Strictly Come Dancing Week 1 (Season 23, Episode 2)
TV Episode | 150 min | Game-Show, Music

Strictly Come Dancing

Week 1 (Season 23, Episode 2)

TV Episode | 150 min | Game-Show, Music

Strictly 2025's first live show opens with judges dancing through decades. Fifteen couples perform their debut routines for scores, but no public voting or elimination this week. First viewer votes happen next weekend.

Director

Nikki Parsons (series director)

Writer

Rob Colley (writer)

Producers

Kim Allinson (producer) | Gina Birch (producer) | Joanne Dawes (producer) | Reece Finnegan (producer) & 5 more

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Edit Released

Updated Sep 27, 2025

Release date

Sep 27, 2025 (United Kingdom)

Awards

Series awards

27 wins & 58 nominations

Contacts

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Cast	+ Add Cast
41 cast members

Name	Known for
Tess Daly Self - Host Self - Host See fewer	My Team: The Cheerleaders (2014)
Claudia Winkleman Self - Host Self - Host See fewer	The Traitors UK (2022)
Alan Dedicoat Self - Announcer (voice) Self - Announcer (voice) See fewer	Titanic: Adventure Out of Time (1996)
Anton du Beke Self - Judge Self - Judge See fewer	Strictly Come Dancing (2004)
Shirley Ballas Self - Judge Self - Judge See fewer	The Light Fantastic
Motsi Mabuse Self - Judge Self - Judge See fewer	Das Traumschiff (1981)
Craig Revel Horwood Self - Judge Self - Judge See fewer	Paddington (2014)
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey Self - Contestant Self - Contestant See fewer	Gladiators (I) (2024)
Karen Hauer Self - Partner: Harry Aikines-Aryeetey Self - Partner: Harry Aikines-Aryeetey See fewer	Wicked (2024)
Alex Kingston Self - Contestant Self - Contestant See fewer	ER (1994)
Johannes Radebe Self - Partner: Alex Kingston Self - Partner: Alex Kingston See fewer	Pretty Red Dress (2022)
Thomas Skinner Self - Contestant Self - Contestant See fewer	Bermondsey Tales: Fall of the Roman Empire (2024)
Amy Dowden Self - Partner: Thomas Skinner Self - Partner: Thomas Skinner See fewer	CelebAbility (2017)
La Voix Self - Contestant Self - Contestant See fewer	Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (2016)
Aljaž Skorjanec Self - Partner: La Voix Self - Partner: La Voix See fewer	Formula 1 (1950)
George Clarkey Self - Contestant (as George Clarke) Self - Contestant (as George Clarke) See fewer	Side+ Saturdays (2023)
Alexis Warr Burton Self - Partner: George Clarke Self - Partner: George Clarke See fewer	High School Musical: The Musical (2021)
Ellie Goldstein Self - Contestant Self - Contestant See fewer	Malory Towers (2020)
Vito Coppola Self - Partner: Ellie Goldstein Self - Partner: Ellie Goldstein See fewer	Drama Queens (2024)
Chris Robshaw Self - Contestant Self - Contestant See fewer	Quest for the Shield (2024)
Nadiya Bychkova Self - Partner: Chris Robshaw Self - Partner: Chris Robshaw See fewer	10 Dance (2025)
Balvinder Sopal Self - Contestant Self - Contestant See fewer	EastEnders (1985)
Julian Caillon Self - Partner: Balvinder Sopal Self - Partner: Balvinder Sopal See fewer	Pride of Britain Awards 2025 (2025)
Ross King Self - Contestant Self - Contestant See fewer	The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
Jowita Przystal Self - Partner: Ross King Self - Partner: Ross King See fewer	The Weakest Link (2021)
Karen Carney Self - Contestant Self - Contestant See fewer	Women's International Football (2010)
Carlos Gu Self - Partner: Karen Carney Self - Partner: Karen Carney See fewer	Drama Queens (2024)
Lewis Cope Self - Contestant Self - Contestant See fewer	Emmerdale Farm (1972)
Katya Jones Self - Partner: Lewis Cope Self - Partner: Lewis Cope See fewer	Dancing with the Stars (I) (2018)
Stefan Dennis Self - Contestant Self - Contestant See fewer	Neighbours (1985)
Dianne Buswell Self - Partner: Stefan Dennis Self - Partner: Stefan Dennis See fewer	At Home with the Buckleys (2020)
Vicky Pattison Self - Contestant Self - Contestant See fewer	Murder in Successville (2015)
Kai Widdrington Self - Partner: Vicky Pattison Self - Partner: Vicky Pattison See fewer	Match of the Day FA Cup (2001)
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink Self - Contestant Self - Contestant See fewer	Match of the Day (1964)
Lauren Oakley Self - Partner: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink Self - Partner: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink See fewer	Harde at Work (2012)
Amber Davies Self - Contestant Self - Contestant See fewer	And They're Off... for Sport Relief (2018)
Nikita Kuzmin Self - Partner: Amber Davies Self - Partner: Amber Davies See fewer	Formula 1 (1950)
Neil Jones Self - Explaining voting Self - Explaining voting See fewer	For the Love of Music (2013)
David Arch Self - Bandleader (as Dave Arch) Self - Bandleader (as Dave Arch) See fewer	Atlas (I) (2024)
Michelle Tsiakkas Self - Explaining social media Self - Explaining social media See fewer	The Weakest Link (2021)
Gorka Marquez Self - Pro Dancer Self - Pro Dancer See fewer	Bailando con las estrellas (2018)