BBC Strictly Come Dancing start date confirmed as line-up revealed

Strictly Come Dancing's start date has been revealed. The BBC favourite is due to return to screens in a matter of weeks, and now the broadcaster has finally confirmed when it will be back on screen amidst a host of celebrity announcements.

Fans will be able to tune in in just over four week's time, as Jon Kay confirmed live on BBC Breakfast: "Strictly starts on the 20th September," so that is when Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke will be seen for the first time this year as they launch the programme's 23rd series.

For over a decade, Strictly Come Dancing has launched around the third week in September, but its very first series, which was won by Channel 5 newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky, it was actually broadcast from May until July in 2004. Since then, the programme has occasionally begun in October but it has mostly aired from September and always runs throughout the autumnal months in the build up to Christmas. It comes after a Strictly Come Dancing star pulled out of the show as he made a career announcement.

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This year, Olympic sprinter and Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey was the first contestant confirmed for the 2025 line-up earlier on Monday. Harry, known as Nitro on the rebooted Gladiators, previously competed in last year’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special and described his decision to return as "so nice I just had to do it twice."

The first contestant announced to be joining Strictly was Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, also known as Nitro. The former Olympic athlete, who competed in last year's Christmas special, was revealed as a contestant during an episode of Newsround on Monday.

Love Island winner Dani Dyer was the second celebrity confirmed for the new series. The reality TV star shared the news on The One Show on Monday night, with her one of three contestants who appeared on the show that evening.

Actor Alex Kingston, known for her roles on shows such as Doctor Who and ER, was unveiled as the third celebrity for the new series. She was the second contestant to be interviewed on The One Show earlier this week.

Footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was later named as this year's fourth contestant. He was the third and final participant revealed on Monday.

Soap star Balvinder Sopal was then the fifth contestant to be revealed as part of the line-up. The actress , known for her role as Suki Panesar-Unwin on EastEnders, was unveiled as part of the line-up with viewers on ITV 's Good Morning Britain earlier this week.

It was later announced that TikTok star George Clarke will be competing on the new series of Strictly too. The content creator was named as a contestant on BBC Radio 1 's Going Home Drivetime Show yesterday.

RuPaul's Drag Race UK runner-up La Voix, also known as Christopher Dennis, was unveiled as the seventh celebrity taking part on Wedneday. The news was revealed on the Scott Mills Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2. The Apprentice star Tom Skinner has also been given a spot on the dancefloor, as has actress and model Ellie Goldstein, and rugby star Chris Robshaw will also be taking part.

And on Thursday, Geordie Shore legend Vicky Pattison was announced as celebrity number 11 to be taking part. She said: "I'm buzzing like a an old fish but I'm really nervous as well. I've never done anything like this before, I'm opening up to a whole new audience as well. I'm terrified. Can you tell? I'm terrified."

Just hours later, Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis was unveiled as part of the lineup. H said: "I'm very excited to be doing something completely and utterly out of my comfort zone but because of that, I'm petrified." He added that British viewers be "sick of" him eventually as Neighbours will also be airing until the end of the year.

He added that he's had advice from co-star April Rose Pengilly, who has taken part in Australia's Dancing with the Stars. "She said, 'Every night I put ice packs all over my body,'" he revealed

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