Typically, viewers are given a brief chance to vote for their preferred contestant over the phone but this year\u2019s series, which starts on Saturday (20 September)<\/a>, will switch this to online instead. <\/p>\n Regardless, judge Du Beke doest not approve of the small voting window, calling it a shame as many viewers are not be able to watch the show live. This means they lose the chance to save their favourite. <\/p>\n Du Beke suggested that fans should have the chance to vote all week long, considering many stream episodes on iPlayer after it has been aired live on BBC One.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember when we started the show, you could vote all week,\u201d he told the Daily Mirror<\/a>. \u201cSo for 13 weeks, it was open for the whole week. <\/p>\n \u201cNow you have a little window, and I think that is a shame, because some people can\u2019t watch it on a Saturday night. They might be working or may go out.\u201d<\/p>\n He said: \u201cI would like people to be able to vote during the week, as everyone is invested, even if they watch it on catch-up, so give them the opportunity to vote.\u201d<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Anton Du Beke is calling for a change in the show\u2019s voting format (BBC)<\/p>\n Celebrity contestants, including Dani Dyer, Alex Kingston and YouTube star George Clarke, will be paired up with their professional dance partners<\/a> during the launch episode on Saturday. They will also show off their moves in a group dance ahead of their first official routine.<\/p>\n Saturday live shows will kick off a week later, and the first Sunday results programme will air on 5 October, when the first celebrity to leave the show will be announced.<\/p>\n The BBC has also revealed that the Strictly Come Dancing final will take place a few days before Christmas on Saturday 20 December.<\/p>\n Other stars set to appear on the show include Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison<\/a>, rugby player Chris Robshaw, and Dutch footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n All the stars taking part in \u2018Strictly Come Dancing\u2019 this year (BBC)<\/p>\n One 2025 celebrity who has sparked an online backlash ahead of the new series is former The Apprentice star Thomas Skinner<\/a>, who recently met US vice-president JD Vance<\/a> for a barbecue and drinks.<\/p>\n The social media personality befriended US president Donald Trump\u2019s No 2 on X\/Twitter after claiming he had received \u201cdeath threats\u201d following a series of posts<\/a> about the state of the UK.<\/p>\n Skinner said on social media that it\u2019s \u201cnot far-right\u201d to be \u201cflying your flag and loving your country\u201d, and complained that \u201cit ain\u2019t safe out there anymore\u201d in London, saying that the city feels \u201chostile\u201d and \u201ctense\u201d.<\/p>\n![\"Anton](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1758113409_799_newFile.jpg\")
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