Strictly Come Dancing Has Already Confirmed 12 Celebrities For Its 2026 Series — But Three More Famous Faces Have Reportedly Been Revealed Early, Including A Much-Loved Star From One Of Britain’s Biggest Sitcoms

The upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing, set to air starting from September, will feature three new hosts and a range of celebrities from actors to sports stars

Strictly Come Dancing is just weeks away, and fans are already excited to see a new set of celebrity contestants take part in the popular show.

After Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepped down from their presenting roles, a new trio of hosts – presenter Emma Willis, professional dancer Johannes Radebe, and comedian Josh Widdicombe – was announced. Judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, and Head Judge Shirley Ballas will return for one more series.

So far, the BBC has confirmed 12 names for the class of Strictly 2026 – actress Lacey Turner, TV personality Dani Dyer, singer-songwriter Delta Goodrem, hair stylist Chris Appleton, social media star Cach Mercer, TV and radio host Will Best, paralympian Dame Sarah Storey, actress Jaime Winstone, actress Bethany Antonia, pundit and broadcaster Shaun Wright-Phillips, dog trainer Graeme Hall and actor Lawrence Robb. However, three more names have now been revealed, despite there being no official confirmation from the BBC.

Melanie Walters is rumoured to be joining the dancing show(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC / Red Planet Pictures / Joss Barrett)

YouTuber John Nellis is said to be joining Strictly too(Image: Getty Images)

According to The Sun, Gavin and Stacey star Melanie Walters will also be dancing in this year’s competition. The publication reported that BBC bosses are excited to have the actress, known for playing Gwen West in the hit series, on the show, given her popularity. Melanie, 64, also teaches pilates and is a personal trainer.

While the BBC hasn’t confirmed the speculation, it has also been claimed that YouTuber John Nellis, 33, is among the stars who will be taking to the dancefloor on the show. A source told The Sun that the content creator, whose passion for football has allowed him to meet some huge stars, including Erling Harland and Kylian Mbappeé, is set to bring a new audience to Strictly.