Strictly Come Dancing has announced its first celebrity contestants for the 2025 series, including former Dutch footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Love Island winner Dani Dyer, and actress Alex Kingston. They join Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, who previously appeared in the 2024 Christmas special.
Hasselbaink, currently assistant coach for the England football team, said he decided to join the show at his family's request. Announcing his participation on The One Show, the 53-year-old said the competition will take him "totally out of my comfort zone". Kingston, 62, known for roles in ER and Doctor Who, said she was inspired by her friend Sarah Hadland's runner-up finish last year. Dyer, 28, described the opportunity as "the second most amazing thing I've done this year".
Aikines-Aryeetey, 36, who won gold at the World Youth Championships and competed at two Olympics, said he is "ready to give it all I've got". The remaining contestants will be announced throughout August, with rumoured names including Sir Mo Farah and Stacey Solomon. The show also confirmed two new professional dancers: Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon.
