The Strictly Come Dancing 2025 lineup brought together footballers, actors, television personalities, social media stars, a drag performer and other familiar faces for the BBC ballroom competition. The series began with a 15-celebrity cast, although the eventual competition featured several important changes because of withdrawals and injuries.
The original lineup included names such as Karen Carney, Alex Kingston, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Dani Dyer, Vicky Pattison, Ellie Goldstein and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey. Kristian Nairn was also announced but withdrew before the series began, with actor Lewis Cope taking his place. Dani Dyer later left after suffering an ankle injury, and Amber Davies joined the competition as her replacement.
With the 2025 series now complete, this guide looks at the full cast, professional partnerships, major lineup changes and how the competition ended.
Key Takeaways
- The original Strictly Come Dancing 2025 lineup featured 15 celebrities.
- Kristian Nairn withdrew before the competition and was replaced by Lewis Cope.
- Dani Dyer withdrew after fracturing her ankle during training, with Amber Davies taking her place.
- Stefan Dennis and La Voix subsequently withdrew because of injuries during the series.
- Karen Carney and professional partner Carlos Gu won the 2025 series.
- Amber Davies and George Clarke finished as the other two finalists.
Strictly Come Dancing 2025 Lineup: Full Cast
The 2025 series featured a particularly varied group of celebrities. The cast included established television actors, sporting figures, reality stars and online personalities.
The original 15 names announced for the series were:
| Celebrity | Known for | Professional partner |
|---|---|---|
| Harry Aikines-Aryeetey | Olympian and Gladiator | Karen Hauer |
| Dani Dyer | Television personality | Nikita Kuzmin |
| Alex Kingston | Actress | Johannes Radebe |
| Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink | Former footballer | Lauren Oakley |
| Balvinder Sopal | EastEnders actress | Julian Caillon |
| George Clarke | YouTuber and podcaster | Alexis Warr |
| Ellie Goldstein | Model and actress | Vito Coppola |
| Chris Robshaw | Former England rugby captain | Nadiya Bychkova |
| La Voix | Drag performer and television personality | Aljaž Škorjanec |
| Thomas Skinner | The Apprentice personality | Amy Dowden |
| Vicky Pattison | Television personality | Kai Widdrington |
| Stefan Dennis | Neighbours actor | Dianne Buswell |
| Ross King | Television presenter | Jowita Przystał |
| Karen Carney | Former England footballer and pundit | Carlos Gu |
| Kristian Nairn | Actor and DJ | — |
The final competitive lineup changed because Kristian Nairn withdrew before the series and Lewis Cope joined the cast. Dani Dyer was later replaced by Amber Davies.
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, better known to many television viewers as Gladiator Nitro, was the first celebrity announced for the 2025 series.
An accomplished sprinter and Olympian, Aikines-Aryeetey already had some connection with Strictly after appearing in the 2024 Christmas special. For the main 2025 competition, he was paired with professional dancer Karen Hauer.
His participation added a strong athletics background to a cast that already included several sporting personalities.
Dani Dyer
Dani Dyer entered the competition as one of the most recognisable reality television names in the cast.
The Love Island winner was initially partnered with Nikita Kuzmin. However, her Strictly journey ended before the first live show after she fractured her ankle during training.
Her withdrawal created one of the most significant changes to the 2025 lineup. Amber Davies, another Love Island winner and West End performer, subsequently joined the competition and partnered with Kuzmin.
Alex Kingston
Alex Kingston brought considerable acting experience to the ballroom.
Known internationally for roles including River Song in Doctor Who and Dr Elizabeth Corday in ER, Kingston represented one of the most established acting careers in the 2025 cast.
She was partnered with Johannes Radebe and became one of the series’ prominent celebrity contestants.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
Former professional footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink gave the lineup another major sporting name.
Hasselbaink enjoyed a successful football career with clubs including Leeds United, Atlético Madrid, Chelsea and Middlesbrough. He later moved into management and coaching before becoming a familiar football pundit.
On Strictly, he was partnered with Lauren Oakley. BBC Sport described him as one of the 14 celebrities taking to the dance floor when the series got underway.
Balvinder Sopal
EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal joined the series with professional dancer Julian Caillon.
Her inclusion gave the lineup a strong connection to British television drama. Sopal is particularly known for playing Suki Panesar in EastEnders.
The 2025 series also marked a significant opportunity for new professional dancer Julian Caillon, who was among the new additions to the professional cast.
George Clarke
George Clarke entered Strictly as a social media personality, YouTuber and podcaster.
He was paired with Alexis Warr, another newer professional face on the show. Their partnership developed into one of the most successful journeys of the series.
Clarke eventually reached the grand final alongside Karen Carney and Amber Davies, finishing as a runner-up with Warr.
Ellie Goldstein
Ellie Goldstein joined the competition as a model, actress and campaigner.
She had already made history in the fashion industry as a model with Down syndrome and brought a distinctive perspective to the Strictly cast.
Goldstein was partnered with Vito Coppola. Her participation was another example of the show’s ability to bring celebrities from different professional backgrounds into the ballroom.
Chris Robshaw
Former England rugby captain Chris Robshaw represented rugby union in the 2025 cast.
He was partnered with Nadiya Bychkova. His presence continued Strictly’s long-running tradition of featuring high-profile athletes alongside actors, presenters and entertainment personalities.
La Voix
La Voix, the drag performer and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK finalist, added another distinctive personality to the series.
She was partnered with Aljaž Škorjanec. La Voix initially progressed through several weeks of the competition before an injury forced her to withdraw during the Blackpool stage of the series.
She was initially given a bye because of the injury, but medical advice later meant she had to leave the competition completely.
Thomas Skinner
Former The Apprentice personality Thomas Skinner joined the 2025 cast with professional dancer Amy Dowden.
Known for his business background and television appearances, Skinner brought a different type of personality to the dance floor.
His casting also continued the show’s tradition of bringing reality and business television personalities into the competition.
Vicky Pattison
Television personality Vicky Pattison was another major reality-TV name in the 2025 lineup.
She was partnered with Kai Widdrington. Pattison had previously established herself through reality television and later became a regular television personality and presenter.
Her participation gave Strictly another contestant with substantial experience in entertainment television but without a professional dance background.
Stefan Dennis
Australian actor Stefan Dennis joined the competition after becoming famous internationally for his role as Paul Robinson in Neighbours.
Dennis was partnered with Dianne Buswell. His time on the show was ultimately cut short after he suffered a significant calf injury.
After initially missing a show because of illness, Dennis returned to perform but subsequently had to withdraw from the competition because of the calf injury.
Ross King
Television presenter and showbiz journalist Ross King was also part of the 2025 cast.
He was partnered with Jowita Przystał. King’s long television career made him a familiar face to viewers, particularly through his entertainment reporting.
His participation added another experienced television personality to an increasingly diverse lineup.
Karen Carney
Karen Carney was one of the most prominent sporting names in the competition.
The former England footballer played for clubs including Arsenal, Chelsea and Birmingham City and later developed a successful broadcasting career. BBC Sport noted that she earned 144 England appearances and later became a prominent football pundit.
Carney was partnered with Carlos Gu, and the pair ultimately won the series.
Their victory was especially notable because Carney became the first footballer to win the BBC competition. The result was determined by the public vote in the grand final.
The Major Changes to the 2025 Lineup
One of the most important things to understand about the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 lineup is that the announced cast was not exactly the same as the cast that ultimately competed.
Kristian Nairn Was Replaced by Lewis Cope
Game of Thrones actor and DJ Kristian Nairn was originally announced as one of the 2025 celebrities.
However, Nairn withdrew before the competition because of health reasons. The BBC subsequently brought in Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope as his replacement.
Cope was paired with Katya Jones and became part of the final competitive cast.
Dani Dyer Was Replaced by Amber Davies
Dani Dyer’s withdrawal happened much closer to the first live show.
Dyer fractured her ankle during training and was advised not to continue. Amber Davies was then brought into the competition as her replacement and partnered with Nikita Kuzmin.
This change proved particularly significant because Davies went on to reach the final.
Strictly Come Dancing 2025 Professional Partnerships
Once the replacement changes were complete, the celebrity-professional partnerships included:
| Celebrity | Professional dancer |
|---|---|
| Alex Kingston | Johannes Radebe |
| Amber Davies | Nikita Kuzmin |
| Balvinder Sopal | Julian Caillon |
| Chris Robshaw | Nadiya Bychkova |
| Ellie Goldstein | Vito Coppola |
| George Clarke | Alexis Warr |
| Harry Aikines-Aryeetey | Karen Hauer |
| Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink | Lauren Oakley |
| Karen Carney | Carlos Gu |
| La Voix | Aljaž Škorjanek |
| Lewis Cope | Katya Jones |
| Ross King | Jowita Przystał |
| Stefan Dennis | Dianne Buswell |
| Thomas Skinner | Amy Dowden |
| Vicky Pattison | Kai Widdrington |
The 2025 professional cast also included two notable new additions: Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon.
Who Won Strictly Come Dancing 2025?
The 2025 series concluded on 20 December with three couples competing for the Glitterball Trophy.
The finalists were:
- Karen Carney and Carlos Gu
- Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin
- George Clarke and Alexis Warr
Karen Carney and Carlos Gu were ultimately crowned the winners after the public vote.
The result gave Carney a remarkable transition from elite football to ballroom dancing. Her Strictly victory became another major achievement in a career that had already included international football and a successful move into broadcasting.
Why the Strictly 2025 Cast Stood Out
The strength of the 2025 lineup was its variety.
Rather than relying on one type of celebrity, the cast represented several different areas of public life:
- Sport: Karen Carney, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Chris Robshaw and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey
- Acting: Alex Kingston, Balvinder Sopal, Ellie Goldstein, Stefan Dennis and Lewis Cope
- Reality television: Dani Dyer, Vicky Pattison and Amber Davies
- Digital media: George Clarke
- Television and entertainment: Ross King and Thomas Skinner
- Drag and performance: La Voix
That variety is one reason Strictly continues to create different storylines each series. Viewers can follow established entertainers, sporting personalities and people experiencing ballroom dancing for the first time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was in the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 lineup?
The 2025 cast included Karen Carney, Amber Davies, George Clarke, Lewis Cope, Balvinder Sopal, Alex Kingston, La Voix, Vicky Pattison, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Chris Robshaw, Ellie Goldstein, Ross King, Stefan Dennis and Thomas Skinner. Dani Dyer and Kristian Nairn were originally announced but later withdrew.
Who won Strictly Come Dancing 2025?
Karen Carney and Carlos Gu won the 2025 series. They defeated fellow finalists Amber Davies and George Clarke after the public vote.
Who replaced Dani Dyer on Strictly in 2025?
Amber Davies replaced Dani Dyer after Dyer withdrew because of an ankle fracture sustained during training. Davies was partnered with Nikita Kuzmin.
Who replaced Kristian Nairn on Strictly Come Dancing?
Actor Lewis Cope replaced Kristian Nairn after Nairn withdrew before the competition because of health reasons.
Which Strictly 2025 contestants withdrew because of injury?
Dani Dyer, Stefan Dennis and La Voix all left the competition because of injuries at different stages. Dyer suffered an ankle fracture during training, Dennis suffered a calf injury, and La Voix was forced to withdraw after an injury during the series.
Who were the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 finalists?
The three finalists were Karen Carney with Carlos Gu, Amber Davies with Nikita Kuzmin, and George Clarke with Alexis Warr.
Which footballer won Strictly Come Dancing 2025?
Former England footballer Karen Carney won the 2025 competition with professional partner Carlos Gu.
How many celebrities were originally announced for Strictly 2025?
The original 2025 announcement featured 15 celebrities. Because Kristian Nairn and Dani Dyer later withdrew, Lewis Cope and Amber Davies joined the competitive cast as replacements.
Conclusion
The Strictly Come Dancing 2025 lineup delivered a broad mix of sporting legends, actors, television personalities, reality stars and digital creators. While the original cast changed during the series, the replacements added their own stories and helped create a memorable competition.
The biggest storyline ultimately belonged to Karen Carney. Partnered with Carlos Gu, the former England footballer progressed from sporting celebrity to Strictly champion, winning the Glitterball Trophy in the December final.
With multiple withdrawals, replacement contestants and a closely contested final, the 2025 series demonstrated why the Strictly lineup is about more than simply the names announced before launch. The partnerships, performances and personal journeys are what shape the season once the celebrities step onto the dance floor.
