Former England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips joins Strictly Come Dancing 2026

Former England international and football pundit Shaun Wright‑Phillips, 44, has been confirmed as a contestant for the 2026 series of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. He said, “Dancing is in my blood – but mainly at family events! Strictly is definitely outside my comfort zone, but I’m super excited to get started and really looking forward to the challenge.” Wright‑Phillips will join a celebrity line‑up that includes Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton and others. The show will also feature new presenters Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe, and five newly‑added professional dancers, with episodes slated to air on BBC One and iPlayer from September.