have been revealed. They came to light as fans were able to apply to be in a ballot for tickets to get a seat live in the ballroom. The annual Blackpool special, which sees the show’s cast and crew descend on the seaside town’s famous Blackpool Tower, has been revealed to be taking place on November 22, with that the only show not addressed as taking place at the BBC’s Elstree Film Studios. And finally, this year’s winners will officially be announced on December 20, a week later than has usually been the case in recent years. The 15 celebrities taking part this year are 37-year-old former sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey – also known as Nitro from Gladiators – Love Island star Dani Dyer, 29, retired footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, 53, and Doctor Who actress Alex Kingston, 62. Also, YouTuber-and-podcaster George Clarke, 25, EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal, 46, trailblazing model Ellie Goldstein, 23 – the first model with Down Syndrome to grace the cover of British Vogue magazine – and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star La Voix, 45, will grace the ballroom floor. In addition, retired England rugby player Chris Robshaw, 39, The Apprentice 2019 candidate Thomas Skinner, 34, former Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison, 37, and Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis, 66, were also confirmed to be taking part in the new series of Strictly Come Dancing. And completing this year’s line-up are Lorraine and Good Morning Britain’s Los Angeles Correspondent Ross King, 63, former England women’s football player Karen Carney, 38, and Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope, 30 – who replaced Game of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn, 49, after he withdrew from the series for medical reasons.
