The BBC has confirmed a star-studded line-up for Strictly Come Dancing 2026, with the latest addition being dog behaviour expert Graeme Hall, known as 'The Dogfather'. Hall, 60, joins a cast that includes former England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips, 'House of the Dragon' actress Bethany Antonia, and Paralympic champion Dame Sarah Storey.
Graeme Hall: The Dogfather Takes to the Ballroom
Graeme Hall, presenter of Channel 5's 'Dog's Behaving (Very) Badly' for nearly a decade, expressed his excitement: 'I can't believe I am joining the cast of Strictly for 2026. I have always loved dancing, so to have the opportunity to learn from the best in the business is a dream come true.'
Hall, who also fronts 'The Dog Hospital with Graeme Hall' and appears on 'This Morning' and BBC radio, made a cameo in 'All Creatures Great and Small' last year. He will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of last year's winners, Lioness Karen Carney and professional partner Carlos Gu.
Shaun Wright-Phillips: From Football Pitch to Dance Floor
Shaun Wright-Phillips, 44, the son of Ian Wright, earned 36 England caps during his career with Manchester City, Chelsea, Queens Park Rangers, and the New York Red Bulls. Since retiring, he has worked as a pundit for the BBC, Sky Sports, ITV, and the Premier League.
'Dancing is in my blood – but mainly at family events!' he joked. 'Strictly is definitely outside my comfort zone, but I'm super excited to get started and really looking forward to the challenge!'
Bethany Antonia: From Dragon-Rider to Dancer
Bethany Antonia, 28, known for her role as Lady Baela Targaryen in HBO's 'House of the Dragon', began her career at 14 in 'The Tempest'. Her other credits include 'Doctors', 'Nolly', 'Get Even', 'Doctor Who', and 'Stath Lets Flats', as well as the West End production of 'Hadestown'.
'I can't quite believe that I will be heading to the Strictly ballroom this September!' she said. 'I have grown up watching Strictly, and I am so excited to take the challenge on and (hopefully!) learn a new skill.'
Jaime Winstone: Showgirl Era Begins
Jaime Winstone, daughter of Hollywood star Ray Winstone, has appeared in films such as 'Kidulthood', 'Bullet Boy', 'Tomb Raider', and 'Wild Bill'. She also played Barbara Windsor in the 2017 biopic 'Babs' and a young Peggy Mitchell in 'EastEnders'.
'I am so excited to announce that I will be joining the Strictly Come Dancing cast this year,' she stated. '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!!'
Dame Sarah Storey: First Dame to Compete
Dame Sarah Storey, 48, is Great Britain's most successful Paralympian, with multiple gold medals in swimming and cycling. She announced her retirement from competitive sport earlier this month, making Strictly her next challenge.
As the first dame to compete, she 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!'
Will Best: Big Brother Host Joins
Will Best, 41, co-hosts ITV's 'Big Brother' with AJ Odudu and presents the Hits Radio Breakfast Show. He recently won 'Celebrity Mastermind' with the specialist subject of Danny Dyer, which could give him common ground with fellow contestant Dani Dyer.
'I can't quite believe it…I'm doing Strictly!' he said. '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!'
Cach Mercer: Love Island Winner Brings Dance Moves
Cach Mercer, who won 'Love Island' in 2025 with Toni Laites, has gained 1.3 million TikTok followers through his Afrobeat, hip-hop, and street dance videos. He 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!'
Chris Appleton: Hairstylist to the Stars
Chris Appleton, 43, from Leicester, has styled celebrities like Kim Kardashian, J-Lo, Sofia Vergara, and Ariana Grande. He said: '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.'
Delta Goodrem: Eurovision Star Takes on Ballroom
Delta Goodrem, 41, has released seven albums and represented Australia at Eurovision 2026. She 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!'
Lacey Turner: EastEnders Icon Returns to BBC
Lacey Turner, 38, known for playing Stacey Slater in 'EastEnders' for over 20 years, is taking a break from Albert Square to join Strictly. She said: 'I am so excited to be 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!'
Dani Dyer: Second Chance After Injury
Dani Dyer, 29, returns after withdrawing from last year's series due to an ankle fracture. She 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!'
Rumoured Contestants
Jeff Brazier, father of 2023 runner-up Bobby Brazier, is reportedly in talks to join, with a source telling The Sun that 'three years have passed now and it's a massive opportunity for Jeff'. Josie Gibson, This Morning presenter, is also said to be on the BBC's radar, with a source claiming 'bosses are convinced her down-to-earth charm will be the boost this year's new-look show needs'. Jake Quickenden, who won Dancing on Ice in 2018, has also been linked.
Major Changes for 2026
The 2026 series will see new hosts Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe replacing Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Professional dancers Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, Karen Hauer, Michelle Tsiakkas, and Gorka Márquez have departed, while Neil Jones and Nancy Xu will be benched.
Strictly Come Dancing returns to the BBC in September. Last year's winners were Karen Carney and Carlos Gu, who beat Amber Davis and Nikita Kuzmin, and George Clarke and Alexis Warr in the final.
