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Strictly Come Dancing is gearing up for another season. Excitement is already building as the BBC gradually reveals the celebrities who will be competing for the famous Glitterball Trophy in 2026. This year’s Strictly Come Dancing will look a little different. Long-time hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have left the show while changes have also been made to the professional dancer line-up.
What Is Strictly Come Dancing?
For those unfamiliar, Strictly Come Dancing pairs celebrities with professional dancers who guide them through a series of Ballroom and Latin routines. Each week, couples perform live before a judging panel and receive scores which are then combined with public votes. The lowest-ranked couples then face the dreaded dance-off where one pair’s journey comes to an end.
The revamped series will be fronted by Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe.
Strictly Come Dancing 2026: Confirmed Contestants
Lacey Turner
The first celebrity officially confirmed for Strictly 2026 was EastEnders favourite Lacey Turner. Best known for portraying Stacey Slater since 2004, Turner has become one of the soap’s most recognisable stars and has picked up several awards throughout her career. Beyond Albert Square, she has also appeared in theatre productions and television dramas, including BBC’s Our Girl.
Dani Dyer
After missing out on the opportunity last year due to an injury, Dani Dyer is finally getting her chance to step onto the Strictly dance floor. The television personality first rose to fame on Love Island and has remained a familiar face on British TV ever since. She is also the daughter of EastEnders actor Danny Dyer.
Delta Goodrem
Australian singer-songwriter Delta Goodrem is bringing international star power to this year’s competition. Over the years, Goodrem has built an impressive career in music, television and live performances. On The Voice Australia, she served as a coach. She has also represented Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest this year where she secured fourth position.
Strictly Come Dancing 2026: Rumoured Contestants
Jake Quickenden
Although not officially confirmed, Jake Quickenden is among the names who is being linked to the line-up, The Independent reported. The former X Factor contestant has become a familiar face in British entertainment as he has appeared on reality shows including I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and Dancing on Ice, which he won in 2018.
Reports suggest that Quickenden has impressed Strictly producers due to his performance background. His potential involvement was jokingly referenced during an episode of Loose Women on June 12 when panellist Kaye Adams quipped, “It’s a 10 from me!” after he appeared on the programme.
Dame Sarah Storey
Another name is Paralympic cycling legend Dame Sarah Storey. One of Britain’s most decorated Paralympians, Storey could become the latest elite athlete to swap competition arenas for the ballroom. Reports claim she is enthusiastic about the possibility of joining the show and eager to embrace a completely new challenge.
If confirmed, she would follow in the footsteps of previous Paralympic competitors including Jonnie Peacock, Will Bayley, Jody Cundy and Ellie Simmonds, all of whom have previously taken part in Strictly Come Dancing.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source sundayguardianlive.com ’
