Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Line-Up

Jun 10
6 min read

Updated: 5 days ago

It's time to find out which celebrities will be taking to the Strictly dance floor this autumn,

Following the recent announcement that Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe will form Strictly Come Dancing's first-ever presenting trio when the show returns this September, the BBC has begun to reveal the well-known faces who'll be taking to the famous Strictly ballroom...

Lacey Turner

EastEnders legend

The first celebrity taking part in this year's Strictly Come Dancing is EastEnders legend Lacey Turner who is best-known for playing Stacey Slater in the popular BBC soap.

Lacey began acting at a young age and since joining the series in 2004, has won multiple awards for her work on the show, including several British Soap Awards and National Television Awards.

Beyond EastEnders, Lacey has appeared in a range of stage productions and television dramas including the lead role in acclaimed BBC Drama Our Girl.

On joining Strictly, Lacey Turner said "I am so excited to being making my way to the dance floor this year to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing! I am a huge fan and can’t quite believe I will be taking part and not watching at home this year! I look forward to meeting everyone and learning a new skill!"

Dani Dyer

TV Personality, Broadcaster and Author

The second celebrity taking part in this year's Strictly Come Dancing is TV personality, broadcaster and author Dani Dyer, who had to withdraw from the show last year due to injury.

Born in Canning Town, Dani has this year won Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins and co-starred alongside her dad in the hit series The Dyers Caravan Park on Sky One.

Previous TV work has included the documentaries Is This Anxiety? and Greggs v McDonalds, as well as guest appearances on Celebrity MasterChef, Celebrity Gogglebox and EastEnders.

Dani won Love Island in 2018 and has since amassed 3.7 million social media followers. She is also a best-selling author with her debut book What Would Dani Do? reaching Number 4 on the Sunday Times Bestsellers list. Dani married Jarrod Bowen in May last year.

On returning to Strictly, Dani Dyer said "I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September! I just cannot wait to get my dancing shoes back on and hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one! I’m just over the moon and cannot wait to find out who else is doing it!"

Delta Goodrem

Singer-Songwriter

The third celebrity taking part in this year's Strictly Come Dancing is singer-songwriter Delta Goodrem.

Delta Goodrem is one of Australia’s most accomplished and enduring artists, with a career spanning multiple fields, including as a singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and entrepreneur.

From her record-breaking debut album and numerous chart-topping hits to her role as a Coach on The Voice Australia to her multiple award wins, Delta’s diverse career has most recently seen her take to the stage at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, where she achieved one of Australia’s best ever results.

On joining Strictly, Delta Goodrem said "I’ve been incredibly honoured to perform on many different stages throughout my career - from tv, theatre, film sets, to touring my own shows around the world, there is however one stage I’ve never stepped onto and that is the ballroom floor! I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Strictly and can’t wait to get started!"

Chris Appleton

Hair Stylist

The fourth celebrity taking part in this year's Strictly Come Dancing is hair stylist Chris Appleton.

Chris Appleton is a world-renowned conceptual hair stylist known for his impeccable attention to detail and creative vision. Named a Hair Star by Vogue UK, Chris is highly sought after by some of the biggest names in music, entertainment, fashion, and advertising.

His work has been showcased on covers and in major features for publications including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Marie Claire, Grazia, L’Officiel Paris, and more. His celebrity clients include Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian, Sofía Vergara, Ariana Grande, and Katy Perry. He recently made the New York Times Best Sellers list for his debut memoir Your Roots Don’t Define You.

On joining Strictly, Chris Appleton said "I’m thrilled to be joining Strictly Come Dancing and coming home to the UK for this incredible experience. I’ve always believed that the best things happen when you take a chance and try something new. I may know my way around a salon floor, but the dance floor is a whole different story - and I can’t wait to get started."

Cach Mercer

Social Media and Love Island Star

The fifth celebrity taking part in this year's Strictly Come Dancing is social media star and last year's Love Island winner, Cach Mercer.

Cach rose to fame on last year's series of Love Island, winning the public vote to be crowned the 2025 champion alongside his then partner Toni Laites.

With almost 50 million likes on TikTok alone, Cash has earned a legion of social media followers for his posts showcasing his Afrobeat, hip-hop and street dance moves. Cach also works as a model and DJ, and is an ambassador for a young persons' mental health charity.

On joining Strictly, Cach said "I have grown up watching the show with my family and am so excited to now be part of the cast. Dancing is a huge passion of mine and I can’t wait to learn Ballroom and do the Foxtrot for the first time!"

Will Best

TV and Radio Presenter

The sixth celebrity taking part in this year's Strictly Come Dancing is TV and radio presenter Will Best.

Will is the co-host of ITV's Big Brother and the Hits Radio Breakfast Show. With over 15 years of broadcasting experience, Will began his screen career as a presenter on T4, with other TV work including roles on This Morning, BBC Three and Viva. Will was recently seen winning Celebrity Mastermind with the specialist subject of Danny Dyer.

On joining Strictly, Will said "I can’t quite believe it…I’m doing Strictly! What an absolute dream. Albeit a pretty terrifying one. I’ve been lucky to do lots of live telly before, but absolutely nothing like this. And I cannot wait! I have no idea if I can actually dance, but bring on the sequins, bring on the quicksteps, bring on the dance floor! I’m going to try to enjoy every minute of it."

Dame Sarah Storey

Paralympian

The seventh celebrity taking part in this year's Strictly Come Dancing is Great Britain's most successful Paralympian, Dame Sarah Storey.

Her nineteen Paralympic gold medals make her the most successful British Paralympian of all time. Storey started her career as a swimmer and competed at four Paralympic Games before switching to cycling, winning an incredible total of 30 Paralympic medals across nine Games, including four golds at London 2012.

One of the most powerful voices in Paralympic sport, Dame Sarah recently announced her retirement and is now ready for her next challenge, Strictly Come Dancing! Sarah will be the first Dame to compete in the show.

On joining Strictly, Dame Sarah Storey said "Embarking on a new challenge so soon after stepping down as an athlete is hugely exciting. I have always loved watching Strictly and my daughter Louisa is a very talented dancer, so to be able to learn from the best and hopefully understand even more about her world, is incredibly motivating! I can’t wait to get started!"

Jaime Winstone

Actress

The eighth celebrity taking part in this year's Strictly Come Dancing is actress Jaime Winstone.

Jaime began her acting career in 2004 and has since established herself as one of Britain’s most recognisable screen talents, starring in a string of acclaimed and iconic films including Made in Dagenham, Bullet Boy, Tomb Raider, and Wild Bill, among many others.

Alongside her impressive film career, she has built an extensive television resume with roles in Dead Set, Torville & Dean, Poirot, Mad Dogs, Count Abdulla and Four Lives.

Jaime received widespread acclaim for her portrayal of the legendary Barbara Windsor in the BBC biopic Babs and later stepped into Windsor’s famous role of Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders appearing in flashback specials, most recently during the soap’s 40th anniversary celebrations last year. The episode went on to win the British Soap Award for ‘Best Single Episode’.

Away from the screen, Jaime has enjoyed a successful modelling career, and starred in the West End production of 2:22 A Ghost Story.

On joining Strictly, Jaime said "I am so excited to announce that I will be joining the Strictly Come Dancing cast this year. I am no stranger to a dance floor, but the ballroom is a whole new world for me. I love a challenge though, so can’t wait to enter my showgirl era and get super sparkly!! Let’s get physical – see you on the dance floor!"

Further news about Strictly Come Dancing will be revealed throughout the summer.

Strictly Come Dancing returns in September on BBC One

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