Strictly Come Dancing fever is properly underway forward of the 2026 collection, with a number of members of the solid already revealed, together with a TV legend.
This 12 months’s batch of rivals will little doubt be hoping to duplicate the success of Lioness Karen Carney {and professional} companion Carlos Gu, who emerged as final 12 months’s winners.
And the newcomers might be becoming a member of Strictly at an essential time, with a variety of monumental modifications happening on the BBC’s flagship dancing present.
This, in fact, contains the departure of hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman – changed by three new hosts (rely ’em!) in broadcaster Emma Willis, comic Josh Widdicombe, and professional dancer Johannes Radebe.
The professional dancer line-up has additionally undergone some sweeping modifications, too, with fan favourites Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, Karen Hauer, Michelle Tsiakkas, and Gorka Márquez having departed, whereas Neil Jones and Nancy Xu might be ‘benched’ with no companion.
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As bosses look to usher Strictly into a brand new period – hopefully scandal-free to any extent further – let’s check out who has been confirmed and who’s rumoured for the 2026 line-up.
Who’s confirmed within the Strictly Come Dancing solid 2026?
Melanie Walters
Finishing the category of 2026 is Gavin and Stacey star, Melanie Walters.
Finest generally known as portraying the ‘mild-mannered, omelette-obsessed Gwen West’ within the hit BBC comedy, she’s additionally been a staple on British TV for many years.
Through the years she’s appeared in Coronation Avenue, Past Paradise, Being Human, Hollyoaks, Biff and Chip, and Doc Martin – to call just a few. Not solely that, however she’s additionally a prolific stage star.
The actress stated: ‘Performing in Pantomime for the final 15 years, my Strictly ‘repair’ has all the time been watching in a dressing room somewhat than my entrance room.
‘This 12 months I’m utterly thrilled and glad to swap my fairy wand for sequinned dance sneakers. I simply hope I don’t observe Cinderella and depart one on the Ballroom stairs. I can not wait to participate on this completely iconic present, it’s so thrilling. See you in September!”
John Nellis
YouTuber John Nellis was the fourteenth movie star to be introduced for Strictly 2026.
Nellis is among the UK’s greatest and most influential sports activities creators with 15 million individuals subscribed to his YouTube channel.
He’s additionally collaborated with a few of the greatest names in sport, together with Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Cristiano Ronaldo.
‘I’m nonetheless in disbelief that I’ve been chosen for Strictly and, if I’m trustworthy, I’m a bit nervous as I’ve by no means danced earlier than! It’s such an unbelievable alternative, and I’m going to throw myself into each second,’ he stated in an announcement.
‘I can’t wait to fulfill everybody, be taught a brand new ability and, hopefully, be significantly better at household events by the top of it!’
I ponder if Haaland will make the journey over to observe his mate waltz concerning the ballroom?
Tabby Stoecker
Olympic gold medallist Tabby Stoecker might be swapping skeleton for Strictly in September after being introduced because the present’s thirteenth contestant.
Stoecker not too long ago achieved big success, coming first in her sport on the 2026 Winter Olympic Video games held in Italy, regardless of solely making her worldwide debut half a decade in the past.
The athlete stated about becoming a member of the BBC competitors: ‘I’m over the moon to be becoming a member of the solid of Strictly 2026.
‘I’ve had the wildest 12 months of my life thus far, so to be rounding it off with a childhood dream of dancing within the Strictly ballroom is surreal and I can’t wait to get caught in!’
Tabby can be a World Cup race winner, European Champion medallist and a double World Champion medallist.
The winter sport sees rivals race headfirst on sled down an icy observe as quick as attainable.
Lawrence Robb
Finest recognized for enjoying Mackenzie ‘Mack’ Boyd – a member of the legendary Dingle clan – on Emmerdale, Lawrence Robb is the newest star to affix the Strictly solid of 2026.
‘I don’t know who’s extra enthusiastic about this, me or my Mom,’ Robb informed the BBC.
‘I can’t fairly consider that I’m going to be getting my dancing sneakers on this September on one among my favorite reveals of all time! It’s a dream come true, and I can’t wait to convey my all to ballroom. Want me luck, and any recommendation could be very welcome – belief me, I’ll want it!’
Let’s hope that Robb has extra luck within the ballroom than Mack’s had in recent times.
By final rely, Mack’s been in three automotive crashes and held hostage twice in simply six years, and that’s with out mentioning the time he was shot with a crossbow. It brings new that means to the Strictly curse!
Graeme ‘The Dogfather’ Corridor
Graeme Corridor might be a well-recognized face to canine lovers.
The 60-year-old is greatest generally known as the presenter of Channel 5’s Canines Behaving (Very) Badly, which he has helmed for nearly a decade.
He additionally fronted The Canine Hospital with Graeme Corridor, usually seems on This Morning and BBC radio, and final 12 months made a cameo in All Creatures Nice and Small.
When he was introduced for Strictly, he stated: ‘I can’t consider I’m becoming a member of the solid of Strictly for 2026. I’ve all the time liked dancing, so to have the chance to be taught from the most effective within the enterprise is a dream come true.
‘I’ve watched the present for years, so to be part of it appears like a really thrilling problem, albeit greater than a bit nerve-wracking! I can’t wait to get began. Convey it on!’
Shaun Wright-Phillips
Pundit and former Three Lions footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips has develop into the newest identify to affix the movie star solid of 2026.
The son of Ian Wright, his profession spanned 36 England caps and stints at Manchester Metropolis, Chelsea, Queens Park Rangers, and the New York Crimson Bulls and Phoenix Rising FC.
Since leaving the pitch, he’s been a pundit throughout the BBC, Sky Sports activities, ITV, and the Premier League.
However Wright-Phillips is about to place his toes to a distinct use this autumn and stated with the announcement: ‘Dancing is in my blood – however primarily at household occasions!
‘Strictly is certainly exterior my consolation zone, however I’m tremendous excited to get began and actually wanting ahead to the problem!’
Bethany Antonia
Since first hitting the screens when she was simply 14 years outdated in The Tempest, the 28-year-old star’s profession has solely gone from energy to energy.
After showing in reveals like Docs, Nolly, Get Even, Physician Who and Stath Lets Flats, these days she’s greatest recognized for her starring flip in HBO collection Home of the Dragon.
Within the standard fantasy collection, she performs dragon-rider Woman Baela Targaryen, whereas theatre followers could recognise her as Eurydice in West Finish hit Hadestown.
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Now she’s bringing her all to the ballroom. In an announcement, she stated: ‘I can’t fairly consider that I might be heading to the Strictly ballroom this September!
‘I’ve grown up watching Strictly, and I’m so excited to take the problem on and (hopefully!) be taught a brand new ability. See you on the dancefloor!’
Jaime Winstone
Subsequent up we now have blockbuster star Jaime Winstone, who is understood for her stacked filmography together with Kidulthood, Bullet Boy, Tomb Raider, and Wild Invoice.
Her onscreen expertise is clearly genetic, because the daughter of Hollywood star Ray Winstone, whose embellished five-decade profession has included main hitters like The Departed and Beowulf.
As for Jaime, within the cleaning soap world some could recognise her because the star who performed EastEnders’ Barbara Windsor in her 2017 biopic Babs and a younger Peggy Mitchell within the collection.
‘I’m so excited to announce that I might be becoming a member of the Strictly Come Dancing solid this 12 months. I’m no stranger to a dance ground, however the ballroom is a complete new world for me.
‘I like a problem although, so can’t wait to enter my showgirl period and get tremendous sparkly!! Let’s get bodily – see you on the dance ground!,’ she stated in an announcement.
Dame Sarah Storey
Nice Britain’s most profitable Paralympian of all time, Dame Sarah Storey, will certainly be hoping so as to add to her medal assortment with the Strictly trophy.
The 48-year-old athlete is a bicycle owner and swimmer who holds a number of gold medals within the Paralympic Video games. She’s additionally a six-time British nationwide observe champion.
Dame Sarah was born with no functioning left hand and commenced her Paralympic profession aged 14 as a swimmer. For a lot of 2005, she was unable to swim as a consequence of ear infections, which is when she picked up biking and made the everlasting change earlier than Beijing 2008.
At the beginning of this month, she introduced her retirement from aggressive sport, so maybe entering into the Strictly ballroom is the following factor on her bucket listing.
As the primary dame to compete within the present, she stated: ‘Embarking on a brand new problem so quickly after stepping down as an athlete is massively thrilling.
‘I’ve all the time liked watching Strictly, and my daughter, Louisa, is a really proficient dancer, so to have the ability to be taught from the most effective and hopefully perceive much more about her world is extremely motivating! I can’t wait to get began!’
Will Finest
Large Brother presenter Will Finest is the newest big-ticket identify to affix the movie star solid of 2026.
The 41-year-old co-hosts ITV’s actuality present with AJ Odudu and will also be heard over the airwaves on the Hits Radio Breakfast Present.
Most not too long ago, he was seen profitable Celeb Mastermind with the specialist topic of Danny Dyer, so he’ll definitely have a lot to speak about with one among his Strictly rivals (scroll on to search out out which).
Finest stated of his inclusion within the line-up: ‘I can’t fairly consider it…I’m doing Strictly!
‘What an absolute dream. Albeit a fairly terrifying one. I’ve been fortunate to do plenty of stay telly earlier than, however completely nothing like this. And I can not wait!
‘I don’t know if I can really dance, however convey on the sequins, convey on the quicksteps, convey on the dance ground! I’m going to attempt to take pleasure in each minute of it.’
Cach Mercer
Rolling in at quantity 5 is influencer Cach Mercer, who’s already in good standing after profitable actuality present Love Island together with his companion Toni Laites in 2025.
Off the again of his Casa Amor victory, he’s buying and selling sunny days in Mallorca for the high-energy Strictly dance ground.
Though he could properly really feel proper at house, given his social media fame comes from posts exhibiting off his Afrobeat, hip-hop and avenue dance strikes.
‘I’ve grown up watching the present with my household and am so excited to now be a part of the solid. Dancing is a big ardour of mine and I can’t wait to be taught Ballroom and do the Foxtrot for the primary time!’ he stated in an announcement.
Time will inform if his strikes, which have received over 1.3 million TikTok followers and counting, might be sufficient for most people.
Chris Appleton
Born in Leicester, the 43-year-old artistic has made all of it the best way to Hollywood as a hairstylist to the celebrities, together with bestie Kim Kardashian and different A-listers like J-Lo, Sofia Vergara, and Ariana Grande.
In 2023, Kim Okay even officiated his marriage ceremony to screenstar Lukas Gage (the couple later divorced), and his profession continues to ascend even increased.
Now, he’s cha-chaing his approach onto the dance ground to point out simply what he’s soaked up from all of the performers he’s frolicked with through the years.
He stated in an announcement: ‘I’ve all the time believed that the most effective issues occur whenever you take an opportunity and take a look at one thing new.
‘I’ll know my approach round a salon ground, however the dance ground is a complete totally different story – and I can’t wait to get began.’
Delta Goodrem
The Australian singer-songwriter, Delta Goodrem, was simply 15 years outdated when she signed her first report deal and her careers gone from energy to energy ever since.
The 41-year-old has launched seven albums, bought thousands and thousands of copies, and even represented Australia at Eurovision 2026 – principally, she is aware of the stage just like the again of her hand.
Nonetheless, there’s a distinction between singing and dancing, however that’s a problem Deta is eager to tackle.
‘I’ve been extremely honoured to carry out on many alternative phases all through my profession – from TV, theatre, movie units, to touring my very own reveals all over the world, there’s, nonetheless, one stage I’ve by no means stepped onto, and that’s the ballroom ground,’ she stated in an announcement.
‘I’m completely thrilled to be becoming a member of Strictly and may’t wait to get began!’
With an perspective like that, is it any marvel Delta has reportedly been on the Strictly boss’s wishlist for years?
Lacey Turner
She’s been taking part in EastEnders’ favorite Stacey Slater for over 20 years, however now Lacey Turner is set to look on the BBC in a really totally different approach.
Because the 38-year-old cleaning soap actress takes a break from Albert Sq. to pursue new ventures, it appears her journey is taking her from the cobblestones straight onto the dance ground.
Within the announcement, Lacey wrote: ‘I’m so excited to be making my option to the dance ground this 12 months to be part of Strictly Come Dancing.
‘I’m an enormous fan and may’t fairly consider I might be collaborating and never watching at house this 12 months! I sit up for assembly everybody and studying a brand new ability!’
It wouldn’t be the primary time an EastEnders icon has appeared on Strictly – who might overlook Jake Wooden (aka Max Branning) together with his Mambo No. 5 salsa?
Dani Dyer
Poor Dani Dyer had one of many briefest Strictly stints ever final 12 months, as she was compelled to withdraw shortly after the launch present as a consequence of an ankle fracture. However now – she’s again!
Dani was initially partnered with Nikita Kuzmin, who went on to achieve the ultimate with Amber Davies when she crammed in on the final minute.
The fact TV star beforehand stated on The Jonathan Ross Present that she would ‘love’ to do Strictly once more, saying: ”In the event that they rang me, I’d reply the cellphone. I used to be devastated. It was hell for me after I damage my foot; I used to be so unhappy.’
Her dream has now develop into a actuality, as she’s confirmed for the 2026 line-up.
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‘I’m so excited to be again within the ballroom this September! I simply can not wait to get my dancing sneakers again on and hopefully this time round I can really make it to week one!’ the 29-year-old stated in an announcement.
‘I’m simply over the moon and can’t wait to search out out who else is doing it!’
Strictly Come Dancing returns to the BBC in September.
A model of this text was first printed on Could 31, 2026.
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