Strictly Come Dancing will be back with a bang this year and all our favourite judges will be back, the BBC has confirmed. 

BBC One has announced the all-important judging line-up ahead of rehearsals for the 2025 series – which are due to start any day now.

Strictly’s show hosts have also been revealed as excited fans eagerly await its return. So who’s in, and who’s out? Cha-cha-cha…!

Who are the Strictly Come Dancing judges and presenters in 2025?

Strictly Come Dancing fans will be delighted to learn that their favourite judges are returning for another year. Shirley Ballas will be back for her ninth year at the helm as Head Judge. She will be joined on the panel once again by Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse, and Craig Revel Horwood.

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will also be returning as the Strictly Come Dancing hosts. Last month, the pair were both awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the King’s Birthday Honours for their services to broadcasting. The BBC acknowledged the achievement when confirming Strictly’s judges line-up and presenters.

Announcing the news on Strictly’s official Instagram account, the BBC said: “We’ve been limbering-up and practicing our curtsies, ready for the new series of Strictly with our amazing judging panel, Shirley, Anton, Motsi, and Craig – and our incredible MBEs Tess and Claudia. Congratulations on your FAB-U-LOUS achievement!”

All the Strictly judges have shared the line-up with their own fans on social media. Motsi has also addressed her return to the dancing show directly. She said: “And just like that… we’re BACK on @bbcstrictly. Let the sparkle, the sweat and the sequins begin! Can’t wait to share another magical season with all of you.”

Who is hosting It Takes Two this year?

Strictly’s spin-off show It Takes Two will also be returning to the BBC this autumn. However, the hosts for the programme –  which airs on BBC Two on weekday evenings – are yet to be announced.

Last year, former Strictly Come Dancing professional Janette Manrara and ex-celebrity contestant Fleur East presented Strictly It Takes Two. Each night, they would interview the stars of the show and spill the secrets from behind the scenes.

The duo have hosted the show together since 2023 and spoken openly about how much they enjoy working together. Janette said last year: “Do you know what’s the crazy thing about me and Fleur? We are so, so, so alike. And the more we hang out and spend time together, the more we start finding things that make us similar. So really, I feel like we’re just a piece of each other – literally the same.”

Fleur added: “I think we enable each other, like two naughty kids in a classroom egging each other on!”

The BBC have not yet confirmed Janette and Fleur’s return to Strictly It Takes Two. But, if last year is anything to go by, we’ll have to wait until September. Meaning viewers may have to wait a while before finding out who the 2025 presenters are.

The Strictly 2025 professionals

This year’s Strictly Come Dancing pros have also been confirmed – and there will be two new faces among the line-up.

The returning dancers are Dianne Buswell, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer and Katya Jones and Nadiya Bychkova. They will be joined by Jowita Przystal, Luba Mushtuk and Neil Jones.

Gorka Marquez is also back, along with Aljaž Škorjanec, Kai Widdrington and Nancy Xu. Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas, Vito Coppola and Johannes Radebe complete the cast of confirmed dancers.

The BBC said: “As well as taking part in the competition itself, all of the professional dancers will be taking to the floor each week in unforgettable group routines, which alongside world class music acts, theme weeks and of course the much-anticipated annual trip to the iconic and much-loved Tower Ballroom in Blackpool, promises audiences another spectacular series of the nation’s favourite dance show.”

Strictly’s two new pro dancers are yet to be revealed, with a spokesperson adding: “The new pros will be revealed closer to the return of the show.”

When is Strictly Come Dancing back?

Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One this autumn, although the exact start date is yet to be confirmed. Last year, the highly-anticipated launch show – which sees the celebrities meeting their professional dancers – aired on September 14, 2024.

The first live show followed exactly one week later on Saturday September 21.

This year’s celebrity line-up has not been announced yet, although there have been plenty of rumours. The pros were already in rehearsals by July 22 last year, meaning there isn’t long to wait…

Read more: Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis ‘signs’ for Strictly Come Dancing 2025

The judges and dancing pros will be back on Strictly Come Dancing this autumn on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.