The primary superstar to participate on this 12 months’s collection of Strictly Come Dancing has been introduced.

Lacey Turner will participate within the 2026 collection of Strictly Come Dancing (Picture: BBC)
EastEnders star Lacey Turner has been introduced as the primary contestant participating within the 2026 collection of Strictly Come Dancing. The actress, 38, greatest recognized for her function as Stacey Slater on the BBC cleaning soap, will likely be swapping Albert Sq. for the Strictly ballroom later this 12 months.
Talking about signing as much as the present, Lacey mentioned: “I’m so excited to be making my approach to the dance flooring this 12 months to be part of Strictly Come Dancing! I’m an enormous fan and may’t fairly consider I will likely be participating and never watching at dwelling this 12 months! I look ahead to assembly everybody and studying a brand new talent!”
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This 12 months’s collection will likely be introduced by Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe (Picture: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Ray Burmiston)
The announcement was shared on the official Strictly Come Dancing social media pages, prompting lots of its stars to flood the put up with supportive messages.
“Wow how thrilling is that this,” commented Neil Jones as Amy Dowden penned: “Yas @laceyturner. Welcome pretty.”
Nancy Xu mentioned: “Wowwwww. Welcome to the TEAMMMM @laceyturner.”
Choose Motsi Mabuse echoed: “Welcome @laceyturner, lets rock and roll,” whereas new presenter Josh Widdicombe claimed the upcoming collection is “off to a flyer” following the appointment of the cleaning soap star.
Lacey joined the forged of EastEnders in 2004 and has received a number of awards for her function as the long-lasting Stacey. This consists of 4 Nationwide Tv Awards, eight British Cleaning soap Awards and 11 Inside Cleaning soap Awards.
She can also be famed for portraying Molly Dawes in BBC’s Our Lady. Additional particulars concerning the new line-up will likely be revealed all through the summer time.
The long-running BBC present has undergone a significant shake-up following the departures of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
Comic Josh, 43, Emma Willis, 50, and Johannes Radebe have been lately introduced because the present’s new presenters.
Emma, greatest recognized for fronting reveals comparable to Large Brother and Love Is Blind UK, mentioned: “It’s no secret that I’m an enormous fan of Strictly – I’ve cheered and danced alongside from my couch for years – so to be getting into the Strictly ballroom is one thing I can’t fairly comprehend.
“It’s unimaginable to fill the sneakers that Tess and Claudia have left behind – two fantastic, iconic ladies who’ve been the beating coronary heart of Strictly for therefore lengthy.
“I can solely hope that we’re in a position to assist to steer the ship as superbly as they’ve, into this new chapter. I can’t wait to spend my weekends with Josh and Jojo, the unbelievable dancers and the judges. Fingers crossed for a ten from them!”


















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