Strictly Come Dancing 2026 line-up includes Dame Sarah Storey and Shaun Wright-Phillips

The BBC has revealed the 15 celebrities taking part in Strictly Come Dancing 2026, with a Paralympic champion, a former Manchester City winger and several stars linked to Yorkshire and Northern broadcasting among them.

Will Best, Lawrence Robb, Graeme Hall, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Dame Sarah Storey bring the strongest Northern ties to the cast of the BBC's flagship entertainment show, which returns this autumn.

Storey and Wright-Phillips

Storey, from Greater Manchester, is Britain's most successful Paralympian and retired from competitive sport last month.

Now 48, she won 30 Paralympic medals, 19 of them gold, over nine Paralympic Games in both swimming and cycling. She lives in Disley, and ParalympicsGB lists her region as Manchester. No Dame has competed on the show before.

“Embarking on a new challenge so soon after stepping down as an athlete is hugely exciting,” Storey said.

“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!”

Shaun Wright-Phillips, 44, the ex-Manchester City and England winger, won 36 caps for his country. He played for Manchester City twice, and also for Phoenix Rising, New York Red Bulls, Queens Park Rangers and Chelsea, and he has been a City ambassador since 2020.

“Dancing is in my blood—but mainly at family events!” he said. “Strictly is definitely outside my comfort zone, but I'm super excited to get started and really looking forward to the challenge!”

Yorkshire connections

Dog trainer, presenter and author Graeme Hall, best known for Channel 5's Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly, represents Yorkshire. Known as “The Dogfather”, he was born in Selby and went to the University of Hull before building a TV career around his work with dogs.

“I can't believe I am joining the cast of Strictly for 2026,” Hall said. “I have always loved dancing, so to have the opportunity to learn from the best in the business is a dream come true.

“I have watched the show for years, so to be a part of it feels like a very exciting challenge, albeit more than a bit nerve-wracking! I can't wait to get started. Bring it on!”

Glasgow-born actor Lawrence Robb has spent six years as Mackenzie ‘Mack’ Boyd in Emmerdale, ITV's Yorkshire-set soap, joining the Dingle family and appearing in some of its biggest storylines.

“I don't know who's more excited about this, me or my Mother,” Robb said.

“I can't quite believe that I am going to be getting my dancing shoes on this September on one of my favourite shows of all time! It's a dream come true, and I can't wait to bring my all to ballroom. Wish me luck, and any advice is very welcome – trust me I'll need it!”

The remaining contestants are Lacey Turner of Eastenders, radio presenter Will Best, singer Delta Goodrem, actress Dani Dyer, Jaime Winstone, Chris Appleton, Cach Mercer, Bethany Antonia, John Nellis, Tabby Stoecker and Melanie Walters.

Three presenters

The show will have three presenters for the first time, with Josh Widdicombe, Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe hosting.

Head judge Shirley Ballas returns alongside Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood, and five new professional dancers will join the returning pros.

Movies, Musicals, Icons and Halloween weeks are all back, along with the Instant Dance challenge introduced last year. Blackpool Week will also return to the Tower Ballroom.

The BBC said the last series drew an average of 7.8 million viewers and 8.6 million for the Grand Final, won by ex-England footballer Karen Carney and her professional partner Carlos Gu.

Strictly Come Dancing is produced by BBC Studios Entertainment and will be back on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the autumn; transmission dates are yet to be confirmed.