Big Brother host Will Best has been announced as the sixth celebrity to join the 2026 line-up of Strictly Come Dancing, the BBC confirmed on 14 July 2026. The 41-year-old television presenter will compete alongside previously announced stars including Dani Dyer, Lacey Turner, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton, and Cach Mercer.
Will Best's Reaction to Joining Strictly
Best expressed his excitement and nerves in a statement: "I can't quite believe it…I'm doing Strictly! What an absolute dream. Albeit a pretty terrifying one. I've been lucky to do lots of live telly before, but absolutely nothing like this. And I cannot wait! I have no idea if I can actually dance, but bring on the sequins, bring on the quicksteps, bring on the dance floor! I'm going to try to enjoy every minute of it."
Best is best known for co-hosting Big Brother with AJ Odudu. His casting marks a shift in the BBC's announcement schedule, which began revealing celebrities in mid-June, earlier than the traditional mid-August timeline.
Full 2026 Celebrity Line-Up So Far
The six celebrities confirmed for the 2026 series include two Love Island winners, an EastEnders star, an Australian singer, a celebrity hairdresser, and a reality TV host.
- Lacey Turner – The EastEnders actress, who plays Stacey Slater, was the first to be announced. She said: "I am so excited to be 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!"
- Dani Dyer – The Love Island winner was originally set to participate in 2025 but withdrew due to a knee injury; her place was taken by Amber Davies, who reached the final. Dyer 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!"
- Delta Goodrem – The Australian singer-songwriter shared: "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! I'm absolutely thrilled to be joining Strictly."
- Chris Appleton – The celebrity hairdresser, known for working with Kim Kardashian and Katy Perry, said: "I'm thrilled to be joining Strictly Come Dancing and coming home to the UK for this incredible experience. I may know my way around a salon floor, but the dance floor is a whole different story."
- Cach Mercer – The Love Island winner, who won the show alongside Toni Laites in 2025, 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."
New Hosts for the 2026 Series
When Strictly returns in autumn 2026, viewers will see three new hosts: Emma Willis, Josh Widdecombe, and former professional dancer Johannes Radebe. They replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who have departed the show.
The series promises many firsts, with a fresh presenting team and a diverse celebrity line-up ready to take to the dance floor.
