The full Strictly Come Dancing 2026 celebrity line-up has been confirmed, with Gavin and Stacey star Melanie Walters announced as the final addition to the cast. The 16 contestants will compete on the BBC show when it returns in September, following last year's victory by Lioness Karen Carney and professional partner Carlos Gu.
Walters, best known for playing Gwen West in the hit BBC comedy, brings decades of television experience to the ballroom, having appeared in Coronation Street, Beyond Paradise, Being Human, Hollyoaks, and Doc Martin. She is also a prolific stage performer.
“Performing in Pantomime for the last 15 years, my Strictly ‘fix’ has always been watching in a dressing room rather than my front room,” Walters said. “This year I am completely thrilled and happy to swap my fairy wand for sequinned dance shoes. I just hope I don’t follow Cinderella and leave one on the Ballroom stairs. I cannot wait to take part in this absolutely iconic show, it’s so exciting. See you in September!”
Full 2026 Celebrity Cast Revealed
The final line-up includes YouTuber John Nellis, who has 15 million subscribers and has collaborated with football stars Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Cristiano Ronaldo. “I’m still in disbelief that I’ve been selected for Strictly and, if I’m honest, I’m a little nervous as I’ve never danced before!” Nellis said in a statement.
Olympic gold medallist Tabby Stoecker, who won skeleton at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, is also confirmed. The 13th announced contestant, Stoecker made her international debut just five years ago. “I’ve had the wildest year of my life so far, so to be rounding it off with a childhood dream of dancing in the Strictly ballroom is surreal,” she said.
Emmerdale star Lawrence Robb, known for playing Mack Boyd, joins the cast, saying, “I don’t know who’s more excited about this, me or my Mother.” Graeme Hall, the 60-year-old presenter of Channel 5’s Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly, is also in, as is former England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips, who earned 36 caps and played for Manchester City, Chelsea, and Queens Park Rangers.
Big Names and Returning Faces
Other celebrities include House of the Dragon actress Bethany Antonia, who plays Lady Baela Targaryen, and blockbuster star Jaime Winstone, daughter of Ray Winstone. Dame Sarah Storey, Great Britain’s most successful Paralympian with multiple gold medals in cycling and swimming, will be the first dame to compete.
Big Brother presenter Will Best, 41, is also confirmed, as is Love Island 2025 winner Cach Mercer, who has 1.3 million TikTok followers. Hollywood hairstylist Chris Appleton, who has styled Kim Kardashian and Ariana Grande, and Australian singer Delta Goodrem, who represented Australia at Eurovision 2026, complete the list alongside EastEnders actress Lacey Turner and Dani Dyer, who returns after injury forced her withdrawal last year.
Dani Dyer, 29, 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!”
Major Changes Ahead of New Series
The 2026 series marks a significant transition for the show, with hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman departing. They will be replaced by three new hosts: broadcaster Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe, and professional dancer Johannes Radebe.
The professional dancer line-up has also changed, with Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, Karen Hauer, Michelle Tsiakkas, and Gorka Márquez leaving, while Neil Jones and Nancy Xu will be benched without partners. Strictly Come Dancing returns to the BBC in September.
