BREAKING NEWS: Strictly Come Dancing 2026 star unveils first look at the BBC show as viewers react with excitement.
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Strictly Come Dancing’s 2026 star Dame Sarah Storey(Image: Dame Sarah Storey Instagram)
A number of the new Strictly Come Dancing contestants have been giving updates on their foray into the sparkling world of the popular dance show ahead of the 2026 series.
The BBC One dance programme is just weeks away from being back on our screens, with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke returning to the judging panel and 15 new celebrity contestants for them to cast their eyes over.
Putting on their dance shoes this year are EastEnders star Lacey Turner, reality star Dani Dyer, singer Delta Goodrem, celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton, Love Island winner Cach Mercer and actress Jaime Winstone.
Completing this year’s Strictly line-up are radio and TV presenter Will Best, former footballer Sean Wright-Phillips, dog trainer and author Graeme Hall, actress Bethany Antonia, Emmerdale star Lawrence Robb, social media star John Nellis, skeleton racer Tabby Stoecker, Paralympic champion Dame Sarah Storey and Gavin and Stacey star Melanie Walters,
The celebrities joined Strictly’s group of professional dancers for the first time earlier this month, and as the preparations continue for the start of the series, which is expected to start with the pre-recorded launch show on Saturday, September 19,
In a social media post on Wednesday (August 26), Dame Sarah could be seen standing outside her Strictly dressing room at Elstree Studios. As she smiled for the camera, she said: “Met my @bbcstrictly dressing room yesterday. Changing into my “signature look” for the photoshoot in my very own dressing room was definitely a pinch me moment!
“Especially after years of fighting into a skin suit in a portaloo or under a towel in the pits!” She added: “There’s also been so much BTS captured across hair, makeup & the photoshoots, so very soon you’ll get to see how the magic is created too! #strictly #strictlycomedancing #bts #photshoot #dressingroom.”
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Graeme is among the 2026 Strictly stars(Image: Graeme Hall Instagram)
Graeme, aka ‘The Dog Father’, also posed for his own dressing room snap, writing on his Instagram page: “Never thought I’d see this day. How incredibly chuffed am I…? #strictly.”
Former Love Island winner Dani, who had to withdraw from the competition last year after suffering an injury before the first live show, has also been posting photos to her Instagram Story. “Living my dancing dream all over again,” she wrote alongside the pouting mirror snap with a crying laughing face and pink heart emojis.
Welsh actress Melanie, best known for playing Gwen West in BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey, took to social media with a video message. In the clip posted to her Instagram Story, she said: “Today, I have been well and truly Strictly-fied. Strictly-fied! We all had a photoshoot today in the studios, and it was great.
“Really, really enjoyable. It was all hair and makeup and dresses and sequins… Just tremendous. It was a really, really fun day. I got to see the studio and that was just great… The dancers were there working really, really hard. So really good day. Let’s crack on!”
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Dani is heading back to Strictly after her injury exit last year(Image: Dani Dyer Instagram)
Following the exit of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman at the end of Strictly’s 2025 series, it was announced earlier this year that presenter Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe, and professional dancer Johannes Radebe will take over as hosts when Strictly returns.
Meanwhile, former contestant Ellie Taylor has also been announced as the new host of Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two, replacing duo Janette Manrara and her co-presenter Fleur East.
