It’s early summer, it’s raining, but don’t worry… the first few celebrities have been announced for Strictly Come Dancing.
The 2026 series will be under serious scrutiny, not just due to the scandals that have hit the show in recent years, but because of a (mildly) controversial new hosting line-up. Everything you need to know about the 24th series of Strictly Come Dancing is below.
Which celebrities are on the show this year?
Dani Dyer
After dropping out of last year’s competition due to injury, Dani Dyer is back in the line-up – BBC
No surprise at all to see “broadcaster and author” Dani Dyer (she was on Love Island in 2018) in this year’s line-up, as she was originally included in last year’s, before injury forced her out before the competition began. It remains to be seen if she will once again be paired with Nikita Kuzmin, who instead made the final with another Love Island escapee, Amber Davies, last year. If you’re not au fait with televised dating shows, Dyer is also the daughter of Danny Dyer and wife of West Ham United captain Jarrod Bowen. As befits the partner of a footballer, Dyer says she is “over the moon” to be back on the show. She’ll be a competitor: she has already won Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins this year.
Lacey Turner
The EastEnders actress was the first celebrity to be announced for the 2026 series. Turner moved into Albert Square in 2004 at the age of 16 as the gobby teenager Stacey Slater and left on Christmas Day 2010. A stab at non-EastEnders acting saw her star in, among other things, the BBC’s army drama Our Girl, before being lured back to E20 in 2014. Stacey departed once again last year. Turner has said she is “excited and terrified” to be on the show but that she thought it was “about time” she plucked up the courage to take part (which suggests multiple offers in previous years). Good news, Lacey – EastEnders actresses fare well, with three of them lifting the Glitterball Trophy previously.
Who are the new hosts?
The new hosts: stand-up comedian Josh Widdicombe TV host Emma Willis and Strictly professional Johannes Radebe – BBC/Ray Burmiston
The biggest change this year is in the presenting line-up, with Strictly stalwarts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman having left the show in 2025. They have been replaced, in a shock move, by three presenters: TV host Emma Willis, stand-up comedian Josh Widdicombe and Strictly professional Johannes Radebe. Their chemistry in screen tests was, we’re told, “off the charts”, but it remains to be seen how Strictly’s throuple actually works. Early rumours suggested Radebe would be a “roving reporter”, though the BBC has named him a “host”, the same as Willis and Widdicombe.
Who are the professional dancers?
As the BBC refreshes the series for 2026, there has been something of a cull of the pros. Gone are Karen Hauer (the show’s longest-serving female pro), Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, Gorka Márquez and Michelle Tsiakkas (particularly cruel given that she only joined in 2022 and only ever had one celebrity partner – “My dream is shattered,” she has said).
This means the 15 remaining professionals are Dianne Buswell, Julian Caillon, Vito Coppola, Amy Dowden, Carlos Gu, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Lauren Oakley, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Aljaz Skorjanec, Alexis Warr, Kai Widdrington and Nancy Xu. The BBC has also said that some new professionals will be announced soon.
When will Strictly start?
It has not yet been announced, but given that each of the previous 13 series (bar the 2020 Covid-hit year) has begun between September 21-27, we can hazard an educated guess at Saturday September 26.
What else is new for this series?
Aside from a slightly redesigned – and we’ll say it, not quite as good – logo for the show, we’re unaware of any other major changes – the judging panel, for instance, remains as Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood. However, there are changes afoot for sister show It Takes Two. Host Janette Manrara, a former Strictly pro, has announced she has left, and rumour has it that her fellow presenter, Fleur East, is also gone. As well as new presenters, the show’s format is rumoured to be changing. Alas, it is changing to a vodcast – a visual podcast. Well, more budget for sequins, I suppose.
A slightly redesigned – BBC Studios
The BBC has announced no new themed weeks yet, but has confirmed the return of movies, icons, Hallowe’en and musicals, as well as a return for the instant dance challenge, which debuted to a positive reaction last year. And, of course, there’s the annual trip to Blackpool
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