Strictly 2026 guide: Line-up, new hosts and judges as ‘speed dancing’ twist revealed
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twist → reveal → ?
Before the show kicks off tomorrow, here’s everything you need to know about the new hosts, dancers, line-up and more.
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The 50-year-old is a well-established presenter who became a household name hosting Channel 5’s Big Brother, as well as its spinoff Big Brother’s Bit on the Side.
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who → establish → Side
Born and raised in Birmingham, Willis tried her hand at modelling before getting her first big break presenting on MTV in 2002.
She later moved on to presenting for a range of ITV shows, including Loose Women, This Morning and ITV2 spin-off series I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! NOW! with her husband Matt, of Busted fame.
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Willis’ largest and potentially best known gig is her time spent in the Big Brother universe.
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First joining Big Mouth in 2005, she went on to present eight series of Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side, four series of the non-celebrity version, as well as landing the job of presenter for Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother between 2013 and 2018.
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Some of her other credentials on an already stacked CV include The Voice, The Circle and Girlfriends.
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She currently hosts Love Is Blind UK with her husband Matt, with whom she shares three children.
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she → host → children
Josh Widdecombe
The 43-year-old comedian is potentially best known for co-presenting satirical chat show The Last Leg, as well as his podcast Parenting Hell with Rob Beckett.
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comedian → co → Beckett
Born in Hammersmith, London, in 1983, Widdicombe grew up in a rural area of Dartmoor, Devon.
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Before beginning his career in stand-up comedy, following his time performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, he worked as a journalist for The Guardian.
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His first panel show appearance came in 2012 on Stand Up For The Week, before making his debut on Mock the Week later that same year.
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The following year he made his first appearance on The Last Leg, a show he still hosts to this day, with his total number of seasons being 30.
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In 2015, he won the first-ever series of the hit comedy game show Taskmaster and returned to win the first Champion of Champions special in 2017.
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he → win → 2017
As well as hosting popular podcast Parenting Hell with Beckett, in which he discusses his experience raising two children, he also hosts pop culture podcast Archive of Pop Culture.
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Johannes Radebe
The South African dancer has shown off his best moves on the BBC show for eight seasons, and now, it’s his time to switch his dancing shoes for a microphone.
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it → show → microphone
His interest in dance began at a young age, with the bright colourful costume piquing his interest.
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costume → begin → interest
He later left home whilst a teenager to focus on his training.
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Radebe began his career as a dance teacher in Johannesburg, before spending seven years dancing on cruise ships.
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During his illustrious dancing career, the 39-year-old has won several major titles, including becoming a multiple-time South African Latin champion.
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He first joined the Strictly universe in 2014, in the South African edition, before going on to join the original iteration of the show in the UK.
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During his time on the show, he has danced with seven celebrities, his highest placement being 2nd with partner John Waite.
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His most recent was Alex Kingston in 2025, with whom he finished 6th.
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Trying their hand at the dance floor this year are 15 famous faces, whose professions range from acting to sports.
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The complete line-up is:
- Lacey Turner - EastEnders star
- Dani Dyer - Love Island winner and daughter of actor Dany Dyer
- Delta Goodrem - Australian singer
- Chris Appleton - Celebrity hairstylist
- Cach Mercer - Love Island winner and content creator
- Will Best - Presenter
- Dame Sarah Storey - Paralympic cyclist and swimmer
- Jaime Winstone - Actor and daughter of Ray Winstone
- Bethany Antonia - House of the Dragon star
- Shaun Wright-Phillips - Former footballer and pundit
- Graeme Hall - Dogs Behaving Badly host
- Lawrence Robb - Emmerdale star
- Tabby Stoecker - Skeleton racer
- John Nellis - YouTuber
- Melanie Walters - Gavin and Stacey star
Who are the new dancers?
Five new professional dancers will be making their Elstree debut on Saturday.
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It comes after the BBC confirmed that five long-serving professionals would be making their exit.
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Karen Hauer, Gorka Márquez, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk and Michelle Tsiakkas will not be returning for the upcoming season.
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Aleksandra Isaeva
The Ukrainian dancer is ranked in the world's top 21 Latin dancers, as well as reaching top 10 positions at both the European Latin championships in Blackpool and the Dutch open world Latin dance competition.
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Also joining the cast is Christian Priori, who also happens to be Isaeva’s dance partner.
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Priori, born in Rome, is a four-time Italian Latin Champion who was ranked in the World’s top 24 Latin dancers for eight consecutive years.
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Lethabo Monametsi fell in love with dance whilst watching the South African version on the show, and has since gone on to win TV dance competition Dance Yo Dumo as a member of the collective Urban Wave.
She has also performed with the likes of singer Diana Ross and composer Hans Zimmer, as well as featuring on The Masked Singer South Africa.
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From Bournemouth comes Maddie Ingoldsby, who is a UK National Ballroom champion.
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She began her career playing Annie in the West End, and has since gone on to become an eight-time Amateur 10-Dance World Champion.
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Mark Karmalita
Rounding out the quintet of fresh faces in Mark Karmalita, who is a two-time national Latin champion in his native Canada.
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He was also previously ranked 10th in the World at the Under 21 Latin Dance Festival in Blackpool.
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The judging panel for the upcoming season remains unchanged:
- Craig Revel Horwood
- Motsi Mabuse
- Anton Du Beke
- Head Judge Shirley Ballas
The foursome will deliver their critiques (some harsher than others), provide technical analysis, and give the stars their all important scores.
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What has changed?
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During an appearance on The One Show on Thursday, September 17, Willis teased how “exciting” the first episode will be while appearing alongside her new co-hosts.
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“This is something that they’ve never done on the show before.
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“Everybody is paired during a dance,” she said.
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she → pair → dance
…and 12 more, not listed.
The Aporia
