The celebrity line-up for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 continues to grow with former England footballer and television pundit Shaun Wright-Phillips becoming the latest star confirmed for the upcoming season.
The announcement was made on Thursday, July 30, through the show’s official social media accounts on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.
Unlike previous editions, where the celebrity contestants were often unveiled over a shorter period, the BBC is revealing this year’s line-up gradually throughout the summer. The 2026 edition marks the 24th series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Who Is Shaun Wright-Phillips?
Shaun Wright-Phillips is best known for his successful football career. He has represented England 36 times at the international level. During his playing days, he featured for clubs including Manchester City, Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers.
He is also the son of former England striker Ian Wright who remains one of English football’s most recognisable figures. Since retiring from professional football, Wright-Phillips has built a career in sports broadcasting and regularly appears as a football pundit across BBC, Sky Sports and ITV.
Speaking after joining the show, Wright-Phillips acknowledged that ballroom dancing would be a completely new experience for him.
“Dancing is in my blood – but mainly at family events! Strictly is definitely outside my comfort zone, but I’m super excited to get started and really looking forward to the challenge!” he said as quoted by BBC.
Growing Celebrity Line-Up For The New Season
With Wright-Phillips’ addition, the list of confirmed contestants for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 continues to expand. So far, the BBC has announced the participation of Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton, Cach Mercer, Will Best, Dame Sarah Storey, Jaime Winstone and Bethany Antonia.
Five New Professional Dancers Join The Show
Alongside the celebrity announcements, the BBC has also introduced five new professional dancers who will make their Strictly Come Dancing debut this season.
The new professionals are Maddie Ingoldsby, Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi and Mark Karmalita. They will join the existing professional cast when the competition begins later this year.
Among the new additions, Maddie Ingoldsby described joining the programme as a major career milestone. A UK National Ballroom Champion and eight-time Amateur 10 Dance World Champion, Ingoldsby said becoming part of Strictly Come Dancing had long been one of her biggest ambitions.
When Will Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Premiere?
Strictly Come Dancing 2026 is scheduled to return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this September.
