Olympic gold medallist Tabby Stoecker is swapping the ice track for the dance floor after being announced as the latest celebrity contestant for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.
Stoecker made history earlier this year when she won gold for Team GB in skeleton at the 2026 Winter Olympics. She is also a World Cup race winner, a double World Championship medallist and a European Championship medallist.
Now, after an incredible year in sport, the Olympic champion is taking on a completely different challenge.Stoecker said she was “over the moon” about joining the 2026 Strictly cast, describing the opportunity as a childhood dream.“I’ve had the wildest year of my life so far, so to be rounding it off with a childhood dream of dancing in the Strictly ballroom is surreal,” she said.“I can’t wait to get stuck in!”With Stoecker’s arrival, 13 celebrities have now been confirmed for the upcoming series.
She will join a mix of actors, musicians, presenters, reality stars and sporting personalities, including Delta Goodrem, Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Will Best, Jaime Winstone and Dame Sarah Storey.The final two contestants are expected to be announced soon.Lawrence RobbEmmerdale star Lawrence Robb is also preparing to trade the soap set for the ballroom.Robb has played Mackenzie “Mack” Boyd on the ITV soap since 2020. He has also appeared in productions including I Hate Suzie and Legally Blonde The Musical.
The actor admitted that he was almost as excited about his Strictly appearance as his mother.“I don’t know who’s more excited about this, me or my mother,” he joked.“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.”Robb described the opportunity as a dream come true and admitted he will probably need plenty of advice once rehearsals begin.
Graeme HallKnown affectionately as the “Dogfather”, Graeme Hall is another celebrity taking on the challenge.Hall has been a familiar face on television thanks to Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly, which he has presented since 2017. He has also appeared on other television and radio programmes and has written books about dogs.Despite being excited about the competition, Hall admitted that joining Strictly is also a little nerve-wracking.“I have always loved dancing, so to have the opportunity to learn from the best in the business is a dream come true,” he said.“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!”Shaun Wright-PhillipsFormer England and Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips is also stepping outside his comfort zone.
The footballer, who is the son of Arsenal legend Ian Wright, earned 36 England caps during his career and also played for clubs including Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers.While he was known for his quick feet on the football pitch, Wright-Phillips admits dancing in the ballroom will be a different kind of challenge.“Dancing is in my blood – but mainly at family events!” he joked.“I’m super excited to get started and really looking forward to the challenge!”Bethany AntoniaActress Bethany Antonia, known for playing Lady Baela Targaryen in House of the Dragon, will also be competing for the Glitterball trophy.Antonia is currently appearing as Eurydice in the award-winning musical Hadestown in London’s West End.
She began acting at the age of 14 and has since appeared in productions including Nolly, Stay Close, Stath Lets Flats and Doctor Who.The actress said she grew up watching Strictly and is excited to finally experience the show for herself.“I can’t quite believe that I will be heading to the Strictly ballroom this September!” she said.“I am so excited to take the challenge on and hopefully learn a new skill.”Jaime WinstoneActress Jaime Winstone is also ready to embrace her “showgirl era” on the dance floor.
Winstone, whose acting career began in 2004, has appeared in films including Bullet Boy, Tomb Raider and Wild Bill. She also earned praise for portraying the late Barbara Windsor in the BBC biopic Babs.Although Winstone says she is comfortable on a dance floor, she admits ballroom dancing is a completely different experience.“I’m no stranger to a dance floor, but ballroom is a whole new world for me,” she said.“I love a challenge though, so can’t wait to enter my showgirl era and get super sparkly!”Dame Sarah StoreyParalympic legend Dame Sarah Storey is another major sporting name joining the competition.Storey is Great Britain’s most successful Paralympian, having won 19 gold medals across nine Paralympic Games. She began her career as a swimmer before switching to cycling and has won 30 Paralympic medals in total.She said taking part in Strictly is a challenge she is genuinely looking forward to.“I can’t wait to get started,” Storey said.She added that watching her daughter Louisa, who is a talented dancer, has given her even more motivation to learn.
Will BestPresenter Will Best is also preparing to swap the television studio for the ballroom.Best is known for presenting Big Brother alongside AJ Odudu and hosting the Hits Radio Breakfast Show.He described joining Strictly as “an absolute dream”, although he admitted the experience is also rather frightening.“I have no idea if I can actually dance, but bring on the sequins, bring on the quicksteps, bring on the dance floor!” he said.“I’m going to try to enjoy every minute of it.”Cach MercerReality star Cach Mercer, who was part of the winning couple on Love Island last year, is also joining the cast.Mercer works as a model and DJ and has regularly shown off his Afrobeat, hip-hop and street dance moves on social media.He says dancing is already a major passion of his, but ballroom will be a new experience.“I have grown up watching the show with my family and am so excited to now be part of the cast,” he said.“Dancing is a huge passion of mine and I can’t wait to learn ballroom and do the foxtrot for the first time!”Delta GoodremAustralian singer and actress Delta Goodrem will also be taking to the ballroom.
Goodrem has performed on stages around the world throughout her career, but she says Strictly will give her the chance to experience something completely new.“I’ve been incredibly honoured to perform on many different stages throughout my career,” she said.“There is, however, one stage I’ve never stepped onto and that is the ballroom floor.”Goodrem rose to fame on the Australian soap Neighbours and has enjoyed a successful career in music and acting.Chris AppletonCelebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton is also joining the competition.Appleton is well known for creating glamorous looks for major stars, including Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry and Ariana Grande.However, he admits that his experience on a salon floor may not prepare him for the Strictly dance floor.“I may know my way around a salon floor, but the dance floor is a whole different story,” he said.Appleton added that he has always believed in taking chances and trying new things, and he is looking forward to stepping outside his comfort zone.Lacey TurnerEastEnders actress Lacey Turner was the first celebrity confirmed for this year’s series.Turner is best known for playing Stacey Slater, a role she has portrayed since 2004. Her performance has earned her several major acting awards, and she has also starred in dramas including Our Girl.
The actress admitted she is both excited and nervous about finally taking part.“I’m so excited and so terrified at the same time,” she said.Turner added that after watching several of her friends take part in Strictly, she finally decided it was time to be brave and step onto the dance floor herself.Dani DyerDani Dyer is getting another chance to compete after an injury ended her Strictly journey before it even began last year.The reality star was originally announced as part of the previous cast but fractured her ankle during rehearsals with professional partner Nikita Kuzmin.Despite the setback, Dyer has decided to return for another shot at the competition.“I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September,” she said.“I just cannot wait to get my dancing shoes back on and hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one!”Dyer first rose to fame on Love Island in 2018 and has since built a career in television and entertainment.This year’s Strictly Come Dancing will also see a major change behind the scenes, with Josh Widdicombe, Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe taking over presenting duties following the departures of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
The judging panel is expected to remain largely unchanged, with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke returning alongside the other judges.Several familiar professional dancers are also expected back on the dance floor, while Gorka Marquez, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, Karen Hauer and Michelle Tsiakkas will not be returning.With just two celebrities left to be announced, anticipation is already building for what promises to be another dramatic and glitter-filled season of Strictly Come Dancing.
