Strictly 2026 lineup reside: BBC reveals Love Island star Dani Dyer as second contestant
Strictly season has kicked off unusually early this year, with the BBC show set to unveil its celebrity line-up over the summer.
While the long-running dance competition doesn’t typically reveal its cast until later in the summer, fans were delighted when EastEnders star Lacey Turner was announced as the first contestant for series 24 on Wednesday (10 June) – and now it seems that Dani Dyer will be joining her on the dance floor.
The celebrities won’t be the only newbies taking to the dance floor this year, with Josh Widdicombe and Emma Willis making their debut as new hosts alongside professional dancer Johannes Radebe. Likewise, with new pros joining the Strictly line-up – following a major cull back in March – and rumoured format changes on the horizon, fans can expect a steady stream of Strictly news in the weeks ahead.
To keep up to date with the ongoing Strictly 2026 cast announcements, “keeeeep glancing” at our live blog for the latest.
When will ‘Strictly’ return to our screens for 2026?
The BBC show may have kicked off its cast announcements, but there’ll be a fairly long wait until we watch the new stars take to the dance floor.
Strictly confirmed yesterday that it will be returning to BBC One and BBC iPlayer in September.
Fans can usually expect the dance competition to officially begin towards the end of September, with last year’s series airing a launch show on 27 September.
‘Strictly’ stars rally around Dyer after return announcement: ‘Worth the wait!’
The news of Dani Dyer returning to Strictly has been celebrated by stars of the show – with both professional dancers and her class of 2025 cheering the Love Island star on.
“She’s back,” reigning champion Carlos Gu, who won last year with Karen Carney, wrote in the comments on Instagram, alongside a series of clapping emojis. While Dianne Buswell commented: “Worth the wait ! You are a bundle of joy xxxx @danidyerxx.”
Strictly judge Shirley Ballas welcomed Dyer back to the competition, as did Motsi Mabuse wrote: “we love @danidyerxx.”
Last year’s stars also congratulated Dyer, with Balvinder Sopal commenting: “Absolutely YES!!!!” While Vicky Pattison said: “AARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHH HERE SHE IS!!!!”
Dani Dyer: ‘Hopefully this time I make it to week one’
Dani Dyer is “over the moon” to be back on the Strictly dance floor.
Announcing the news in a video on the Strictly Instagram page, Dyer said: “I’m so excited to say that I’m going to be back in the ballroom this September. I just cannot wait to get my dancing shoes back on and hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one.
“I’m just over the moon and cannot wait to see everyone else that’s on it. See you soon Strictly!”
Dani Dyer is returning to ‘Strictly’! The ‘Love Island’ star announced as second contestant
Dani Dyer will be back on our screens this September on Strictly!
The Love Island star, who was originally part of the line-up last year but was forced to pull out, has been confirmed as the show’s second contestant for 2026.
“I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September!” she said in a statement.
“I just cannot wait to get my dancing shoes back on and hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one! I’m just over the moon and cannot wait to find out who else is doing it.”
Who’s rumoured for ‘Strictly’ 2026?
Love Island winner Dani Dyer is among those tipped to be taking part this year, which won’t come as a huge surprise to fans considering she was forced to drop out of the last series. The daughter of Rivals’ Danny Dyer broke her ankle after the launch show and had to withdraw, being replaced by Amber Davies.
Meanwhile, ITV presenter Jeff Brazier could be following in the footsteps of his son Bobby as he’s also reportedly joining the Strictly cast. Bobby Brazier, who he shared with the late Jade Goody, was a runner-up on the show’s 2023 series.
‘EastEnders’ stars who’ve swapped Albert Square for ‘Strictly’ ballroom
Strictly Come Dancing may have changed over the years but there’s always been one constant: an EastEnders star in the cast.
There has been an actor from the BBC soap on every series of Strictly since it first started in 2004 – except for the 11th series in 2013.
While Lacey Turner is the latest to take part, we’ve seen a number of Walford residents waltz their way to victory – from Jill Halfpenny in 2004 and Kara Tointon in 2010 to Rose Ayling-Ellis, the show’s first deaf contestant, winning in 2021.
Turner won’t be the first member of Albert Square’s Slater family to take on the show; in previous years, we’ve seen Jessie Wallace (Kat Slater) and Bobby Brazier (Freddie Slater), while her on-screen husband James Bye (who played the late Martin Fowler) competed in 2022. Balvinder Sopal, who plays Suki Panesar on the soap, was the latest star to compete – reaching the semi-final last year.
Lacey Turner: ‘I’m so excited and so terrified’
The EastEnders star announced her stint on Strictly in a video shared to the show’s Instagram Stories – with the actor revealing that she finally signed up after watching “so many friends” do it.
“I can’t quite believe that I’m actually saying this, but I want to let you in on a little secret,” she said in the video. “This September, I will be taking my little toes onto the dance floor to do Strictly Come Dancing.
“I can’t believe it. I’m so excited and so terrified at the same time but I’ve had so many friends do Strictly and I thought it was about time that I plucked up the courage and made my way onto that dance floor so there you go. Secret’s out! See you there in September!”
Over the last few years, we’ve seen EastEnders stars Balvinder Sopal, Jamie Borthwick, Bobby Brazier and James Bye compete on the show.
When will the next ‘Strictly’ contestant be announced?
The Independent understands that the full celebrity line-up for 2026 will be announced over the next two weeks – so it’s very likely that we’ll be getting a new Strictly star every day.
So far, we’ve had EastEnders’ Lacey Turner officially join the line-up – but who’ll be next?
Lacey Turner announced as first ‘Strictly’ contestant for 2026
The EastEnders star is officially the first celebrity to enter the Strictly ballroom later this year – with the show sharing the news yesterday (Wednesday 10 June).
“I am so excited to being making my way to the dance floor this year to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing!” she said in a statement.
“I am a huge fan and can’t quite believe I will be taking part and not watching at home this year! I look forward to meeting everyone and learning a new skill!”
