ABSTRACT

Melanie Walters, who has played Gwen West in BBC comedy Gavin & Stacey since 2007, has been named as the 15th and final celebrity to join the line-up for Strictly Come Dancing 2026, completing a cast that also includes Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey, Australian singer Delta Goodrem, Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb, and former England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips, among others.

BBC News

Melanie Walters announced as final celebrity contestant for Strictly Come Dancing 2026

Aug 12, 2026, 5:28 AM

Context

Walters said in a statement that her experience of Strictly had previously been limited to watching the show from a dressing room during her 15 years performing in pantomime. She said she was 'completely thrilled' to be joining the cast and hoped to swap her 'fairy wand for sequinned dance shoes'. The show is expected to begin in September 2026.

Beyond Gavin & Stacey, Walters has appeared in Coronation Street, Beyond Paradise, Doc Martin, Being Human, Death Valley, and Hollyoaks, as well as films including High Tide and Save the Cinema, and stage productions such as Blood Brothers, Twelfth Night, and Educating Rita.

The other 14 confirmed celebrities are: football content creator John Nellis, who has more than 20 million social media followers and said he has never danced before; Team GB skeleton racer Tabby Stoecker, who won gold at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games; Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb, who has played Mackenzie Boyd in the ITV soap since 2020; Channel 5 dog trainer and presenter Graeme Hall, known as the Dogfather; former England and Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, who had 36 caps for England; actress Bethany Antonia, who has portrayed Lady Baela Targaryen in HBO's House of the Dragon since 2022 and is currently starring in Hadestown in London's West End; actress Jaime Winstone, whose credits include Bullet Boy, Tomb Raider, and the BBC biopic Babs; Dame Sarah Storey, described as Great Britain's most successful Paralympian of all time with 19 gold medals across nine Paralympic Games; TV presenter Will Best, known for hosting Big Brother on ITV since 2023; Love Island winner and model Cach Mercer; Australian singer and actress Delta Goodrem, who recently represented Australia at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest; celebrity hair stylist Chris Appleton, known for his work with Kim Kardashian and described as Color Wow creative director; EastEnders actress Lacey Turner, the first contestant announced for this year's series; and media personality Dani Dyer, who appeared in the launch episode last year but withdrew after fracturing her ankle in rehearsals.

Dyer, 29, fractured her ankle when she 'landed funny' in rehearsals with dance partner Nikita Kuzmin before the competitive episodes began last September. She was replaced by actress Amber Davies, a former Love Island winner, who went on to reach the Strictly final.

This year's series will feature a new presenting line-up. Josh Widdicombe, Emma Willis, and Johannes Radebe will take over as hosts following the departures of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke will all return. Professional dancers Amy Dowden, Dianne Buswell, Katya Jones, Vito Coppola, and Aljaz Skorjanec will also return, while Gorka Marquez, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, Karen Hauer, and Michelle Tsiakkas will not be returning.

All Perspectives

Melanie Walters: Walters said she was 'completely thrilled and happy to swap my fairy wand for sequinned dance shoes', adding that she hoped she would not 'follow Cinderella and leave one on the Ballroom stairs'.

John Nellis: Nellis said he was 'a little nervous' because he has never danced before, but hoped to be 'much better at family parties by the end of it'.

Tabby Stoecker: Stoecker said she was 'over the moon' to be joining the cast, describing it as a 'childhood dream' and saying she 'can't wait to get stuck in'.

Lawrence Robb: Robb joked that he did not know 'who's more excited about this, me or my mother', calling it 'a dream come true' and saying he would need any advice offered.

Graeme Hall: Hall said he 'can't believe' he is joining the cast, describing it as 'a dream come true' but also 'more than a bit nerve-wracking'.

Shaun Wright-Phillips: Wright-Phillips said the challenge was 'definitely outside my comfort zone', adding that dancing was 'in my blood - but mainly at family events', and that he was 'super excited to get started'.

Bethany Antonia: Antonia said she 'can't quite believe' she would be heading to the Strictly ballroom, adding that she had 'grown up watching Strictly' and was excited to learn a new skill.

Jaime Winstone: Winstone said she was 'no stranger to a dance floor' but that ballroom was 'a whole new world for me', adding that she loved a challenge and 'can't wait to enter my showgirl era'.

Dame Sarah Storey: Storey described the challenge as 'hugely exciting', saying she 'can't wait to get started' and that being able to learn from the best was 'incredibly motivating', partly because her daughter Louisa is a talented dancer.

Will Best: Best called it 'an absolute dream' to be taking to the dance floor, describing it also as 'a pretty terrifying one', and said he had 'no idea' if he could actually dance.

Cach Mercer: Mercer said he had grown up watching the show with his family and was excited to be part of the cast, adding that dancing was 'a huge passion' of his and that he could not wait to learn ballroom and do the foxtrot for the first time.

Delta Goodrem: Goodrem said the ballroom floor was one stage she had never stepped onto in her career and that she was 'absolutely thrilled to be joining Strictly'.

Chris Appleton: Appleton said he was 'thrilled to be joining Strictly Come Dancing and coming home to the UK', and that while he knew his way around a salon floor, 'the dance floor is a whole different story'.

Lacey Turner: Turner said she was 'so excited to be making my way to the dance floor' and described herself as a 'huge fan' of the show, adding that she was 'so excited and so terrified at the same time'.

Dani Dyer: Dyer said she was 'so excited to be back in the ballroom this September', adding that she hoped to 'actually make it to week one' this time around.

Gaps & Unknowns

The source does not provide the broadcast start date beyond 'September'.
The source does not detail the professional dancers who will be paired with this year's celebrities.
The source does not explain the reasons why five professional dancers — Gorka Marquez, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, Karen Hauer, and Michelle Tsiakkas — will not be returning.
The source does not give a response or statement from the BBC regarding the overall 2026 series beyond announcing the line-up.

Sources & Further Reading

BBC News — original

Read the original at BBC News

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