Strictly Come Dancing sets up 2026 celebrity lineup and announces producer exit

The BBC’s flagship dance competition is building its 2026 celebrity roster. EastEnders star Lacey Turner was the first confirmed contestant, followed by a string of rumours about potential participants such as former Big Brother winner Josie Gibson, Paralympic legend Dame Sarah Storey, TV presenter Jeff Brazier, actor Melanie Walters, Game of Thrones alumnus Kristian Nairn and reality‑TV veteran Jake Quickenden.

Behind the scenes, executive producer Eve Winstanley announced her departure after a decade on the show. In a LinkedIn post she said she was ready to "hand over to a new team to freshen things up" and expressed excitement for future projects. The series is also preparing a major overhaul for 2026, with the companion programme It Takes Two likely to become a vodcast and a new presenting team of Josh Widdicombe, Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe slated to take over the main show.