Strictly Come Dancing Professionals Line-up: Meet the 2026 Dancers
Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe take over as the first three-host lineup, as the launch show runs nearly two hours.
- Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 7:25 p.m. tonight, Saturday, September 19, 2026, launching the 2026 series with 15 celebrities competing for the iconic glitterball trophy this December.
- Comedian Josh Widdicombe, presenter Emma Willis, and professional dancer Johannes Radebe assume hosting duties, replacing former hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman who departed at the end of 2025.
- Willis likened the new couple selection process to "speed dating," with pairings occurring live on the dance floor, while judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, and Head Judge Shirley Ballas return to score performances.
- The 15-celebrity lineup features actress Lacey Turner and Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey, with five new professional dancers including Aleksandra Isaeva and Cristian Priori joining following departures of previous professionals.
- Comedian Ellie Taylor takes over hosting the spin-off show It Takes Two, while the first live competition show where couples perform for judges' scores occurs on Saturday, September 26.
24 Articles
24 Articles
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Strictly Come Dancing professionals line-up: Meet the 2026 dancers
It's time to clear your Saturday night schedules as Strictly Come Dancing returns to the BBC.Kicking things off tonight (19 September) is the launch show, with new hosts Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe at the helm as a new year in the ballroom gets underway.The show began in spectacular Strictly fashion, with an incredible performance from the entire Strictly cast before the 15 celebrities nervously waited to find out their prof…
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