Strictly Come Dancing has returned to screens for its 24th series, marking the first in its history without longtime host Tess Daly, who departed alongside co-host Claudia Winkleman last year. Stepping into their roles are broadcaster Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe, and dancer Johannes Radebe, a professional on the show for nearly a decade.
Joining the new hosts are five new professional dancers making their debut. Before the first live episode, here is everything you need to know about the new couples, hosts, judges, and more.
Who are the newly paired Strictly couples?
Bethany Antonia, known for her role as Lady Baela Targaryen in HBO's House of the Dragon, is paired with Nancy Xu, a professional dancer since 2019. They are this year's same-sex couple, with fans expressing delight at the pairing.
Cach Mercer, winner of Love Island 2025, is paired with newcomer Maddie Ingoldsby, a UK national ballroom champion and eight-time Amateur 10-Dance World Champion. Celebrity hair stylist Chris Appleton, who has worked with Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez, is paired with Amy Dowden, who has been open about her breast cancer diagnosis.
Dani Dyer, who dropped out last year due to injury, is reunited with Nikita Kuzmin. Australian pop star Delta Goodrem, who recently represented her country in Eurovision, is paired with Kai Widdrington. TV presenter and dog trainer Graeme Hall, nicknamed "the Dog Father," is paired with Lauren Oakley.
Actress Jaime Winstone is paired with Carlos Gu, who won last year with Karen Carney. Social media star John Nellis, with over 15 million followers on YouTube, is paired with Katya Jones. EastEnders star Lacey Turner, the first confirmed contestant, is paired with Vito Coppola.
Former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips, with 36 caps for England, is paired with Alexis Warr. Skeleton racer Tabitha "Tabby" Stoecker, who won gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics, is paired with newcomer Mark Karmalita. Big Brother co-host Will Best is paired with Dianne Buswell. Emmerdale star Lawrence Robb is paired with Jowita Przystał. Melanie Walters, known for Gavin and Stacey, is paired with Aljaž Škorjanec. Dame Sarah Storey, the most successful British Paralympian with 19 gold medals, is paired with Julian Caillon.
Who are the new hosts?
Emma Willis, 50, is a well-established presenter known for hosting Big Brother and its spin-offs. She currently hosts Love Is Blind UK with her husband Matt, with whom she shares three children.
Josh Widdicombe, 43, is a comedian known for co-presenting The Last Leg and his podcast Parenting Hell with Rob Beckett. He won the first series of Taskmaster in 2015.
Johannes Radebe, a South African dancer, has been on the show for eight seasons. He first joined the Strictly universe in 2014 in the South African edition before joining the UK version.
Who are the new dancers?
Five new professional dancers are making their live debut: Maddie Ingoldsby, Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi, and Mark Karmalita. They replace Karen Hauer, Gorka Márquez, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, and Michelle Tsiakkas, who are not returning.
Aleksandra Isaeva is ranked in the world's top 21 Latin dancers. Cristian Priori is a four-time Italian Latin Champion. Lethabo Monametsi has performed with Diana Ross and Hans Zimmer. Maddie Ingoldsby is a UK National Ballroom champion. Mark Karmalita is a two-time national Latin champion in Canada.
Who is on the judging panel?
The judging panel remains unchanged: Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, and Head Judge Shirley Ballas. The foursome will deliver critiques, provide technical analysis, and give the stars their scores.
