Lacey Turner Leads 2026 Strictly Come Dancing Stars Rollout
Lacey Turner is the first name in the 2026 strictly come dancing stars rollout, and that gives the ballroom series its first cast anchor before the September launch. The actor, best known as Stacey Slater in EastEnders, said she is excited to join the show this year.
Turner, who joined EastEnders in 2004, said, "I am so excited to being making my way to the dance floor this year to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing!" She added, "I am a huge fan and can’t quite believe I will be taking part and not watching at home this year!"
Turner’s first Strictly slot
The announcement matters because it starts the 2026 cast reveal with a recognisable screen name rather than a full lineup. Turner has also appeared in stage productions and television dramas, and played the lead role in the drama Our Girl, giving the series an early contestant with a broad TV profile.
She also said, "I look forward to meeting everyone and learning a new skill!" That is the practical takeaway for viewers: the series is no longer just in pre-launch chatter, because the first celebrity name is now out and the rest of the cast rollout can build around it.
May hosts and September timing
In May, the show named Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe as the trio of hosts for the 2026 series, with the announcement made in an Instagram post on the official Strictly account. The post showed the three posing for photos together in front of a purple colourama, setting the tone for a season that is already assembling its on-air face alongside its cast.
The same 2026 rollout has also linked Delta Goodrem and Dani to the series. Goodrem described herself as an Australian singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist and entrepreneur, said she had never stepped onto the ballroom floor before, while Dani said, "I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September!" and, "I just cannot wait to get my dancing shoes back on and hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one!"
That leaves the 2026 series in a familiar Strictly position: one contestant officially in place, other names already circling the lineup, and the September start date still doing most of the heavy lifting for the production’s public timetable. Turner’s announcement is the one that counts first, because it turns a loose launch into a real cast reveal.
