Strictly Come Dancing has announced its line-up of returning professional dancers ahead of its new series – and confirmed that fans can expect a few new faces in the cast.
It comes after five stars were axed from the show in a cast cull earlier this year, with Luba Mushtuk, Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer, Gorka Marquez and Michelle Tsiakkas leaving the BBC series.
On Wednesday (6 May), Strictly confirmed which stars will be back on our screens in Autumn 2026 – including long-time stars Dianne Buswell, Amy Dowden, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Johannes Radebe and Aljaž Škorjanec.
Nikita Kuzmin, Jowita Przystał, Lauren Oakley, Vito Coppola and reigning champion Carlos Gu will be joining them in the cast, while last year’s newbies Julian Caillon and Alexis Warr are confirmed to be returning.
The BBC also revealed that new professional dancers will be joining the existing cast. “The new Pros will be confirmed closer to the return of the show as the 24th spectacular series comes to screens in Autumn 2026,” the broadcaster teased.
Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke will be taking their places at the judging panel once year for 2026 to cast “a watchful eye over the performances each week”.
As for who the new hosts of Strictly will be, the BBC said they will be announced in “due course”, as well as this year’s contestants.
Longtime presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman revealed last year that they were leaving the show and ever since, fans have been desperate to learn who’ll be stepping into their dancing shoes.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Irish presenter and former contestant Angela Scanlon had emerged as a frontrunner, having been a “surprise hit” among bosses during auditions.
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Angela did really well,” a source told the Mail Online. “The BBC said that this had to be all about the chemistry between the presenters and their ability to react to live comments and situations – and she shone.”
She reportedly took part in chemistry tests alongside Zoe Ball, Emma Willis and Rylan Clark.
The show, which first aired in 2004, is undergoing a number of changes ahead of its forthcoming series – with the five departing professional stars announcing their exits earlier this year.
Last month, Marquez revealed that he was leaving the show after 10 years on our screens, having joined the Spanish version of the show, Bailando con las Estrellas, as a judge last year.
Not all of the professionals left quietly however – with Tsiakkas saying in March that her “dream was shattered” when she was let go from the show.
“I gave my everything to the show for the four years – it was my whole life,” she told The Sun. “It felt out of the blue. It was very tough. I was heartbroken. I went through so many emotions. I gave my life to Strictly.”
She added that she “wasn’t give a reason” for her axing and was told that they were going “in a different direction”.
