Strictly Come Dancing producers encountered difficulties recruiting celebrity contestants for the 2025 series after a run of controversies, the Daily Mail reported, though the BBC said there was "absolutely no difference to the casting process this year."
According to the Mail, only three of the 15 celebrities in this year's line-up had previously been asked to take part, and show executives were said to have "expanded their roster" amid reluctance from some prospective signings. A BBC spokesperson told the paper: "There was absolutely no difference to the casting process this year, both in timescale and the great mix of names wanting to take part."
The Mail's account linked the reported recruitment problems to a string of recent incidents that have put the show under scrutiny. In 2024 actor Amanda Abbington accused her professional partner Giovanni Pernice of treating her "unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean" during rehearsals; Pernice has strongly denied the claims. The BBC later dismissed professional dancer Graziano di Prima after a video circulated showing him kicking his dance partner, Love Island alum Zara McDermott, during a rehearsal. Welsh opera singer Wynne Evans was also removed from his BBC Wales breakfast show after what the corporation described as "inappropriate language" during his stint on the programme.
The controversies, coupled with other publicity around the brand, were said to have made some potential signings cautious. Several new contestants told the Mail they had been surprised at how quickly their participation was secured, saying they had not previously been approached. Vicky Pattison, who rose to fame on Geordie Shore, told the paper she had "never been asked before and I've always wanted to be," while Dani Dyer, a 2018 Love Island winner, said she was "shocked" at how easily she was accepted onto the show. Actress Alex Kingston said there had long been a "stigma" around Strictly among theatre actors, noting agents had previously discouraged participation.
Producers have sought to reassure viewers and participants that the show will proceed as planned. The new series is due to launch on September 20, with the BBC reported to have stood by contestant Thomas Skinner after he abruptly left a press call and was filmed snatching a reporter's phone. Skinner issued an Instagram statement apologising to the journalist and saying he was working to "move past difficult moments in his past." The Daily Mail reported the corporation would not remove him from the line-up.
The traditionally tightly guarded celebrity-professional pairings were also the subject of an online leak this week, with reports that next weekend's pairings appeared online ahead of the launch. The Mail said it would not publish the leaked pairings to avoid spoiling the surprise for viewers.
The official 2025 celebrity cast includes a mix of athletes, actors, presenters and reality stars. Named contestants are Olympic sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey; actress Alex Kingston; EastEnders actor Balvinder Sopal; drag performer La Voix; reality star and entrepreneur Thomas Skinner; reality TV star Vicky Pattison; football pundit Karen Carney; Love Island winner Dani Dyer; former footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink; model and disability ambassador Ellie Goldstein; rugby player Chris Robshaw; actor Stefan Dennis; showbiz correspondent Ross King; and actor Lewis Cope. Several of those named have spoken publicly about their excitement at joining the show and the challenge of learning ballroom and Latin routines.
Strictly Come Dancing has been one of the BBC's flagship entertainment shows for nearly two decades, but the recent incidents have prompted heightened attention to off-screen behaviour and casting decisions. The corporation's statement about the casting process and its decision to retain certain contestants underscores its intent to press ahead with the series despite the scrutiny. Broadcasters and producers typically balance participant safety, editorial standards and audience expectations as a new series begins, and the forthcoming launch will test whether the show can maintain its large viewership amid the controversies that preceded it.