Strictly

• EastEnders actor Lacey Turner, known for her long-running role as Stacey Slater, has been announced as the first celebrity contestant for Strictly Come Dancing 2026. • The upcoming series is expected to mark a "new era" for the BBC show following a major structural overhaul of the program. • Turner brings a high profile to the competition, having won multiple awards for her television work and appearing in the BBC series Our Girl.

• Australian singer Delta Goodrem has been officially confirmed as a contestant for the upcoming series of the BBC's *Strictly Come Dancing*. • Goodrem expressed that she is "absolutely thrilled" to join the cast, marking her as the third celebrity confirmed for the competition so far. • Her participation adds international star power to the line-up, continuing the show's tradition of featuring high-profile global entertainers.

• The BBC has officially confirmed Dani Dyer and Lacey Turner as the first celebrity contestants for the 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing. • Dani Dyer, 29, joins the cast following her recent victory on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins and appearances on Celebrity MasterChef and The One Show. • This early announcement marks the beginning of the casting process for the upcoming season of the popular ballroom competition.

• Lacey Turner, best known for playing Stacey Slater in the BBC soap 'EastEnders', has been announced as the first celebrity contestant for the 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing. • Turner is a highly decorated actress who has won multiple awards for her soap role and has appeared in various TV dramas and stage productions, including the series 'Our Girl'. • This announcement marks the beginning of the casting reveal for the 2026 competition, with Turner expressing that she is "so excited" to join the dance contest.

• Actress Lacey Turner, best known for her long-running role as Stacey Slater on the BBC One soap EastEnders, has been confirmed as the first celebrity contestant for the 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing. • Turner joined EastEnders in 2004 and has since earned both a British Soap Award and a National Television Award for her performance. • Beyond her soap opera success, she has appeared in various television dramas, including the BBC series Our Girl.

• Comedian Josh Widdicombe revealed that he nearly declined the opportunity to audition for a presenter role during the early stages of his stand-up career. • Widdicombe noted that neither he nor his peers foresaw his transition into television presenting when he first began performing comedy. • This reflection highlights the unpredictable nature of his career trajectory and the shift from niche stand-up to mainstream broadcasting.

Venezuelan-born dancer posts emotional video saying she plans to take on new projects in other areasStrictly Come Dancing’s longest-serving female professional dancer, Karen Hauer, has quit the show after 14 years.In a video posted on Instagram, Hauer said it was “the right time to close this chapter and take on new projects in other areas I’m passionate about”. Continue reading...