Strictly Come Dancing Vote: Complete Guide & Latest News

There’s a moment every Saturday night when Claudia Winkleman announces the lines are open, and viewers scramble to cast their votes. But in 2025, the way you vote on Strictly Come Dancing has changed more than in any previous series.

Voting methods: 1 (online only) · Max votes per viewer: 5 · Voting window: Live show, ~7–9 PM BST · Cost: Free (no call charges) · Elimination formula: Judges’ scores + public vote

Five details paint the full picture of how the Strictly Come Dancing vote works in 2025.

The implication: viewers no longer face a per-vote cost, but they must have internet access and a BBC account.

How do I vote on Strictly?

What time does the Strictly vote open?

Voting lines open live during the Saturday night broadcast after the host announces it. According to the GeekSided voting guide (entertainment media), the window is tightly controlled – you vote while the show is on, and lines close after all performances are done. The typical window runs from around 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM BST.

How do I vote online?

1. Go to bbc.co.uk/strictly during the live show.
2. Sign in with your BBC account (or register for one – it’s free). GeekSided explains that non-account holders can sign up instantly.
3. Select your favourite couple and confirm your vote.
4. You can cast up to five votes per episode. Hits Radio (music & entertainment station) notes this is a reduction from previous finals where five votes were standard only for the final.

How do I vote by phone?

Phone voting is no longer available. Multiple sources confirm that the 2025 series moved entirely online. The Hits Radio report calls this “the first time in the show’s 21-year history” that telephone lines have been dropped. GeekSided adds that the shift is permanent for the current series.

The catch: anyone without a BBC account by Saturday night loses their chance to influence the result.

Who got voted out in Strictly tonight?

Why was Lewis voted off Strictly?

The most recent elimination saw Lewis and his partner Katya leave the competition during the semi-final. The elimination was determined by combining judges’ scores with the public vote – a system detailed on Wikipedia (encyclopedic source) that has been used since the show’s early series. According to GeekSided, the bottom-two couples face a dance-off, and the judges decide who stays.

Why did Lewis and Katya get eliminated based on their scores?

Lewis and Katya received the lowest combined score from judges and audience that week. While the exact score breakdown hasn’t been published, the Wikipedia entry for Strictly explains that the couple with the lowest combined total is placed in the bottom two and must dance again. The judges’ vote then determines who goes home.

The pattern: low public support combined with middling judges’ scores is almost impossible to survive in the semi-final.

Who collapsed on Strictly last night?

What happened to Amy Dowden?

Amy Dowden, a professional dancer on the show, collapsed backstage during a live episode and was taken to hospital. The incident was reported by BBC News (public service broadcaster). She later thanked fans for their support via social media. No long-term health update has been issued by the show.

Has Janette Manrara been ill?

There is no official report of Janette Manrara being ill. The Hits Radio article makes no mention of her health, and searches of other credible sources turn up no confirmation. This appears to be an unfounded rumour.

What this means: viewers should rely only on official BBC statements for health updates about dancers.

Who did Katya have a fling with on Strictly?

Is the fling confirmed?

Tabloid rumours have circulated for years about professional dancer Katya Jones having a fling with a fellow contestant. However, Wikipedia (encyclopedic source) notes only her professional achievements, and neither the BBC nor Katya herself has confirmed any such relationship. The Hits Radio report does not mention it. Until official confirmation, this remains unverified gossip.

The implication: without BBC or dancer confirmation, these claims should not influence how you watch the show.

Can I vote on ITV for free?

Is ITV involved in Strictly?

Strictly Come Dancing is a BBC programme. It is broadcast on BBC One and streamed on BBC iPlayer. The official BBC programme page lists no connection to ITV. Voting is exclusively through BBC channels – no ITV platform is involved.

How can I vote on Strictly?

As above, voting is only through the BBC website. There is no free voting on ITV for Strictly because ITV does not host the show. The GeekSided guide and Hits Radio both confirm the same message: online, BBC, and that’s it.

The implication: anyone searching for an ITV voting option will waste time – the only path runs through BBC channels.

Expert perspectives

“We can confirm that voting has moved online for the first time in the show’s history. Viewers will need a BBC account to take part.”

— BBC spokesperson (via Hits Radio)

“Thank you all for the love and support. I’m resting and already feeling better.”

— Amy Dowden, professional dancer (via social media, cited by BBC News)

The pattern: official statements come from multiple sources – the BBC for policy, the dancers for personal updates – and each should be treated differently.

The shift to online-only voting has ended a 21-year tradition of phone voting. For viewers who relied on landline votes, the change means they must either adapt to digital or miss out. For BBC account holders, it’s a simpler, cheaper system – but one that requires dead-reliable internet during the live window. The choice for regular voters is clear: register for a BBC account before Saturday, or you won’t have a say in who lifts the glitterball. For more on BBC programming, see our guide to Red Nose Day 2025.

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