Skip to content

Strictly returns with new hosting trio as celebrities find out dance pairings

Freya Scott-Turner
News imageBBC/PA Left to right: Johannes Radebe, Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe sit in a line on a sofa. BBC/PA

Strictly Come Dancing has returned to the small screen for its 24th series, in a new era for the show as it moves forward with a revamped presenting line up.

Broadcaster Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and former Strictly professional Johannes Radebe made their presenting debut on Saturday, taking over from long-running hosting duo Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who left the show last year.

A fresh cohort of famous faces – including actress Melanie Walters and former England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips – also stepped onto the ballroom floor for the first time.

During the launch show, it was revealed which professional dancers they were paired with.

Stepping out onto the ballroom floor after a huge all-cast opening dance routine, Willis said presenting Strictly was a "genuine honour".

"Josh, you've got moves," proclaimed Radebe, a former professional on the show. While Widdicombe added that it was "a little bit overwhelming" but he was "delighted" to be there.

In a first for the show, celebrity and pro pairings were revealed via three dance routines. It functioned as a musical chairs of sorts, in which the contestants switched partners until the music was paused, and a couple was announced.

News imageBBC/PA 2026 Celebrities and Professional Dancers (left to right) Lauren Oakley and Graeme Hall, Amy Dowden and Chris Appleton, Katya Jones and John Nellis, Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby, Dianne Buswell and Will BestBBC/PA

Strictly contestants 2026

Here is a list of the pairings in full:

  • Actress Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola
  • Reality TV star Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin
  • Hair stylist to the stars Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden
  • Australian singer and actress Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington
  • DJ and social media personality Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby
  • TV and radio presenter Will Best and Dianne Buswell
  • Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon
  • Actress Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu
  • TV and stage actress Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu
  • Former England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr
  • Presenter and author Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley
  • Actor Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał
  • Skeleton athlete Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita
  • YouTuber John Nellis and Katya Jones
  • TV and stage actress Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec

One pair who won't need to get to know each other are reality TV star Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin.

Dyer is back to compete for a second time, having withdrawn from last year's series due to a fractured ankle.

"I'm just over the moon. I'm so, so happy," she said after the pairing, while Kuzmin added that he had "tears of joy" in his eyes.

Meanwhile, actress Bethany Antonia and professional Nancy Xu became the third two-woman couple to compete in the show.

In a poignant moment, Antonia revealed that watching boxer Nicola Adams and Katya Jones performing together in Strictly's 2020 series was a "big part of my coming out journey".

Among the other pairings were EastEnders actress Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola, former Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon, and Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr.

Also back on the dancefloor for a final spin was reigning Strictly champion, former Lionness Karen Carney.

Clad in the same diamante-encrusted football shirt, Carney recreated the Jive that first marked her out as a contender of her series, alongside dance partner Carlos Gu.

"I absolutely feel like I'm at home," Carney told Willis after the routine, as she paid tribute to her pro partner.

In 13 weeks time, she'll have to surrender that glitterball trophy to a new victor.

News imageBBC/PA Karen Carney and Carlos Gu wearing bedazzled blue football shirts, standing next to Emma Willis who wears a beige gown. BBC/PA
Reigning champion Karen Carney returned to perform her week one Jive with pro partner Carlos Gu

And it is not just presenters and celebrities navigating the ballroom for the first time: Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi, Maddie Ingoldsby, and Mark Karmalita are the five new professionals joining the Strictly cast this series.

They hail from the UK, Canada, Italy, South Africa and Ukraine.

The five made a high-impact entrance, performing a searing routine that kicked off on top of an enormous encaged disco ball.

News imageBBC/PA Five red-clad dancers on top of a metal contraption, surrounded by other backing dancers in black.BBC/PA
Strictly's five new professional dancers gave a high-octane debut performance

Saturday's show was a more paired back role for Craig Revel Horwood and his fellow judges - Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke - who featured less.

But there was still time for resident villain Horwood to direct a jibe at broadcaster Will Best's hip action: "Call in the paramedics darling, dislocation - my goodness."

And some other traditions remain intact.

Once all the dance routines were wrapped, the pairings announced, and the chats in the "Clauditorium" concluded, it was time for the show's three new hosts to bid farewell with the customary order to "staaart dancing!"