Early betting markets have already tipped Emmerdale’s Lewis Cope and Love Island star Dani Dyer as the frontrunners for Strictly Come Dancing 2025.
Strictly Come Dancing returns for its 23rd series in 2025 in less than two weeks time.
Fifteen celebrities, ranging from Olympians and TV stars to actors, drag performers, and Youtubers, will step onto the dancefloor, each hoping to win the Glitterball Trophy.
Hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, with judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke, will guide the competition across live performances, weekly eliminations, and the journey to the final.
Early betting markets suggest Lewis Cope, the Emmerdale heartthrob, and TV personality Dani Dyer, Love Island winner and mum of three, are the early frontrunners, with punters backing them to go far in the competition.
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When Does Strictly Come Dancing 2025 Start?
Strictly Come Dancing 2025 kicks off with its launch show on Saturday, 20 September 2025, airing on BBC One and streaming live on BBC iPlayer.
The launch will introduce this year’s 15 celebrity contestants and their professional dance partners, featuring a group performance and special routines.
Strictly Come Dancing 2025 Odds
| Contestant | Odds | Implied Probability (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Lewis Cope | 16/5 | 23.81% |
| Dani Dyer | 9/2 | 18.18% |
| Ellie Goldstein | 5/1 | 16.66% |
| George Clarke | 10/1 | 9.09% |
| Karen Carney | 12/1 | 7.69% |
| Vicky Pattison | 12/1 | 7.69% |
| Balvinder Sopal | 18/1 | 5.26% |
| Tom Skinner | 20/1 | 4.76% |
| Alex Kingston | 22/1 | 4.35% |
| Harry Aikines-Aryeetey | 28/1 | 3.45% |
| La Voix | 40/1 | 2.44% |
| Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink | 50/1 | 1.96% |
| Stefan Dennis | 50/1 | 1.96% |
| Chris Robshaw | 50/1 | 1.96% |
| Ross King | 100/1 | 0.99% |
Lewis Cope, best known for playing Nicky Milligan in Emmerdale, has quickly become the favourite to win Strictly Come Dancing 2025 at a best price of 16/5 with Paddy Power.
Joining the show after Kristian Nairn’s withdrawal, Cope brings a blend of acting pedigree and proven stage presence, having appeared in productions like Billy Elliot: The Musical and Witness for the Prosecution.
His background in dance, coupled with his popularity from Emmerdale, has seen him attract a wave of early support from bettors, making him the early frontrunner for this year’s Glitterball Trophy.
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Strictly Come Dancing Betting
| Contestant | % of Bets |
|---|---|
| Alex Kingston | 15.45% |
| Lewis Cope | 14.55% |
| Vicky Pattison | 12.73% |
| George Clarke | 10.91% |
| Ellie Goldstein | 8.18% |
| Karen Carney | 7.27% |
The table above shows the percentage of bets taken through oddschecker in the last seven days on the winner market for Strictly Come Dancing 2025.
Alex Kingston, the acclaimed actress known for her roles as River Song in Doctor Who and Dr. Elizabeth Corday in ER, is the most backed celebrity competing in Strictly Come Dancing 2025 with 15.45% of all bets placed in her favour.
