Neil Jones jokes about not landing a celebrity partner again as Strictly returns

Strictly Come Dancing returned to screens on Tuesday, launching a new run that combined familiar faces with fresh drama around the long-running BBC spectacle. One of the show’s veterans grabbed attention for a different reason than glitzy lifts or quickstep footwork: Neil Jones, 43, who last appeared on the program in 2024 partnering Toyah Willcox, has previously missed out on celebrity slots in 2023 and 2022. In a lighthearted Instagram clip, Jones threw a pen toward a cup and teased that fate might still land him a celebrity partner this season. He then prepared for a routine in the studio, before joking that he would love to be part of Strictly again regardless of a partner, and asking fans to name their favorite current pairing.

Jones’s quip arrives as the show confirms a refreshed pro lineup and a slate of anticipated dances, even as it continues to weather a swirl of off-screen controversy that has shadowed the 2025 cycle. The professional roster returning to the ballroom includes Dianne Buswell, who helped lift the Glitter Ball trophy in 2024 with Chris McCausland, along with Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk and Jowita Przystal. They will be joined by Johannes Radebe, Aljaž Škorjanec, Nancy Xu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas and Vito Coppola, all of whom have previously taken part on the show. The combination of proven talents and new partnerships sets the stage for a season that fans will be watching closely both on and off the dance floor.

On the launch night, the pre-recorded episode introduced the 15 celebrity contestants meeting their pro partners for the first time and then taking the floor for a group routine. The 90-minute show kicked off what programmers hope will be a competitive and entertaining season. Overnight ratings placed the 2025 launch on par with 2024, peaking around 5.6 million viewers and averaging about 5.4 million for the duration, according to the BBC’s overnight figures. Those numbers exclude on-demand viewing from BBC iPlayer, where millions more fans typically tune in, which means the total audience is likely higher when all platforms are counted. While the figure suggests a solid start, last year’s launch was down about a million viewers from the year before, making this year Looked at in context, a show-wide improvement in the same timeslot represents a strong rebound for the franchise.

The broader context for Strictly Come Dancing’s 2025 season includes a series of high-profile rumblings and investigations that have shadowed the show in recent months. The BBC has publicly acknowledged ongoing scrutiny around production and cast conduct, including bullying allegations and a drug probe tied to some participants. In August, reports said two of the show’s stars were being investigated for drug use, while another historic name was arrested in a separate matter. The network has framed these episodes as separate from the contestants’ performances, emphasizing that Strictly remains a flagship of the BBC’s autumn schedule. In parallel, the show had drawn attention for other off-air developments, including the departure of Wynne Evans as a presenter and public conversations about reported abusive behavior among some professional dancers. Television sources emphasized that the program’s management would continue to monitor the situation closely as the season unfolds.

The 2025 lineup for the celebrity contestants further illustrates the mix of sport, entertainment and reality television that has long defined Strictly. Among the celebrities confirmed to compete are Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, a 36-year-old Olympic sprinter and former Gladiator; Alex Kingston, 62, the Doctor Who actress known for her range and charisma; Balvinder Sopal, 46, of EastEnders; La Voix, a 45-year-old drag performer; Thomas Skinner, 34, a reality star and entrepreneur; Vicky Pattison, 37, a reality television staple; Karen Carney, 38, a football pundit; George Clark, 25, a YouTuber; Dani Dyer, 29, the 2018 Love Island winner; Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, 53, the former Chelsea and Netherlands striker; Ellie Goldstein, 23, a model and disability ambassador; Chris Robshaw, 39, a rugby player; Stefan Dennis, 66, an actor; Ross King, 63, a showbiz correspondent; and Lewis Cope, 30, an actor. The season’s star-studded mix underscores the show’s continued appeal as it works to balance spectacle with the ongoing realities of production, behavior questions and public scrutiny.

As Strictly moves deeper into its 2025 run, fans and observers will be watching not only for dazzling routines and surprise upsets but also for how the program manages controversy while maintaining the format that has kept it a staple of Britain’s culture and entertainment landscape for years. BBC representatives have not indicated any changes to the broadcast schedule beyond reaffirming support for contestants amid the ongoing investigations, and the network has pledged to continue reporting on the season’s developments as they unfold.