The 2025 Strictly Come Dancing cast posed for an official first-look group photograph on Friday, showing the 15 celebrities in sequins and colourful suits ahead of the show’s launch, while the series was rocked by a press-call incident involving contestant Thomas Skinner and the online publication of secret celebrity–professional dancer pairings.
The BBC released the group image and accompanying promotional material as the show prepares to return on Sept. 20. The photograph features contestants including Dani Dyer, George Clarke, La Voix and Chris Robshaw among others, all wearing glitzy outfits intended to preview the ballroom season. In the days before the premiere, Skinner — a 34-year-old reality star and entrepreneur — issued an apology after walking out of a press call on Tuesday and seizing a journalist’s phone; the BBC said he will remain in the competition.
Skinner posted a statement on Instagram on Wednesday apologising to the reporter and saying he was working to "move past difficult moments in his past." Media reports said the BBC had told staff it was standing by Skinner and that he would continue to appear on the show. The corporation did not immediately provide an on-the-record comment when contacted.
Compounding the publicity around the start of the series, a long-running spoiler — known online as the "Strictly super-spoiler" — published what appeared to be the celebrity–professional pairings ahead of the launch weekend. The leak, circulated on X and through the spoiler's website, prompted divided reactions from fans, with some saying the revelations ruined the surprise and others describing the pairings as "interesting".
The spoiler is run by David Thorp, who has publicly acknowledged sharing results and pairings from recordings and said he receives information from audience members and other online sources. Thorp told media outlets he was providing a service for an appetite among viewers to know results early, and argued that pre-recording shows the day before broadcast can encourage leaks. The Daily Mail, which reported on the leak, said it chose not to publish the pairings to avoid spoiling the surprise for viewers.
Producers filmed a pre-recorded opening number for the launch show featuring stars including Dani Dyer, Vicky Pattison, La Voix and Chris Robshaw performing with their professional partners. The show’s format typically mixes live and pre-recorded elements, which has in previous years created opportunities for results and pairings to surface before broadcast.
The official line-up photo names the contestants from left to right: Harry Aikines-Aryeetey; Vicky Pattison; Thomas Skinner; Stefan Dennis; George Clarke; Ross King; Alex Kingston; Dani Dyer; Balvinder Sopal; Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink; Karen Carney; Ellie Goldstein; Chris Robshaw; Lewis Cope; and La Voix. The cast spans a range of backgrounds and ages: Aikines-Aryeetey, 36, is an Olympic sprinter; Kingston, 62, is an actress; Balvinder Sopal, 46, is known for EastEnders; La Voix, 45, is a drag performer; Skinner, 34, is a reality star; Pattison, 37, is a reality television personality; Carney, 38, is a football pundit; Dyer, 29, is a Love Island winner; Hasselbaink, 53, is a former professional footballer and coach; Goldstein, 23, is a model and disability ambassador; Robshaw, 39, is a former rugby player; Dennis, 66, is an actor; King, 63, is a showbiz correspondent; and Cope, 30, is an actor.
Contestants offered brief reactions in publicity material, with many describing excitement and nerves about taking part. Dani Dyer called Strictly "the second most amazing thing I’ve done this year" and said she felt "very, very blessed," while Skinner said, "Bring on the sequins, sambas and most importantly, the BOSH to the ballroom!" Other cast members framed the series as a significant challenge and opportunity to learn new skills.
The presence of the leak revived longstanding tensions between producers and fans over pre-recorded results. The individual who runs the Strictly Spoiler site has published show outcomes and pairings for more than a decade; media coverage in 2022 identified him publicly, and he has defended his activity as meeting demand from some viewers. BBC executives have previously adjusted production practices in response to leaks, including changing recording schedules and limiting access, but the organisation has not said that additional changes will be made this year.
As Strictly prepares for its launch on Sept. 20, producers face the dual tasks of managing fallout from the press-call incident involving Skinner and attempting to preserve the element of surprise for viewers after the publication of pairings. The opening show will reveal performances and pairings to a wider audience and mark the start of the competition to win the glitterball trophy.