Strictly Come Dancing 2025 Returns with 15 Celebrities, New Professionals

The BBC has released the first trailer for the 2025 series of Strictly Come Dancing, premiering on September 20, featuring a glamorous pool party with professional dancers and head judge Shirley Ballas. The teaser showcases judges Anton du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood, and Motsi Mabuse along with the debut of new professional dancers Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon, who make a dramatic entrance by diving into the pool. The Launch Show will reveal this year's 15 celebrity contestants and their professional dance partners, culminating in a group routine with all pairs and performances by last year's winners Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell as well as an exclusive set by Jessie J. Despite the show's glitz, there are backstage concerns about some celebrities taking weight-loss medication to meet the intense physical demands, though the BBC maintains strict health protocols. Hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will return to guide viewers through the season's surprises and dazzling routines. Overall, the trailer sets a sparkling tone for what remains one of the BBC's most-watched entertainment programs.