EastEnders star Lacey Turner first to join Strictly Come Dancing 2026

Lacey Turner, a familiar face from the long-running soap opera EastEnders, has been confirmed as the first celebrity contestant for the upcoming 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing. The BBC revealed the news, marking an earlier-than-usual announcement for the popular dance competition.

Turner, who has portrayed Stacey Slater on EastEnders since 2004 and garnered awards for her performance, expressed her excitement about joining the show. "I am so excited to being making my way to the dance floor this year to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing!" she stated. "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."

The new series will feature a fresh presenting team with Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe taking the helm, following the departure of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. The judging panel remains unchanged, with Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke returning to offer their critiques. Professional dancers Amy Dowden, Dianne Buswell, Katya Jones, Vito Coppola, and Aljaz Skorjanec are also set to return to the dance floor.

The early reveal of the first contestant suggests a shift in the BBC's typical rollout strategy for the show's lineup. While the corporation has not provided a specific reason for the accelerated announcement, it indicated that more celebrity participants will be unveiled over the summer months in anticipation of the series' September launch.

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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.