Strictly Come Dancing Final Contestants Announced

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, August 9, 2026

Strictly Come Dancing has announced a diverse lineup of 15 celebrities for its new season, including YouTuber John Nellis and Olympic gold medallist Tabby Stoecker, with the show set to premiere next month. The series will debut a new presenting team featuring Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe after last year’s hosts left, aiming to attract a broader and younger audience.

The full lineup for the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing has been confirmed, featuring a diverse group of 15 celebrities from various fields including entertainment, sports, and digital media. The new season is set to launch next month with a fresh presenting team following the departure of Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly last year.

Among the contestants is John Nellis, a 33-year-old content creator and football enthusiast from Belfast. Nellis, who has amassed 15.7 million subscribers on his YouTube channel since its launch in 2019, has collaborated with high-profile footballers such as Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and David Beckham. He previously worked as an air traffic controller at Cork Airport before transitioning to full-time content creation in 2022. His significant online following is expected to attract a younger demographic to the show’s audience.

The lineup also includes a mix of established actors, athletes, and other public figures. Melanie Walters, 64, known for her role as Gwen West in the BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey, and Tabby Stoecker, 25, an Olympic gold medallist in mixed team skeleton at the recent Winter Games and a participant in BBC’s Gladiators, will join the cast. Soap actors Lacey Turner of EastEnders and Lawrence Robb of Emmerdale are also part of the new group. Turner, who plays Stacey Slater and is currently on an extended break from the soap, will be making her Strictly debut alongside Robb, recognized for his role as Mackenzie Boyd.

Several other notable figures will compete, including former England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips, Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey, actress Jaime Winstone, Australian singer Delta Goodrem, celebrity hairdresser Chris Appleton, and presenter Will Best. Also participating are Love Island winner Cach Mercer, House Of The Dragon star Bethany Antonia, dog trainer Graeme “The Dogfather” Hall, and reality star Dani Dyer, who returns after withdrawing last year due to injury.

Nine of the contestants have prior dance or performing arts experience. Mercer is a professional dancer specializing in hip-hop and Afrobeat, Turner trained at the Sylvia Young Theatre School in her youth, and Robb attended the Dance School of Scotland and has West End experience. Dyer, with a background in dance education, has described herself as a “qualified dancer” in her autobiography. Others with dance experience include actress Jaime Winstone, Bethany Antonia, Delta Goodrem, Melanie Walters, and Graeme Hall, who previously competed in a regional dance competition.

The new presenting team will consist of Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe, and former Strictly professional Johannes Radebe. The spin-off program It Takes Two will be hosted by comedian Ellie Taylor, who competed on the show in 2022 partnering with Radebe. This follows the departure of previous hosts Fleur East and Janette Manrara.

A BBC spokesperson declined to comment on reports regarding John Nellis’s casting.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.