{"id":2454724,"date":"2026-06-11T15:04:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T15:04:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2454724"},"modified":"2026-06-11T15:04:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T15:04:18","slug":"strictly-come-dancing-confirms-dani-dyer-and-lacey-turner-as-first-celebs-for-2026-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/strictly-come-dancing-confirms-dani-dyer-and-lacey-turner-as-first-celebs-for-2026-series\/","title":{"rendered":"Strictly Come Dancing confirms Dani Dyer and Lacey Turner as first celebs for 2026 series"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"main\">\n<div class=\"hydrate-root sc-1ihz57b-0\" data-component=\"Newsletter\" data-loading=\"lazy\" data-theme-name=\"independent\">\n<div data-theme-wrapper=\"independent\" style=\"display:contents\">\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-2 kcLSBk\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/newsletters\/indyArts1_1.png\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"IndependentCulture\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE\"\/><\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-1 inRDZn\">\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-3\">\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-4 hfveGa\">\n<p><h3 class=\"sc-y4bm30-5 sc-y4bm30-6 fvoxRM cLEJmn\">Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email<\/h3>\n<h3 class=\"sc-y4bm30-5 sc-y4bm30-8 fvoxRM iTZFOX\">Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter <\/h3>\n<h3 class=\"sc-y4bm30-5 sc-y4bm30-7 fvoxRM iGYpOF\">Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter <\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-2 kcLSBk sc-y4bm30-9 iQYNfz\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/newsletters\/indyArts1_1.png\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"IndependentCulture\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/strictly-come-dancing\">Strictly Come Dancing<\/a> has announced the first two stars who\u2019ll be waltzing their way into the 2026 competition: <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/eastenders\">EastEnders <\/a>actor Lacey Turner and ex Love Island star Dani Dyer. <\/p>\n<p>The BBC show surprised fans with the first cast announcement on Wednesday (10 June), confirming that Turner \u2013 best known for her role as Stacey Slater in EastEnders \u2013 would be competing on this year\u2019s series. <\/p>\n<p>The news was confirmed on Strictly\u2019s social channels earlier than usual \u2013 with the cast typically being revealed later in the summer. Further announcements are due to take place throughout the summer ahead of the show\u2019s launch in September. <\/p>\n<p>Turner said in a statement: \u201cI am so excited to being making my way to the dance floor this year to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing! <\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-awdjp1-2 cbpRGD sc-awdjp1-3 image align-center\">\n<div data-gallery-length=\"2\" class=\"sc-awdjp1-0 jcttyh\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2025\/05\/17\/9\/18\/420477-dc9c6cf.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2025\/05\/17\/9\/18\/420477-dc9c6cf.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=320&amp;auto=webp 320w, https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2025\/05\/17\/9\/18\/420477-dc9c6cf.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=640&amp;auto=webp 640w\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Turner is best known for her role as Stacey Slater on \u2018EastEnders\u2019\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn\"\/><\/div>\n<p>Turner is best known for her role as Stacey Slater on \u2018EastEnders\u2019<span class=\"sc-1cbdeug-7 gjqsiM\"> (BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron)<\/span><\/div>\n<p>\u201cI am a huge fan and can\u2019t 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!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A day later, Strictly revealed Love Island winner Dyer as the second contestant to join the 2026 cast \u2013 marking her return to the show after <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/arts-entertainment\/tv\/news\/dani-dyer-strictly-come-dancing-2025-quit-b2832541.html\">dropping out due to injury last year<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September!\u201d she said in a statement. \u201cI just cannot wait to get my dancing shoes back on and hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one! I\u2019m just over the moon and cannot wait to find out who else is doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While best known for her role on EastEnders, Turner has won multiple awards during her time on the show while also appearing in stage productions and TV dramas, including the lead role in BBC series Our Girl.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/arts-entertainment\/tv\/news\/lacey-turner-eastenders-break-stacey-slater-b2752840.html\">Turner announced she was taking an indefinite hiatus from EastEnders <\/a>in May last year, with her character making a dramatic departure for Brazil along with children Arthur and Hope, while her eldest daughter Lily and granddaughter Charli stayed behind in Watford.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-118zqaw-0 ijrISW\">\n<div class=\"sc-118zqaw-10\">\n<div class=\"sc-118zqaw-3 bnPMtb\">\n<div class=\"sc-118zqaw-4 hqeEpq\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/mobile-stores\/Apple_TV_Plus.png\" width=\"112\" height=\"52\" alt=\"Apple TV+ logo\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-118zqaw-5 erkCqL\">\n<p class=\"sc-118zqaw-6 ITEVB\">Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-118zqaw-7 bSAfrS\">New subscribers only. \u00a39.99\/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"sc-1aus1tj-1 kCODJP sc-118zqaw-2\" href=\"https:\/\/tv.apple.com\/gb\/channel\/tvs.sbd.4000?itscg=30200&amp;itsct=independent_tv&amp;ct=offer&amp;at=1000l3akK\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Try for free<\/a><\/div>\n<p class=\"sc-118zqaw-8 bvmDWa\">ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission.<span class=\"disclaimer-break\"> This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-118zqaw-1 bfZJxf\">\n<div class=\"sc-118zqaw-10\">\n<div class=\"sc-118zqaw-3 bnPMtb\">\n<div class=\"sc-118zqaw-4 hqeEpq\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/mobile-stores\/Apple_TV_Plus.png\" width=\"112\" height=\"52\" alt=\"Apple TV+ logo\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-118zqaw-5 erkCqL\">\n<p class=\"sc-118zqaw-6 ITEVB\">Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-118zqaw-7 bSAfrS\">New subscribers only. \u00a39.99\/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"sc-1aus1tj-1 kCODJP sc-118zqaw-2\" href=\"https:\/\/tv.apple.com\/gb\/channel\/tvs.sbd.4000?itscg=30200&amp;itsct=independent_tv&amp;ct=offer&amp;at=1000l3akK\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Try for free<\/a><\/div>\n<p class=\"sc-118zqaw-8 bvmDWa\">ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission.<span class=\"disclaimer-break\"> This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-awdjp1-2 cbpRGD sc-awdjp1-3 image align-center\">\n<div data-gallery-length=\"2\" class=\"sc-awdjp1-0 eDWWCo\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/06\/11\/10\/01\/5808898-library-copy.jpeg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/06\/11\/10\/01\/5808898-library-copy.jpeg?quality=75&amp;width=320&amp;auto=webp 320w, https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/06\/11\/10\/01\/5808898-library-copy.jpeg?quality=75&amp;width=640&amp;auto=webp 640w\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Dani Dyer will be returning to the show after injuring her ankle during last year\u2019s series\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn\"\/><\/div>\n<p>Dani Dyer will be returning to the show after injuring her ankle during last year\u2019s series<span class=\"sc-1cbdeug-7 gjqsiM\"> (BBC)<\/span><\/div>\n<p>The hiatus marked Turner\u2019s first break from the series in 21 years, having made her debut on the show in 2004, when she was 16 years old.<\/p>\n<p>Dyer \u2013 who is the daughter of Rivals star Danny Dyer \u2013 rose to fame on the 2018 series of Love Island, winning the show with her then-boyfriend Jack Fincham.<\/p>\n<p>The 29-year-old went on to land a guest reporter role on The One Show and has competed on Celebrity MasterChef and Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, which she won earlier this year. She also appears in Sky reality show The Dyers\u2019 Caravan Park with her famous dad.<\/p>\n<p>Dyer, who is married to West Ham United player Jarrod Bowen and has three kids, was due to compete on Strictly with Nikita Kuzmin last year but was forced to drop out after injuring her ankle. \u201cI had a fall on Friday in rehearsals and landed funny,\u201d she said in September. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI thought I had rolled my foot but it swelled up badly over the weekend and after an MRI scan yesterday, it turns out I have fractured my ankle,\u201d she said, adding that she was \u201cheartbroken\u201d to be leaving the show. She was replaced by fellow Love Island star Amber Davies, and the series was eventually won by ex footballer Karen Carney and pro Carlos Gu. <\/p>\n<p>The Strictly casting announcements come earlier than expected, as last year\u2019s lineup wasn\u2019t unveiled until August. However, the professional dancers set to participate in the 2026 series <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/arts-entertainment\/tv\/news\/strictly-come-dancing-pro-line-up-2026-bbc-b2971329.html\">have already been revealed<\/a> \u2013 with five former stars leaving the series outright.<\/p>\n<p>Professional dancer Johannes Radebe, meanwhile, has been promoted to one of three new hosts, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/arts-entertainment\/tv\/news\/strictly-come-dancing-emma-willis-host-bbc-b2958287.html\">alongside Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/arts-entertainment\/tv\/news\/strictly-2026-cast-line-up-rumours-b2987094.html\">Turner and Dyer were reported to be on the lineup last week,<\/a> along with other rumoured contestants including Australian singer and Eurovision star Delta Goodrem, whose appearance is, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/arts-entertainment\/tv\/news\/strictly-come-dancing-2026-delta-goodrem-lineup-b2955721.html\">according to The Daily Mail<\/a>, \u201ca done deal\u201d. Meanwhile, food critic Tom Parker-Bowles \u2013 who was hotly tipped for last year\u2019s series \u2013 is believed to be on the producers\u2019 wish list.<\/p>\n<p>The show\u2019s four judges \u2013 Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke \u2013 will all return for the new iteration of Strictly following the departure of long-time hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.independent.co.uk \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Strictly Come Dancing has announced the first two stars who\u2019ll be waltzing their way into the 2026 competition: EastEnders actor Lacey [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1948653,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25173],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2454724","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-artists"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Strictly-2025-BBC-loses-professional-competitor-for-new-series.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2454724","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2454724"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2454724\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2454726,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2454724\/revisions\/2454726"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1948653"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2454724"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2454724"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2454724"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}