How to vote in Strictly Come Dancing 2025

It's all change on Strictly Come Dancing lately.

Not only did we get the bombshell that Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly are set to step down from show at the end of the current season but 2025 also saw adjustments to the voting system.

The duo announced the news on Thursday in a joint statement shared on Instagram, writing that "now feels like the right time" to hand over the reins on the show which they have been presenting as a duo since 2014 (of course, Daly originally presented with the late Sir Bruce Forsyth for the first 10 years of the series).

But while the time to mourn the pair's departure will come, the focus now shifts back to the ongoing season, with Strictly Come Dancing 2025 continuing with its fifth week tonight.

This year's Strictly contestants include ex-Doctor Who star Alex Kingston, EastEnders' Balvinder Sopal, TV personality Vicky Pattison and more, all donning their dancing shoes week in, week out to impress the judges and you, the fans at home.

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? 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.

Add Strictly Come Dancing to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.

Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.