Strictly Come Dancing has finally confirmed which professional dancer each celebrity will be taking to the dancefloor each week, following weeks of speculation
Strictly threw a major spanner in the works for the celebrities this year(Image: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire)
It was all cha-cha changes at Strictly Come Dancing as the celebrity and pro dancer partnerships were finally revealed amid a big show shake-up.
The launch of the 24th series BBC juggernaut kicked off with a new presenting team – former Big Brother host Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdecombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe – and announced who will be dancing with whom as the hotly-anticipated refreshed series finally began.
This year, though, there was a twist. While the celebrities often find out who their professional partner is ahead of the series, they actually found out while recording the launch episode. They each rehearsed with a dancer in the lead-up, but this didn’t mean they were paired with the professional for the rest of the series. Instead, they rotated partners throughout the day.
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Dani Dyer said the twist had “thrown a spanner in the works” after she danced with Nikita Kuzmin during their training day, before the pros rotated once again.
EastEnders favourite Lacey Turner has former champ Vito Coppola as her teacher. Lacey said she felt “amazing” after being paired with Vito, and the Italian dancer added that he was “very, very happy” before saying he would cook for Lacey.
Dame Sarah Storey has been paired with Julian Caillon. She told Josh and Johannes that she was excited to be working with Julian. Meanwhile, returning star Dani Dyer, who had to leave the 2025 series early following an injury to her ankle before the live shows began, is back dancing with Nikita Kuzmin.
“I’m so happy, I can sleep now, I’m over the moon,” Dani said about making history. Nikita said he had “tears of joy” hearing the audience react to the news that he had been paired with Dani again. The reality star said she was hoping to make it to week one of the live shows after having to withdraw last year.
Gavin and Stacey actress Melanie Walters has teamed up with show veteran Aljaž Škorjanec. “I’m absolutely thrilled, on the very first day when we had to dance with everyone, you put me in a practise hold, I said it’s like steering a tractor,” Melanie said of dancing with Aljaž. The dancer said that the twist was one of the “funnest” experiences on the dancefloor.
Actress Jaime Winstone has been partnered with Carlos Gu. Speaking of working with reigning champ Carlos, Jaime said: “I’m so excited, I feel like we match energies. I’m super ecstatic.”
Former Manchester City midfielder Shaun Wright-Phillips is with American dancer Alexis Warr. Shaun said of wanting to excel on the show: “I like to enter things and be as good as possible, the pros are the margin, and that’s what I’m aiming for.” Alexis thinks that Shaun is already at a professional level.
House of the Dragon star Bethany Antonia is part of this year’s same-sex pairing with Nancy Xu. The actress credited Nicola Adams and Katya Jones, who danced as a same-sex couple on the show, with playing a huge part in her coming-out journey. She said she was incredibly excited to follow and lead with a woman.
Reflecting on working with Nancy, Bethany said that the pair instantly bonded when they first met. Bethany later explained that she was a “perfectionist” and Nancy had been “amazing” at reassuring her. “My nanny’s name was Nancy, and she passed away at the start of the year,” Bethany said, adding that it was “special” to be dancing with the star.
Olympic gold medallist Tabby Stoecker will be working with one of the show’s five newbies, Mark Karmalita. “I’m so happy, and I get to be your first partner on Strictly,” the Olympian told Mark.
She added: “That’s sort of amazing.” Mark said: “I’m going to try and be fun, caring and supportive,” he said of his teaching skills. The sports star went on to reveal she’s keen to learn the rumba – and score a perfect 40 for the dance!
Songstress Delta Goodrem is dancing with Kai Widdington. The singer said she was “honoured” to dance with “incredible dancer” Kai.
Emmerdale’s Lawrence Robb and Jowita Pryzstal will dance together. Speaking of dancing with Jowita, Lawrence said that fans will have to “stand by” to see more excitement from him. “Now we’re into hard work mode, what a feeling, what a rush,” he joked. Jowita said she was “so nervous” before being paired with Lawrence.
Kim Kardashian’s hairdresser, Chris Appleton, is dancing alongside show legend Amy Dowden. Chris said he was overjoyed to dance with Amy. “Over excited, I’m that little kid that used to watch this show on a Saturday night,” he said. Amy, however, said that her hair would get bigger every week if Chris were her partner.
Love Island winner Cach Mercer with Maddie Ingoldsby. The reality star said he was “pleased” to have Maddie, adding that she was “strict but cheeky” and that she’s able to cut the “banter”.
But Maddie said she was a “little bit strict” depending on the day. Cach’s family have also vowed to provide honest feedback, which is making him “doubt himself even more”. “This is a whole different playing field,” he said.
Football interviewer and former air traffic controller John Nellis is partnered with Katya Jones. The pro star revealed that John “messed up” in the lead-up to being partnered with the social media star. John later explained that he had “worked out” that he was dancing with Katya.
The ‘Dogfather’ Graeme Hall has been partnered with Lauren Oakley. “Tonight, I got four tens getting you, I’ve always wanted Lauren,” he told his professional star. He explained that his pals told him he would be “really lucky” to get Lauren as a partner. And the dancer believes that Graeme is a “dark horse” and will put his “all” into the show. However, she will have to “put a lead on him.”
Big Brother and Hits Radio presenter Will Best is dancing alongside show regular Dianne Buswell. Speaking about getting Dianne as a partner, Will said that when he “gets down it’s difficult to get back up again”.
He added: “I’m already a winner, I feel like a champion already just getting her. We’ve been having so much fun training. We finish each other’s sentences.” Dianne added that they were the “perfect pairing”.
Ahead of the first episode, Emma Willis revealed her nerves over the new show starting. Speaking on her BBC Radio 2 show, she said: “It feels like a very long lead-up to this, but also very quick.”
Talking about being a part of the Strictly experience, Emma added: “It’s very strange having that peek behind the curtain – I mean this in a positive way – it’s a beast of a show. It’s just fantastic. It is so exciting, me and Josh and Jojo are looking forward to it so much…
“I’m excited but nervous. I’m going to turn my phone off and disappear for a few days.” Joining her on the radio show – her last for a while as Ellie Taylor will be manning the fort until Strictly is finished – was one of the show’s judges Anton Du Beke. He told her: “I love it as much now as I did when I first walked in.
“It’s only Craig [Revel Horwood] and I left from the very first show – and that fills me with great pride.” Speaking about the five new professional dancers, Aleksandra, Cristian, Lethabo, Maddie and Mark, he said: “What I love though, there’s no place I’d rather be is in the rehearsal studio with dancers, it’s the most brilliant place.
“These five are as giddy – they can’t believe their fortune.” Giving his verdict on the celebrity line-up, Anton and Emma were discussing British cycler and swimmer Dame Sarah Storey, before he began pitching for his own knighthood.
“Love it when we have a Dame or a Sir,” Anton said. “We don’t have enough of them – we need more of them. If they make me a Sir, then we can just cover that base every year, straight away. I’ve been around long enough to be a Sir. Surely a knighthood should come my way at some stage? Can we start a petition?”
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