No Tessbot. No Clauditorium. Three new presenters, five new professionals and a new-look \u201cvodcast\u201d It Takes Two sister show. Yes, the fast-approaching 24th series represents Strictly Come Dancing\u2019s biggest ever shake-up. This has become a make-or-break year for the BBC\u2019s ballroom behemoth.<\/p>\n
Lineup announcements have been strung out over two months, like a boring byelection, but the Strictly class of 2026 is finally complete. There are the usual grumbles about a lack of household names, with theories that the casting department prioritised social media followings over mainstream fame. My personal feeling is they have smashed it with the women, who comfortably overshadow the far weaker lineup of men. This raises the pleasing possibility of the first back-to-back female champions since Abbey Clancy and Caroline Flack more than a decade ago.<\/p>\n
So who will be getting double-dipped in orange emulsion and rolled in glitter on autumnal Saturday nights? Whose mantelpiece could be graced by the glitterball trophy? And who\u2019ll be sent home before we\u2019ve even bothered to learn their name? We\u2019ve rated this year\u2019s celebrity hoofers from worst to best in terms of likely sparkly success. Staaaaaart ranking \u2026<\/p>\n
15. John Nellis<\/p>\n
He\u2019s a \u201cfootball influencer\u201d, apparently. A job I didn\u2019t know existed until I started typing this. It says here that the YouTuber is \u201cone of Britain\u2019s biggest sports content creators\u201d with a whopping 20 million followers across social media. The Northern Irishman has never danced before, so should be choreographic cannon fodder. Shame it wasn\u2019t John Nettles. He could\u2019ve foxtrotted to the Bergerac and Midsomer Murders theme tunes.<\/p>\n
14. Graeme HallThe \u2018Dogfather\u2019 Graeme Hall. Photograph: BBC Studios\/PA<\/p>\n
Will he perform a pekingese waltz, a King Charleston spaniel or a chihuahua cha-cha? Will he be terrier-ble or could he make it to Blackpoodle? Going from house training to dance training is canine cult hero Graeme \u201cthe Dogfather\u201d Hall, presenter of Channel 5\u2019s Dog\u2019s Behaving (Very) Badly. Not the most glamorous piece of casting, perhaps, but at least it allows all manner of hound-based hilarity. Let him off the leash and go for rumba walkies. Good boy.<\/p>\n
13. Shaun Wright-PhillipsOn the ball \u2026 Shaun Wright-Phillips. Photograph: BBC\/PA<\/p>\n
What\u2019s the betting they tried his dad, Ian Wright, first? Strictly got its first ever footballing winner last year in Karen Carney, but former England winger Wright-Phillips will do well to make the away fixture at Blackpool. He\u2019s a pint-sized 5ft 5in, so expect short king Shauny to be paired with one of the pocket rocket female pros, such as Jowita Przysta\u0142. Shame Tess is no longer around to say \u201clook at their little faces\u201d.<\/p>\n
12. Chris AppletonTressed to kill \u2026 Chris Appleton. Photograph: BBC\/BBC Studios<\/p>\n
\u201cKim Kardashian\u2019s hairdresser\u201d is stretching the definition of \u201ccelebrity\u201d to snapping point. Who next? Jane McDonald\u2019s chiropodist? Olly Murs\u2019 dental hygienist? The bloke who does Christopher Biggins\u2019 gutters? The Leicester-born coiffure-wrangler\u2019s other clients include Ariana Grande, Katy Perry and J-Lo. A factor in his casting is surely the hope of seeing a Kardashian in the studio audience. We imagine he\u2019ll be pretty good. And possibly give his pro partner a glow-up. Going anywhere nice on your holidays, hun?<\/p>\n
11. Melanie WaltersFresh from Barry Island \u2026 Melanie Walters. Photograph: BBC Studios\/PA<\/p>\n
What\u2019s occurrin\u2019? Stopping off at Elstree en route to Billericay will be the actor best known as Gwen from Gavin & Stacey. The Barry-based matriarch is constantly making omelettes in the Anglo-Welsh romcom. That extra protein could come in handy on long training days. At 64, she\u2019s the oldest contestant in the field, but Walters teaches pilates, so is fit and flexible. Stacey\u2019s mum has got it going on. Just ask Dave Coaches. Hey, maybe we\u2019ll finally find out what happened between Uncle Bryn and his nephew Jason on that fateful fishing trip. Lush and tidy indeed.<\/p>\n
10. Will Best<\/p>\n
His Big Brother co-host AJ Odudu reached the final five years ago. Can Will Best follow in her twinkle-toed footsteps? He recently won Celebrity Mastermind with the specialist subject of Danny Dyer, so will be embarrassingly excited to dance alongside Dyer\u2019s daughter. He\u2019s fit, funny and annoyingly multitalented, so could prove a surprise package. He also hosted a flop ITV talent show called Dance Dance Dance, which feels like an omen of \u2026 something?<\/p>\n
9. Sarah Storey<\/p>\n
She swims! She cycles! But can she samba? Dame Sarah Storey began her sporting career in the pool, before switching to the velodrome. Her 30 medals, including 19 golds, make her Team GB\u2019s most decorated Paralympian of all time. Having hung up her Lycra onesie this summer, she becomes the first Dame to hit the ballroom floor and the sixth Paralympian. None reached the final but the ever-competitive Storey will have the podium in her sights. What\u2019s the Storey? Glitterball glory?<\/p>\n
8. Tabby StoeckerHitting the dancefloor running \u2026 Tabby Stoecker. Photograph: BBC Studios\/PA<\/p>\n