Strictly Come Dancing has announced that celebrity hair stylist Chris Appleton is the fourth contestant to take on the BBC show’s 2026 series.
Appleton, 43, is used to working behind-the-scenes on the biggest stars’ barnets, with the Brit styling the likes of Britney Spears, Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Ariana Grande and others. He recently make the New York Times Best Seller list with his memoir, Your Roots Don’t Define You.
Announcing his forthcoming stint on the BBC show, Appleton said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Strictly Come Dancing and coming home to the UK for this incredible experience.
“I’ve always believed that the best things happen when you take a chance and try something new. I may know my way around a salon floor, but the dance floor is a whole different story – and I can’t wait to get started.”
Meanwhile, on Instagram, Appleton wrote: “Excited to get started,” before various celebrities piled into the comments with congratulatory messages. I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! star Dean McCullough wrote, “Can’t wait to see Britney in the audience,” while 2024 Strictly star Tasha Ghouri commented: “No way!!! Epic.”
Although traditional Strictly fans may not be familiar with Appleton, the hair stylist is a popular name in the US and boasts four million followers on Instagram. He got married to The White Lotus star Lucas Gage in April 2023, with Kardashian on officiating duties – however, the pair split just seven months later.
The Leicester-born celebrity shares two children, Billy, 21, and Kitty-Blu, 20, with former partner, Katie Katon, and has previously opened up about coming out as gay to Katon at the age of 27, after nine years together. “[There was] the shame of, ‘Well, I’m going to hurt all these people I’ve created this life with,’” he told Jay Shetty podcast On Purpose in August. “So I kept pulling back, and I had to let go.”
“That was a process. I also had to respect that she needed to go through her own grief. Because I loved her. I really loved her. I didn’t want to be gay. I didn’t want to be different.”
He went on to forge an impressive career as a celebrity hair stylist, becoming close with the biggest stars on the planet. Speaking about Appleton ahead of his memoir’s release, Kardashian said: “It’s not often that someone comes into your life and changes it in such a major, special way… and Chris Appleton is just that for me. Chris takes you out of your comfort zone and just makes you feel special. This man changed my life.”
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The latest Strictly star will be joining names from the worlds of music, acting and reality TV – with Love Island winner Dani Dyer, EastEnders’ Lacey Turner and singer Delta Goodrem joining the cast earlier this month.
Turner was the first to be announced last week, admitting that she’s a “huge fan” and “can’t quite believe” she’s taking part. Dyer was second, with the BBC confirming that she would be returning to the dance floor after being forced to pull out last year. The 29-year-old, who is the daughter of actor Danny Dyer, left Strictly shortly after the launch show due to an ankle injury.
Last Friday, Eurovision Song Contest singer Goodrem became the third contestant of the 2026 cast, having represented Australia in the competition back in May. “I’ve been incredibly honoured to perform on many different stages throughout my career – from TV, theatre, film sets, to touring my own shows around the world,” she said. “There is, however, one stage I’ve never stepped onto and that is the ballroom floor. I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Strictly and can’t wait to get started.”
The rest of the 2026 line-up is set to be announced throughout the summer ahead of its September launch.
