No Tessbot. No Clauditorium. Three new presenters, 5 new professionals and a new-look “vodcast” It Takes Two sister present. Sure, the fast-approaching twenty fourth collection represents Strictly Come Dancing’s largest ever shake-up. This has turn into a make-or-break yr for the BBC’s ballroom behemoth.
Lineup bulletins have been strung out over two months, like a boring byelection, however the Strictly class of 2026 is lastly full. There are the same old grumbles a few lack of family names, with theories that the casting division prioritised social media followings over mainstream fame. My private feeling is that they have smashed it with the ladies, who comfortably overshadow the far weaker lineup of males. This raises the pleasing risk of the primary back-to-back feminine champions since Abbey Clancy and Caroline Flack greater than a decade in the past.
So who will probably be getting double-dipped in orange emulsion and rolled in glitter on autumnal Saturday nights? Whose mantelpiece may very well be graced by the glitterball trophy? And who’ll be despatched dwelling earlier than we’ve even bothered to be taught their title? We’ve rated this yr’s celeb hoofers from worst to finest when it comes to seemingly sparkly success. Staaaaaart rating …
15. John Nellis
He’s a “soccer influencer”, apparently. A job I didn’t know existed till I began typing this. It says right here that the YouTuber is “one in every of Britain’s largest sports activities content material creators” with a whopping 20 million followers throughout social media. The Northern Irishman has by no means danced earlier than, so must be choreographic cannon fodder. Disgrace it wasn’t John Nettles. He may’ve foxtrotted to the Bergerac and Midsomer Murders theme tunes.
14. Graeme Corridor
Will he carry out a pekingese waltz, a King Charleston spaniel or a chihuahua cha-cha? Will he be terrier-ble or may he make it to Blackpoodle? Going from home coaching to bop coaching is canine cult hero Graeme “the Dogfather” Corridor, presenter of Channel 5’s Canine’s Behaving (Very) Badly. Not essentially the most glamorous piece of casting, maybe, however not less than it permits all method of hound-based hilarity. Let him off the leash and go for rumba walkies. Good boy.
13. Shaun Wright-Phillips
What’s the betting they tried his dad, Ian Wright, first? Strictly received its first ever footballing winner final yr in Karen Carney, however former England winger Wright-Phillips will do nicely to make the away fixture at Blackpool. He’s a pint-sized 5ft 5in, so count on quick king Shauny to be paired with one of many pocket rocket feminine professionals, resembling Jowita Przystał. Disgrace Tess is now not round to say “have a look at their little faces”.
12. Chris Appleton
“Kim Kardashian’s hairdresser” is stretching the definition of “celeb” to snapping level. Who subsequent? Jane McDonald’s chiropodist? Olly Murs’ dental hygienist? The bloke who does Christopher Biggins’ gutters? The Leicester-born coiffure-wrangler’s different shoppers embody Ariana Grande, Katy Perry and J-Lo. A think about his casting is unquestionably the hope of seeing a Kardashian within the studio viewers. We think about he’ll be fairly good. And presumably give his professional accomplice a glow-up. Going anyplace good in your holidays, hun?
11. Melanie Walters
What’s occurrin’? Stopping off at Elstree en path to Billericay would be the actor finest referred to as Gwen from Gavin & Stacey. The Barry-based matriarch is consistently making omelettes within the Anglo-Welsh romcom. That additional protein may turn out to be useful on lengthy coaching days. At 64, she’s the oldest contestant within the discipline, however Walters teaches pilates, so is match and versatile. Stacey’s mum has received it happening. Simply ask Dave Coaches. Hey, perhaps we’ll lastly discover out what occurred between Uncle Bryn and his nephew Jason on that fateful fishing journey. Lush and tidy certainly.
10. Will Finest
His Large Brother co-host AJ Odudu reached the ultimate 5 years in the past. Can Will Finest comply with in her twinkle-toed footsteps? He just lately gained Movie star Mastermind with the specialist topic of Danny Dyer, so will probably be embarrassingly excited to bop alongside Dyer’s daughter. He’s match, humorous and annoyingly multitalented, so may show a shock package deal. He additionally hosted a flop ITV expertise present known as Dance Dance Dance, which appears like an omen of … one thing?
9. Sarah Storey
She swims! She cycles! However can she samba? Dame Sarah Storey started her sporting profession within the pool, earlier than switching to the velodrome. Her 30 medals, together with 19 golds, make her Crew GB’s most embellished Paralympian of all time. Having hung up her Lycra onesie this summer time, she turns into the primary Dame to hit the ballroom ground and the sixth Paralympian. None reached the ultimate however the ever-competitive Storey may have the rostrum in her sights. What’s the Storey? Glitterball glory?
8. Tabby Stoecker
The sphere’s different embellished athlete is Crew GB skeleton racer Stoecker, who gained gold on the latest Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. She’s clearly a instructor’s pet on the BBC as a result of she’ll additionally be a part of the following collection of Gladiators as “Goldstar”. A former gymnast and circus performer, Stoecker ought to hit the dancefloor working. Put together for lifts, methods and a sled-themed VT along with her terrified professional accomplice.
7. Delta Goodrem
The 41-year-old Australian diva went down a storm at this yr’s Eurovision, ending fourth (she wuz robbed) with energy ballad Eclipse. Goodrem performed Nina Tucker in Neighbours earlier than becoming a member of the lengthy line of Ramsay Avenue residents who modified lanes to pop. Erinsborough alumni have blended fortunes on Strictly. Jason Donovan reached the ultimate, however Stefan Dennis, the flamin’ galah, received an early Qantas flight dwelling final yr (different long-haul airways can be found). Non-Brits by no means win, however Delta may dance into December.
6. Lawrence Robb
Emmer-males have tasted Strictly success lately. Kelvin Fletcher lifted the glitterball trophy in 2019 and Lewis Cope was a quarter-finalist final yr. Waltzing out of the Woolpack of their welly-booted footsteps is Glaswegian actor Robb, AKA Mackenzie “Mack” Boyd, a part of the Dales cleaning soap’s Dingle dynasty. He’s stage school-trained with West Finish expertise, so there may very well be ringer rumblings. All of the Dingle girls, put your fingers up.
5. Bethany Antonia
Swapping Westeros for Borehamwood is Woman Baela Targaryen from GoT prequel Home of the Dragon. Anticipate sword props, citadel themes and gags concerning the judges being dragons. Antonia has been appearing professionally since age 14, went to stage college and is starring in West Finish musical Hadestown, so we suspect she’ll be a helluva hoofer. Winter is coming and he or she’ll go far. If not, she’ll most likely have Anton’s head on a spike and Craig shot on the bathroom with a crossbow.
4. Cach Mercer
He received a textual content! From the BBC casting division! Some ballroom purists have bemoaned the inclusion of the 2025 Love Island champion as an indication of the present salsa-ing downmarket. There may also be ringer rumblings when this bombshell enters the Strictly villa. Mercer was once a professional dancer – albeit specialising in hip-hop and Afrobeats, slightly than ballroom and Latin. May go a good distance however gained’t win. It’s what it’s, babe. You’re simply not a glitterball kind on paper.
3. Dani Dyer
Shocking exactly no one, final yr’s pre-series harm dropout is again for an additional go. The daughter and near-namesake of adored cockney thesp Danny Dyer gained Love Island and Movie star SAS: Who Dares Wins, so she has kind in such contests. Dyer Jr married West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen final yr, so count on footbantz™ from new host Josh Widdicombe. Like final yr, we predict a waltz to Hammers anthem I’m Eternally Blowing Bubbles, whereas her soppy dad will get weepy within the entrance row. Jog on, you soften.
2. Jaime Winstone
Get outta my pub! Get into my ballroom! Actor Jamie, daughter of Ray Winstone, might be finest identified for her acclaimed portrayal of blond-beehived whirlwind Barbara Windsor in BBC biopic Babs. She later stepped into Windsor’s excessive heels to play the younger Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders flashbacks. Winstone loves to bop, relishes a problem and “can’t wait to enter my showgirl period”, which sounds promising. Pray for a front-row conflict of the geezer dads between Ray and Danny Dyer. It’ll be like a glittery Man Ritchie movie.
1. Lacey Turner
Swapping doof-doofs for cha-chas is that this yr’s compulsory EastEnders actor. Turner moved into Albert Sq. aged 16 as gobby-but-lovable Stacey Slater and stayed on and off for 20 years. She additionally starred in BBC military drama Our Lady. Having turned Strictly down for the final decade, Turner says it was “about time”. Three former castmates – Jill Halfpenny, Kara Tointon and Rose Ayling-Ellis – have taken the glitterball trophy again to the Queen Vic. Stace is unquestionably in with a shout of constructing it 4. Dot, Dr Legg and Ethel’s little Willy can be proud.