The iconic dance competition, Strictly Come Dancing, is implementing one of its most significant changes in two decades for its 2025 series. The traditional phone-in vote, a staple of the show since its inception, has been officially retired, marking a new era for how viewers influence the race for the glitterball trophy.
What is the new voting system for Strictly 2025?
In a major shake-up for series 23, the BBC has confirmed it is stopping premium-rate phone voting across all its major programmes. This decision follows the announcement that Eurovision 2025 was the final BBC event to offer the service. A spokesperson for the broadcaster explained the reasoning behind this pivotal shift.
"For years, shows like Strictly Come Dancing, BBC Sports Personality of the Year and Eurovision let viewers vote by calling premium-rate numbers," they stated. "However, this is now an outdated system and also expensive to run."
The spokesperson highlighted that online voting has become the go-to choice for most viewers, with the overwhelming majority of votes in the last Strictly series being cast digitally. The change was also prompted by BT, the company that provided these phone services for the BBC, announcing it would stop offering them in early 2025.
How to cast your vote in week 7
As the competition heats up in week seven, knowing how to vote is crucial. The process is now entirely online, but the timing remains the same. Voting does not open until every couple has performed their routines during the live show on Saturday, November 8th.
Hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will confirm when the lines are officially open and specify how long viewers have to cast their votes. The results of the public vote, combined with the judges' scores, will then be revealed during the results show on Sunday, November 9th.
If you already have a BBC account, you are all set to vote. When voting is active, you will be directed to the show's website where a clear voting link will be displayed. For those without an account, signing up is a simple and free process on the BBC website.
Benefits of the new online system
The move to an online-only system is not just about modernisation; it also comes with advantages for viewers. The BBC emphasises that having an account unlocks several benefits, including:
- A more personalised BBC iPlayer experience.
- The ability to pick up and continue watching shows across different devices.
- Local weather updates tailored to your location.
The BBC is aware that this represents a significant change for some of its audience. "We know this is a change for some viewers," the spokesperson added, "so we’ll be sharing clear instructions during shows like Strictly to explain how to get set up and vote."
This new chapter for Strictly Come Dancing voting streamlines the process, making it quicker and more integrated with the modern viewer's habits as the competition continues its journey towards crowning a new champion.
