
Strictly Come Dancing Winners – Complete List From 2004 to 2025
Strictly Come Dancing has been a fixture of British television since 2004, drawing millions of viewers each autumn. Over 23 series, the BBC competition has crowned celebrities from newsreading, sport, acting, comedy and beyond. Below is a complete list of every winner, the professional partner they danced with, and the key moments that defined each victory.
Official BBC records, encyclopaedic sources such as Wikipedia, and specialist outlets like Radio Times and Donaheys.co.uk all confirm the winners listed below.
Whether you are looking for the most recent champion, want to check who won in a particular year, or are curious about historic records, the sections below provide a clear, scannable reference.
Who Are All the Strictly Come Dancing Winners in Order? (Full List)
Twenty-three celebrities have lifted the glitterball trophy since the first series aired in 2004. The table below gives a quick overview of every winner, from Natasha Kaplinsky and Brendan Cole to Karen Carney and Carlos Gu.
Karen Carney & Carlos Gu
Series 23 — won Dec 2025
Chris McCausland & Dianne Buswell
First blind winner
Oti Mabuse (2 consecutive)
Aliona Vilani also has 2 wins
Bill Bailey (age 55, 2020)
Won during the pandemic series
Key Insights at a Glance
- Oti Mabuse and Aliona Vilani are the only professional dancers with two wins each. Oti’s victories came back-to-back in 2019 and 2020.
- Bill Bailey, at 55, remains the oldest celebrity to win the competition.
- Rose Ayling-Ellis became the first deaf winner in 2021; Chris McCausland became the first blind winner in 2024.
- The 2020 series (Series 18) was held without a studio audience due to COVID-19 restrictions.
- Female and male winners are fairly evenly split across the 23 series, with a slight edge toward male celebrities in recent years.
- Winning dance styles have shifted: Latin and Ballroom remain dominant, but Couple’s Choice routines have featured prominently in recent finals.
Strictly Winners by Year: 2004–2025
| Series | Year | Winner | Professional Partner | Key Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2004 | Natasha Kaplinsky | Brendan Cole | First-ever winners |
| 2 | 2004 | Jill Halfpenny | Darren Bennett | Beat Matt Dawson in final |
| 3 | 2005 | Darren Gough | Lilia Kopylova | First male winner |
| 4 | 2006 | Mark Ramprakash | Karen Hardy | Highest judges’ scores |
| 5 | 2007 | Alesha Dixon | Matthew Cutler | Beat Tom Chambers |
| 6 | 2008 | Tom Chambers | Camilla Dallerup | Beat Rachel Stevens |
| 7 | 2009 | Chris Hollins | Ola Jordan | Beat Ricky Whittle |
| 8 | 2010 | Kara Tointon | Artem Chigvintsev | Artem’s first series win |
| 9 | 2011 | Harry Judd | Aliona Vilani | Beat Chelsee Healey |
| 10 | 2012 | Louis Smith | Flavia Cacace | Flavia’s final series |
| 11 | 2013 | Abbey Clancy | Aljaž Škorjanec | Beat Susanna Reid |
| 12 | 2014 | Caroline Flack | Pasha Kovalev | Beat Simon Webbe |
The full 23-series list, including runners-up and winning dance styles, is available via the Radio Times guide. Additional context for each series can be found in the Wikipedia series overview.
Who Won Strictly Come Dancing in 2024 and 2025?
The two most recent series produced historic winners. Both victories were notable for reasons beyond dancing ability, reflecting the show’s growing emphasis on representation and inclusivity.
Strictly Come Dancing 2024 Winner (Season 22)
Chris McCausland, a comedian and presenter, won the 2024 series with professional partner Dianne Buswell. He is the first blind contestant to win Strictly Come Dancing. The final was closely contested, with McCausland beating Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Skorjanec, JB Gill and Lauren Oakley, and Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola.
Chris McCausland’s victory in 2024 marked the first time a blind celebrity had won Strictly Come Dancing. His journey was widely praised for demonstrating that visual impairment need not be a barrier to high-level performance.
Strictly Come Dancing 2025 Winner (Season 23)
Karen Carney, a former England footballer turned presenter, won the 2025 series with professional partner Carlos Gu. The season ran from 27 September to 20 December 2025. Carney’s triumph added a second sportsperson to the winners’ list, following cricketer Darren Gough in 2005.
Additional context on the 2025 finale, including judges’ scores and public vote breakdowns, is available through the BBC Strictly Come Dancing official page.
What Are the Winners of Specific Strictly Seasons?
For readers interested in particular recent series, the following breakdown covers Seasons 19 through 23. Each entry includes the celebrity, the professional partner, and the winning dance where known.
Season 19 Winner (2021)
Rose Ayling-Ellis, known for her role in EastEnders, won with Giovanni Pernice. She is the first deaf contestant to win the competition. Their winning Tango was widely celebrated. They beat John Whaite and Johannes Radebe in the final.
Season 21 Winner (2023)
Ellie Leach, a Coronation Street actress, won with Vito Coppola. Their Couples’ Favourite American Smooth sealed the victory. They defeated Bobby Brazier in the final.
Season 22 Winner (2024)
As noted above, Chris McCausland won with Dianne Buswell, becoming the first blind winner in the show’s history.
Season 23 Winner (2025)
Karen Carney won with Carlos Gu. The series concluded on 20 December 2025.
If you are looking for a specific season between 2004 and 2020, the full table earlier in this article covers Series 1 through 12, and the timeline section below completes the list up to Series 23.
Who Won Strictly Come Dancing Tonight? (Latest Finale)
The most recent Strictly final took place on 20 December 2025. Karen Carney and Carlos Gu were crowned champions. If you are reading this after a future finale, the winner will have been announced live on BBC One. For the very latest result, check the BBC Strictly page or trusted news sources.
How to Watch the Strictly Final Tonight
The live final typically airs on BBC One in December, starting around 19:00 GMT. Viewers can also stream via BBC iPlayer. The winner is determined by a combination of judges’ scores and public votes.
Once the winner is announced on air, the result is official. BBC sources confirm the winner shortly after the broadcast. Any claims about the winner before the live announcement are speculative.
How Has the List of Champions Evolved Since 2004?
The following ordered timeline traces every Strictly Come Dancing champion from the debut series to the most recent. Each entry includes the celebrity, professional partner, and a notable fact.
- 2004 (Series 1) — Natasha Kaplinsky & Brendan Cole. First-ever winners.
- 2004 (Series 2) — Jill Halfpenny & Darren Bennett. Beat Matt Dawson.
- 2005 (Series 3) — Darren Gough & Lilia Kopylova. First male champion.
- 2006 (Series 4) — Mark Ramprakash & Karen Hardy. Highest judges’ scores.
- 2007 (Series 5) — Alesha Dixon & Matthew Cutler. Beat Tom Chambers.
- 2008 (Series 6) — Tom Chambers & Camilla Dallerup. Beat Rachel Stevens.
- 2009 (Series 7) — Chris Hollins & Ola Jordan. Beat Ricky Whittle.
- 2010 (Series 8) — Kara Tointon & Artem Chigvintsev. Artem’s first win.
- 2011 (Series 9) — Harry Judd & Aliona Vilani. Beat Chelsee Healey.
- 2012 (Series 10) — Louis Smith & Flavia Cacace. Flavia’s final series.
- 2013 (Series 11) — Abbey Clancy & Aljaž Škorjanec. Beat Susanna Reid.
- 2014 (Series 12) — Caroline Flack & Pasha Kovalev. Beat Simon Webbe.
- 2015 (Series 13) — Jay McGuinness & Aliona Vilani. Aliona’s second win.
- 2016 (Series 14) — Ore Oduba & Joanne Clifton. Beat Danny Mac.
- 2017 (Series 15) — Joe McFadden & Katya Jones. Second Holby City winner.
- 2018 (Series 16) — Stacey Dooley & Kevin Clifton. Kevin’s first win.
- 2019 (Series 17) — Kelvin Fletcher & Oti Mabuse. Won with Rumba.
- 2020 (Series 18) — Bill Bailey & Oti Mabuse. Oldest winner; pandemic series.
- 2021 (Series 19) — Rose Ayling-Ellis & Giovanni Pernice. First deaf winner.
- 2022 (Series 20) — Hamza Yassin & Jowita Przystał. Couples’ Choice to ‘Jerusalem.’
- 2023 (Series 21) — Ellie Leach & Vito Coppola. American Smooth.
- 2024 (Series 22) — Chris McCausland & Dianne Buswell. First blind winner.
- 2025 (Series 23) — Karen Carney & Carlos Gu. Former England footballer.
The Donaheys winners guide includes runners-up for each season and is updated after every final.
Are All Strictly Come Dancing Winners Officially Confirmed?
All winners from Series 1 (2004) to Series 23 (2025) are confirmed by the BBC. Multiple reputable sources agree with one another on the complete list. However, some questions about future or speculative outcomes remain open.
- All 23 winners are confirmed by BBC sources.
- Winning professional partners are documented for every series.
- Key facts (oldest winner, first deaf winner, etc.) are verified.
- Predictions about the winner of Series 24 (expected 2026) are speculative.
- Rumours about potential contestants for future series are not confirmed.
- Exact voting percentages for each final are not always publicly released.
What Do the Winners Reveal About the Show’s Evolution?
The list of Strictly Come Dancing winners reflects broader changes in British television and society. Early winners tended to be newsreaders, actors and sportspeople with limited dance experience. In recent years, the show has placed a stronger emphasis on inclusivity, as seen in the victories of Rose Ayling-Ellis, the first deaf winner, and Chris McCausland, the first blind winner. For more on popular British programming, see the Line of Duty Tommy Hunter – Character Guide and Actor Obituary.
The professional partner records also tell a story. Oti Mabuse’s back-to-back wins in 2019 and 2020 place her alongside Aliona Vilani as the most successful professionals in the show’s history. The 2020 series, held under pandemic restrictions, demonstrated that the format could adapt without losing its appeal.
The most recent winners — Karen Carney in 2025 and Chris McCausland in 2024 — suggest that the BBC continues to value representation alongside performance quality. Whether this trend will continue into Series 24 remains to be seen, but the trajectory is clear.
Where Can You Find Verified Information on Strictly Winners?
For readers who wish to verify any detail independently, the following sources are considered reliable.
“Strictly Come Dancing has crowned 23 series winners since its debut in 2004.”
— BBC Strictly Come Dancing official summary
“The comprehensive list of winners, runners-up and professional partners is compiled from official BBC records and cross-verified by multiple independent sources.”
— Radio Times winners guide
The IMDB list of Strictly winners provides a user-generated but generally accurate reference, though it lacks the editorial oversight of BBC or Radio Times sources.
What Is the Complete Picture of Strictly Come Dancing Winners?
In summary, 23 celebrity winners have been crowned across 23 series of Strictly Come Dancing. The list includes newsreaders, cricketers, actors, comedians, musicians, footballers and presenters. Professional partners such as Oti Mabuse and Aliona Vilani have won twice, while historic firsts for deaf and blind contestants have broadened the show’s appeal. All winners are confirmed by the BBC, and no series has produced a repeat champion. For those interested in the broader context of UK television, the King and Conqueror Cast – Full BBC Miniseries List offers additional reading on popular British programmes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Strictly Come Dancing winners have there been?
As of the 2025 season (Series 23), there have been 23 winners, one per season since 2004.
Who has won Strictly Come Dancing the most times as a professional?
Several professionals have two wins: Oti Mabuse (2019, 2020) and Aliona Vilani (2011, 2015). No professional has more than two wins as of 2025.
What is the Strictly Come Dancing winners list by year?
The timeline section above lists all winners chronologically from 2004 to 2025, including professional partners and notable facts.
Has any Strictly winner come back to win again?
No celebrity has won twice. Winners are amateur contestants who compete only once as part of a pair.
When does the next Strictly Come Dancing final air?
Finals typically air in mid-December. For 2026 dates, check BBC official announcements closer to the time.
Who was the oldest Strictly winner?
Bill Bailey was 55 when he won in 2020, making him the oldest winner in the show’s history.
Who was the first deaf winner of Strictly?
Rose Ayling-Ellis won in 2021 with Giovanni Pernice, becoming the first deaf contestant to take the trophy.
How many female winners have there been?
Of the 23 winners, 11 have been female and 12 have been male, an almost even split that reflects the show’s broad appeal.
Where can I watch past Strictly finals?
Past episodes and finals are available on BBC iPlayer. Some series are also available on DVD and streaming platforms.
Is the 2025 Strictly winner confirmed?
Yes. Karen Carney and Carlos Gu won the 2025 final on 20 December 2025, as confirmed by the BBC.