Lacey Turner Joins Strictly Come Dancing 2026
Actress Lacey Turner has been confirmed by the BBC as the first celebrity contestant for the upcoming 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing.
The EastEnders star will compete in the new series, which is scheduled to begin in the autumn.
Turner expressed her enthusiasm about joining the show, stating she was "so excited to being making my way to the dance floor" and described herself as a "huge fan" of the programme.
New Presenters for the Series
The 2026 series of Strictly will be hosted by Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe, following the departure of previous presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
The announcement of the first celebrity contestant has come notably earlier than usual, as the BBC typically reveals the line-up in August.
The broadcaster has not provided a reason for the early announcements but confirmed that additional contestants will be revealed throughout the summer ahead of the series launch in September.
Lacey Turner's Career Highlights
Turner is best known for her portrayal of Stacey Slater on EastEnders, a role she has played since 2004.
Her performance on the show has earned her a British Soap Award and a National Television Award. In addition to EastEnders, she has appeared in other television dramas, including the BBC series Our Girl.
"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."
Judges and Professional Dancers Line-up
The judging panel will see the return of Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke.
However, several professional dancers will not be returning for this series, including Gorka Marquez, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, Karen Hauer, and Michelle Tsiakkas.
Other professional dancers such as Amy Dowden, Dianne Buswell, Katya Jones, Vito Coppola, and Aljaz Skorjanec will continue to appear on the dance floor.
