Love Island star Cach Mercer has been announced as the fifth celebrity to join the line-up for the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing on BBC. The 2025 male champion of Love Island, who won the public vote alongside Toni Laites, will compete in the ballroom later this year.
Rise to Fame and Social Media Presence
Cach Mercer rose to fame on last year's series of Love Island, where he was crowned the male champion. He won alongside Toni Laites, who now hosts the spin-off show The Debrief with Shakira Khan and Yasmin Pettet. With nearly 50 million likes on TikTok, Mercer has built a massive social media following by showcasing his Afrobeat, hip-hop, and street dance moves. He also works as a model and DJ and serves as an ambassador for a young persons' mental health charity.
Excitement for the Ballroom
Following the announcement, Mercer said: “I have grown up watching the show with my family and am so excited to now be part of the cast. Dancing is a huge passion of mine and I can’t wait to learn Ballroom and do the Foxtrot for the first time!”
Previous Love Island Contestants on Strictly
The show has previously featured Love Island winners, with series three champion Amber Davies making it to the final last year. Love Island finalist Tasha Ghouri also participated and reached the final. This year, Dani Dyer, who won series four, was initially set to take part last year but had to pull out due to injury. Now, with both Dyer and Mercer confirmed, this marks the first time two Love Island winners will compete against each other on the dance floor.
Early Announcements and Show Changes
The BBC has been announcing the celebrity line-up for the show since mid-June, much earlier than the usual mid-August release. This series also brings significant changes, with five professional dancers leaving and five new ones joining. Additionally, long-time hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have departed, and three new presenters—Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe, and Josh Widdecombe—will replace them when the show returns later this year.
Other Confirmed Celebrities
Celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton, who counts Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian, Sofía Vergara, Ariana Grande, and Katy Perry among his clients, has also signed up. He said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Strictly Come Dancing and coming home to the UK for this incredible experience. I’ve always believed that the best things happen when you take a chance and try something new. I may know my way around a salon floor, but the dance floor is a whole different story - and I can’t wait to get started.”
EastEnders star Lacey Turner, who plays Stacey Slater, was the first to announce her participation. She said: “I am so excited to being making my way to the dance floor this year to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing! 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!”
Dani Dyer, who had to withdraw last year after an injury, is also returning. She said: “I am so excited 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 find out who else is doing it!”
Singer-songwriter Delta Goodrem shared: “I’ve been incredibly honoured to perform on many different stages throughout my career - from tv, theatre, film sets, to touring my own shows around the world, there is however one stage I’ve never stepped onto and that is the ballroom floor! I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Strictly and can’t wait to get started!”
