Dame Sarah Storey, the UK's most decorated Paralympian, has been announced as the seventh contestant for the 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing. The 48-year-old cyclist and swimmer holds a record 30 Paralympic medals, including 19 golds, making her the most successful British Paralympian of all time.
Historic Inclusion for the Show
Storey's participation is a first for the long-running BBC series, as she was born without a left hand after it became tangled in the umbilical cord at birth. She joins a growing list of celebrities set to take to the ballroom from September, with eight more contestants yet to be revealed.
Expressing her excitement, Storey said: “Embarking on a new challenge so soon after stepping down as an athlete is hugely exciting. I have always loved watching Strictly and my daughter Louisa is a very talented dancer, so to be able to learn from the best and hopefully understand even more about her world, is incredibly motivating! I can’t wait to get started!”
Other Confirmed Celebrities
The line-up so far includes reality star Dani Dyer, EastEnders actress Lacey Turner, fellow soap star Delta Goodrem, celebrity hairdresser Chris Appleton, Big Brother presenter Will Best, and Love Island winner Cach Mercer. Dyer, who had to withdraw last year due to a knee injury after the launch show, joked: “I just cannot wait to get my dancing shoes back on and hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one!”
Lacey Turner was the first to be announced, saying: “I am so excited to be making my way to the dance floor this year... I am a huge fan and can’t quite believe I will be taking part and not watching at home this year!” Delta Goodrem, following in the footsteps of Stefan Dennis from last year, commented: “I’ve been incredibly honoured to perform on many different stages throughout my career... there is however one stage I’ve never stepped onto and that is the ballroom floor.”
New Hosts for 2026
This year marks a change in hosting duties, with Emma Willis, Josh Widdecombe, and former professional dancer Johannes Radebe taking over from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. The BBC has been drip-feeding the celebrity line-up over the past month, a departure from the usual method of announcing all contestants over one week in August.
An insider described Storey's signing as “classy,” adding to the anticipation for the upcoming series.
