Strictly 2025 First Dance-off Contestants Announced
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Strictly Come Dancing is back for its third live show of the series – but one celebrity won’t be taking part in Movie Week.
Neighbours star Stefan Dennis has been advised to rest by doctors and will not be performing his planned Waltz to “It Is You (I Have Loved)” from Shrek. He and partner Diane Buswell will automatically make it through to the next stage of the competition.
Ahead of tonight’s episode, Buswell, who is Strictly’s first pregnant contestant, denied claims that she is the real reason behind Dennis’s absence.
Last week, businessman and former Apprentice candidate Thomas Skinner became the first star to be eliminated from the 2025 series alongside his professional partner Amy Dowden.
Skinner said he was gutted to be the first out, but admitted his dancing skills left much to be desired.
Tonight’s episode will see the return of “Movie Week” – a beloved fixture in the Strictly run, which sees the couples perform to film soundtracks. Vicky Pattison will be dancing the Charleston with Kai Widdrington to “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody” from The Great Gatsby.
Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe are performing a Quickstep to “Suddenly I See” from The Devil Wears Prada, with YouTube star George Clarke’s Couples Choice with partner Alexis Warr to “Soda Pop” from the Netflix smash hit film K-Pop Demon Hunters.
Meanwhile, Ross King, who is the favourite to be eliminated this weekend, lays it all on the line with a Paso Doble to the Thunderbirds theme tune.
Follow the latest updates below:
Strictly Come Dancing: Live updatesStrictly star’s wife wades into ‘experienced dancer’ debate
Chris Robshaw’s wife has expressed disapproval of the show featuring more experienced competitors, calling it “wild”.
Catch up on the controversy here:
Jacob Stolworthy11 October 2025 16:30
Alex Kingston reveals her shock womb cancer diagnosis
The Independent spoke exclusively to Alex Kingston about the uterine cancer journey that led her to say yes to appearing on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.
Jacob Stolworthy11 October 2025 16:00
‘Strictly’ pro denies claims of a ‘cover up’
Jacob Stolworthy11 October 2025 15:30
Stefan Dennis won’t be on tonight’s show
Jacob Stolworthy11 October 2025 15:00
Here’s the leaderboard after week two, with Amber Davies and her pro partner Nikita Kuzmin in top place.
Annabel Nugent11 October 2025 14:40
What time is Strictly on tonight?
Saturday’s episode of Strictly will begin airing on BBC One at 6.05pm and is due to finish at 8.30pm.
(BBC)
Annabel Nugent11 October 2025 14:10
What has Thomas Skinner said about his Strictly elimination?
The former Apprentice star was the first to go in this year’s series, but he took the exit in his stride.
Annabel Nugent11 October 2025 13:45
Watch: Amber Davies recalls crying in rehearsals
Emotions are high with Amber Davies crying in Strictly rehearsals over her latest dance routine.
Amber Davies cries in Strictly rehearsal as she accuses partner Nikita of lying
Strictly Come Dancing star Amber Davies revealed her latest dance routine made her cry and accused partner Nikita Kuzmin of lying about how easy it is. Appearing on It Takes Two on Friday (10 October), Amber admitted her rehearsals for the Foxtrot ahead of Saturday’s live show had her in “tears”. The West End star and former Love Island contestant said: “He [Nikita] told me the Samba was the hardest and that was incorrect.” The professional dancer interrupted: “Lies were told.” Amber admitted: “The Foxtrot was impossible at the start of the week, there were tears.”
Annabel Nugent11 October 2025 13:15
Former Strictly finalist says show would be ‘boring’ without trained dancers
BBC bosses have come under scrutiny for casting celebrities with extensive dance experience. Most recently some fans have taken issue with the inclusion of West End star Amber Davies.
In an interview with The Sun, Debbie McGee – who took part in the series in 2017 – said: “I think what I’d say is the programme would be very boring if everybody had no experience. So I think the BBC have been very clever in how they’ve brought different people in.”
Debbie McGee and Giovanni Pernice (Getty Images)
Annabel Nugent11 October 2025 12:55
Dianne Buswell responds to claims of a ‘cover-up’
This just in: Dianne Buswell has poured water on rumours that she is the real reason Stefan Dennis won’t be performing this weekend.
“Just to clarify I’ve had lots of people messaging me thinking this is a cover up for me not being able to dance?!” she wrote on Instagram.
Read the full story here:
Annabel Nugent11 October 2025 12:12