Amy Dowden's Strictly Come Dancing future has been confirmed as the 2025 professional line-up has been revealed. The BBC announced that the Caerphilly dancer will be returning to the ballroom alongside other fan favorites such as Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Katya Jones, and Karen Hauer, among others. This upcoming series marks the 23rd season of the popular dancing competition.
The last series saw a remarkable 10.1 million fans tuning in to the final, where comedian Chris McCausland and his dancing partner Dianne Buswell took home the coveted glitter ball trophy. For the upcoming series, Dianne Buswell will return to the dance floor alongside a stellar cast of professional dancers including Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Aljaž Škorjanec, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas, and Vito Coppola. They will be joined by two brand new professional dancers, whose identities will be revealed as the show approaches its premiere.
Amy Dowden's return is especially poignant, as she had to withdraw from the previous series after battling breast cancer. In 2024, she made a brave comeback but had to pull out again due to a foot injury, leading to fellow professional dancer Lauren Oakley stepping in as her replacement from the seventh week of the 22nd series. Dowden has since recovered and continued to perform in her successful UK dancing tour, "Reborn," alongside close friend and fellow professional dancer, Carlos Gu, who is also set to appear in this year's Strictly Come Dancing.
After completing her tour, Amy expressed her need for a well-deserved break before the busy months ahead. Recently, she shared a playful caption on Instagram, revealing how her husband, Ben Jones, encouraged her to take a vacation while he stayed back home to manage their renovations. "After a FaceTime with my husband who was trying to tell me it's going to rain here the entire time I'm away and how lovely it is back home... this pic for you!" she wrote, adding that her husband wanted her to rest and even messaged her not to step into the gym.
As the excitement builds for the new season, Strictly Come Dancing bosses have confirmed that several returning professionals, including Dianne Buswell, who made history last season as the first blind contestant to win the show, will be back. Alongside her, familiar faces such as Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, and Jowita Przystal will grace the dance floor once again. Johannes Radebe will also return, having previously been rumored to be leaving due to his busy work schedule.
However, one notable absence from the upcoming series will be Giovanni Pernice, who has been confirmed not to return following complaints about his conduct, which resulted in an investigation. This decision comes amid a backdrop of previous controversies surrounding the show, including incidents involving other professional dancers.
Sarah James, Executive Producer at BBC Studios, expressed her enthusiasm for the upcoming series, stating, "The excitement is already building ahead of the new series and in addition to welcoming back our fantastic returning Pros, we are looking forward to welcoming two brand new professional dancers to the line-up who will help bring another unforgettable series of dazzling dance and loads more besides to viewers later in 2025." Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment at the BBC, emphasized the importance of the professional dancers, calling them the "beating heart of the programme," and highlighted their role in showcasing world-class talent.
As the series approaches, viewers can anticipate the return of group routines, special music acts, and the much-anticipated annual trip to the iconic Tower Ballroom in Blackpool. With the BBC's biggest unscripted series in 2024 averaging 8.8 million viewers and a record number of audiences tuning in via BBC iPlayer, the anticipation for the new series is palpable. Fans eagerly await more details, including the celebrity contestants who will join the pros on the dance floor.
In addition to the confirmed professional lineup, two new dancers will be introduced, promising to add fresh energy and excitement to the competition. As Strictly Come Dancing gears up for its return to BBC One and iPlayer later this year, the stage is set for another thrilling season of dance, drama, and dazzling performances.
