How to vote in Strictly Come Dancing 2025

It's not often Strictly Come Dancing fans are treated to something completely new on the show – but on tonight's episode (Saturday 29th November) viewers saw the first ever edition of the brand new Instant Dance challenge.

The new format twist – which saw each couple given just 10 seconds to plan a 40-second routine – provided plenty of chaos and went down a treat with fans of the show, many of whom are already calling for it to become a regular feature.

As well as making for some very entertaining TV, the challenge also shook up the leaderboard, with the 4 points awarded to Amber and Nikita putting them top when added to their perfect 40 for their main routine earlier on the show.

Karen and Carlos also received the maximum score for their first routine, but finished bottom in the Instant Dance challenge which meant that Lewis and Katya – who placed first in the challenge – leapfrogged them into second place.
With things really heating up in the competition, the remaining Strictly contestants will be hoping they've done enough to book their place in next week's musicals themed quarter finals – and now it's over to the public vote.
Because this season has been different when it comes to how viewers can cast their votes, we at Radio Times think it's important to bring you all the latest voting info in one clear, concise and handy guide.

Ahead of the show's run, the BBC confirmed it had scrapped premium-rate voting, meaning there is now only one way you can vote.

So, how can you cast your vote on Strictly Come Dancing 2025? Read on for everything you need to know.

How to vote online for Strictly Come Dancing

When the vote opens each week, head on over to the Strictly homepage, where you'll find the vote at the top of the page.

You can vote online on the Strictly homepage, or by scanning the QR code available on their website – which will be displayed on screen during the show. Online voting can be done by a mobile phone, tablet or computer.

Before you can vote, you need to be signed into your BBC account. If you voted last year, providing you're using the same device, you should still be signed in and ready to vote.

But if you have never voted before, you will need to register for a BBC account in order to vote.

Once the vote is open, the couples will be listed in alphabetical order.

You can cast your votes by selecting your favourite duo by clicking the plus icon next to their name so that a 1 appears in the box between the plus and minus icons.

Once you've allocated all your votes, you won't be able to press the plus icon anymore. If you're happy with your votes, then click 'Submit X votes' at the bottom of the page. Once submitted, the votes cannot be changed.

When does the vote open for Strictly Come Dancing?

Voting opens during each live show. Be careful though: the vote does not open until all the couples have danced, which means you have to wait until near the end of the show to cast your votes.

Is it free to vote online for Strictly?

Voting online is free for Strictly Come Dancing 2025.

Can you vote by phone?

No, you can no longer vote by phone for Strictly Come Dancing.

The BBC confirmed it had scrapped its premium-rate phone voting system before the 2025 series began, with the Eurovision Song Contest becoming the last major BBC show to offer it.

Strictly Come Dancing continues on BBC One and iPlayer.

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