Table of Contents
Week two at a glance
Strictly Come Dancing 2025 returned to the ballroom for week two with a glitzy mix of sambas, waltzes, paso dobles and a cheeky Charleston — and it genuinely felt like lift-off. With public voting opening for the first time this series, the atmosphere turned from warm-up to game-on, and the leaderboard told a lively story of front-runners, dark horses, and those already fighting for survival.
The BBC juggernaut — yes, Strictly Come Dancing BBC at its big-show best — delivered a Saturday night of pure entertainment, rich with fan chatter and expert nit-picking from the judges.
Catch all our latest WigTea TV 📺 coverage — previews, live blogs and reviews.
Seven unmissable highlights
A quick tour of the moments that defined strictly come dancing 2025, week two.
Highest score of the night
A samba hit the evening’s top mark, setting the technical benchmark for Strictly Come Dancing 2025.
Consistent overall leader
Amber Davies leads the combined scoreboard after two weeks — proving consistency beats one-night fireworks.
Paso with cinematic punch
George Clarke’s paso doble delivered drama and line, hinting at a ballroom breakthrough next.
Charleston with crowd appeal
Balvinder Sopal’s lively Charleston landed personality in spades — the kind that converts viewers into voters.
Ellie’s reassurance and reception
Ellie Goldstein clarified she was fine after week one; her week-two waltz drew warm praise online.
Judges shaping the story
The Strictly Come Dancing judges balanced footwork rigour and musicality — guidance that moved public sentiment.
Stakes of the first dance-off
With the results show looming, strategy, song choice and coaching from the Strictly Come Dancing professionals become decisive.
Who topped the leaderboard tonight
Who topped the leaderboard on Strictly Come Dancing 2025 week two? The nuance matters. The highest single routine score of the evening hit 31, but the combined standings after two live weeks put Amber Davies at or near the summit — a demonstration of consistency as much as ceiling. At the other end, Ross King and Thomas Skinner remained stuck in the bottom places, where public votes become lifelines rather than applause meters.
The Independent’s live coverage and same-night follow-ups underlined that Skinners salsa to “Bonkers” landed only 13, leaving him visibly frustrated. Fan discussion spilled over on Reddit’s live thread the moment the credits rolled — a reminder that the nation’s group chat is now an extension of the studio audience.
Cast, pairings and the power of the pros
The cast of Strictly Come Dancing 2025 is a vibrant cross-section of British pop culture — actors, presenters, reality favourites, athletes — each paired with a member of the Strictly Come Dancing professionals. That pairing chemistry is not a cliché; it is the core ingredient.
New pros Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon have slotted into prime-time with confidence, while returnees such as Johannes Radebe, Katya Jones, Vito Coppola, Carlos Gu, Nikita Kuzmin and Karen Hauer bring distinct styles that shape each couple’s identity. It creates a delicious sense that multiple partnerships could surge by Halloween.
On Reddit, fans are tracking the “class of 2025” closely — from accessibility options and BSL streams to early dance-style predictions — turning Saturday nights into a communal ritual. The live comment threads function like a parallel broadcast, stress-testing every judge’s note and every eight-count.
How the judges shaped the night
The Strictly Come Dancing judges are more than scorekeepers; they are narrative engines. Craig’s forensic footwork notes, Motsi’s musicality focus, Shirley’s technical calibrations and Anton’s ballroom authority combine into a rounded scorecard that rewards more than mere showmanship. With public voting now open, how the panel frames a routine has an immediate effect on momentum.
There was even a small slice of live-TV chaos — a seating-positions muddle and a brief Craig Revel Horwood slip that fans noticed — the sort of moment that lights up social feeds without denting the show’s rhythm. It added to the “anything can happen” crackle of a week when first impressions harden into trends.
Broadcast details and how to watch
If you are plotting your weekend around Strictly Come Dancing 2025, BBC One is the heartbeat. The live show aired on Saturday evening, with the week two results show set for Sunday night — the first dance-off of the series, and the first real test of composure under pressure. The Guardian’s live room-by-room timing confirms the stakes, while broadsheets flagged the public vote implications for lower-ranked celebs.
For catch-up and clips, Strictly Come Dancing BBC on iPlayer and the official social channels remain the gold standard.
Headlines and Strictly Come Dancing news
The most-searched Strictly Come Dancing news angle this week was unexpectedly tender. After week one, viewers worried that Ellie Goldstein had been upset; she has since reassured audiences that she was not upset at all — she enjoyed the night, felt supported by her fellow Strictly Come Dancing dancers, and was simply emotional after a long day. That matters because narratives crystallise quickly on Strictly, and Ellie’s week-two waltz drew warmth across timelines.
There were other plot-threads. Vicky Pattison became emotional after judges suggested she could win the series — a story that rippled out via culture desks and entertainment wires, feeding the optimism around her partnership. At the opposite pole, Thomas Skinner’s frustration at a low score became a lightning rod for debates about entertainment value versus technique.
Standout performances and those in danger
Let us talk routines. A 31-point samba set the night’s high-water mark, but Amber Davies leading the joint scoreboard after two weeks shows that steady excellence will trump one-night fireworks. George Clarke’s moody paso doble signalled range, while Balvinder Sopal’s Charleston crackled with personality — the kind of characterful performance that can out-punch raw technique in the public vote. Meanwhile, Ross King and Thomas Skinner have ground to make up before Latin Week lands.
At the bottom, strategy now matters. This is the tranche of the leaderboard where wardrobe, song choice and routine construction can buy you time, and where the Strictly Come Dancing professionals earn their fee twice over by designing weeks that play to strengths while quietly fixing weaknesses. If a couple can post a meaningful technique uptick next Saturday, the momentum swing could be dramatic.
Why the professionals and judges matter so much
The engine room of Strictly Come Dancing 2025 is, as ever, the Strictly Come Dancing professionals. Around the two newest pros there is an embarrassment of riches: Johannes’s gift for framing a celeb, Katya’s risk-positive choreography, Vito’s lyrical partnering, Carlos’s charm-threaded technique, and Nikita’s star-polish without over-choreographing. Those creative micro-choices decide whether a dance reads in the room and on the sofa — and whether it converts casual viewers into voters.
And then there is the panel. The Strictly Come Dancing judges are character-makers as much as adjudicators. A Craig four generates headlines, Motsi’s eights build momentum, Shirley’s ballroom notes are gold dust for frame and footwork, and Anton’s tango expertise is a literal level-up. Add Reddit’s quicksilver fandom — pausing, rewatching and arguing the meta — and you have a modern viewing culture where feedback loops shape the competition in real time.
Results show stakes
Sunday’s results show is the first crucible of Strictly Come Dancing 2025. In a dance-off, couples must put a routine back on its feet with minimal rehearsal and maximum pressure. Expect at least one “how did they end up bottom two?” debate and, just maybe, a save that ages very well. Newspapers have already framed the vote as awkward for one or two story-heavy contestants, which only heightens the jeopardy.
As for early title contenders, Amber Davies is the headline — excellent musicality, quick retention, and a partnership that looks stage-ready already. The 31-pointer proves ceiling for at least one rival. A sleeper pick could be George Clarke if paso confidence translates to ballroom hold, while an ex-athlete’s stamina hints at a mid-season surge if technique keeps pace with performance. The next two weeks — foxtrot and Viennese territory — often reveal who has finalist bones.
People Also Ask — quick answers
Why was Ellie upset on Strictly tonight?
She was not — by her own account. Ellie Goldstein addressed social concern after the first live show and said she was fine and happy to be there; week two brought a warmly received, emotional routine that viewers praised. The empathy around Ellie remains one of the most wholesome strands of Strictly Come Dancing 2025.
Who topped the leaderboard on Strictly tonight?
Who is replacing Danny Dyer on Strictly?
It is Dani Dyer — not Danny — who withdrew before the live shows due to injury, with her late replacement stepping in and immediately shaping the competitive landscape of Strictly Come dancing 2025. Mainstream coverage has treated it as a rare mid-pre-season twist that the format absorbed smoothly.
Why did Amanda and Giovanni leave Strictly?
That question refers to 2023. Amanda Abbington exited the series on medical grounds at the time, and subsequent reporting focused on training-room allegations. Giovanni Pernice is not part of the 2025 professional line-up. The current Strictly Come Dancing dancers represent a fresh chapter.
Final word — sequins, pixels, and Sunday suspense 🎨
Because this is WigTea, a playful pixel-art note to finish. Strictly Come Dancing 2025 is already drawing those neat eight-bit storylines we love: the surprise samba that levels up a character, the moody paso that unlocks a new palette, the Charleston sprite who jumps coins like a platformer.
Add in the BBC’s handsome iPlayer shelf and a community that treats the show like a live-service game — voting, debating, and frame-by-frame rewatching — and you have a series that is interactive without ever needing a controller.
Where does that leave us after week two of Strictly Come Dancing 2025?
With a show in rude health — technically, narratively, culturally. The Strictly Come Dancing professionals are crafting routines that spotlight each celeb’s personality; the judges are applying standards that feel consistent and clear; and the Strictly Come Dancing news cycle is feeding fans just enough plot to keep Saturdays and Sundays appointment viewing.
For schedules and full episodes of Strictly Come Dancing 2025, head to BBC on iPlayer, and keep an eye on reputable outlets for updated leaderboards and dance lists.
See you on the sofa — sequins at the ready.