![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/SEI_311555891-455d.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe Strictly 2026 cast are ready to hit the dancefloor! (Picture: BBC\/Ray Burmiston\/Artwork \u2013 BBC Creative)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tThe Strictly 2026 cast are ready to hit the dancefloor! (Picture: BBC\/Ray Burmiston\/Artwork \u2013 BBC Creative)<\/p>\n
The Strictly Come Dancing<\/a> 2026 couples have officially been confirmed in tonight\u2019s Saturday night launch show, including one same-sex pairing that\u2019s left fans over the moon.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been three years since the Strictly featured a same-sex couple, with Layton Williams<\/a> and Nikita Kuzmin<\/a> making the final of the competition in 2023.<\/p>\n The first same-sex couple was Nicola Adams<\/a> and Katya Jones<\/a> in 2020, followed by John Whaite and Johannes Radebe<\/a> in 2021, Jayde Adams and Karen Hauer in 2022, and Richie Anderson and Giovanni Pernice in the same series.<\/p>\n And now, House of the Dragon<\/a> star Bethany Antonia<\/a> and Nancy Xu<\/a> will be vying for the Glitterball Trophy.<\/p>\n Reacting to their partnership, Strictly fan Siobhan wrote on X: \u2018Strictly FINALLY having a female same sex pairing with finalist potential is AMAZING!! <\/p>\n \t\t\t\tGet personalised updates on Strictly\t\t\t<\/p>\n Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro\u2019s TV Newsletter.<\/p>\n Sign up to our newsletter<\/a> and then select your show in the link we\u2019ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.<\/p>\n \u2018Nancy has been one of my favourite pros since the day she joined, I adore her energy and joy. Her and Bethany are going to be a special partnership and a VERY important one!! \ud83d\ude0d\ud83c\udf08\ud83d\udc95 #Strictly.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018I love Bethany and Nancy together they are so precious\ud83d\ude2d,\u2019 commented Georgia, while Beth added: \u2018BETHANY AND NANCY OMG \ud83d\ude0d I just know they\u2019re about to be THE pairing for me this year.\u2019<\/p>\n Nancy has been a fantastic pro on Strictly since she joined the show in 2019, receiving her first celebrity partner two years later with CBBC presenter Rhys Stephenson.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been two years since she\u2019s had a partner, having last competed with Shayne Ward in 2024 \u2013\u00a0and now it\u2019s finally time for her to unleash her competitive spirit with Bethany.<\/p>\n \t\t In recent years, Bethany\u2019s gained prominence as Lady Baela Targaryen in House of the Dragon, the daughter of Matt Smith\u2019s Daemon Targaryen and stepdaughter of Emma D\u2019Arcy\u2019s Rhaenyra Targaryen.<\/p>\n The 28-year-old, who\u2019s appeared in other productions including Doctors, Get Even, Stay Close and Nolly, \u2018couldn\u2019t believe\u2019 that she\u2019d been cast in Strictly when she was announced in July.<\/p>\n \u2018I have grown up watching Strictly, and I am so excited to take the challenge on and (hopefully!) learn a new skill. See you on the dancefloor!\u2019 she said at the time.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tWho are the Strictly couples for the 2026 series?\t\t\t<\/p>\n The full line-up of celebrities and their pro dancer partners are: <\/p>\n Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola<\/p>\n Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley<\/p>\n Jowita Przystal and Lawrence Robb<\/p>\n Will Best and Dianne Buswell<\/p>\n Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr<\/p>\n Melanie Walters and Aljaz Skorjanec<\/p>\n Mark Karmalita and Tabby Stoecker,<\/p>\n Julian Caillon and Dame Sarah Storey<\/p>\n Maddie Ingoldsby and Cach Mercer<\/p>\n Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden<\/p>\n John Nellis and Katya Jones<\/p>\n Carlos Gu and Jaime Winstone<\/p>\n Nikita Kuzmin and Dani Dyer<\/p>\n Kai Widdrington and Delta Goodrem<\/p>\n Nancy Xu and Bethany Antonia<\/p>\n Just over a week ago, she shared a picture of herself in full Strictly glam, writing in her caption: \u2018OKAY SO WE\u2019RE DOING THIS \ud83e\udea9\ud83e\uddd1\ud83c\udffe\u200d\ud83e\ude70\ud83e\uddd1\u200d\ud83e\ude70\ud83d\udd7a\u2764\ufe0f\ud83e\udd2a.\u2019<\/p>\n Several of her House of the Dragon co-stars shared messages in response in the comments, with Steve Toussaint writing: \u2018\ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udfff\ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udfff\ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udfff\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25 Go on girl!!!\u2019 while Gayle Ranjin said that she was \u2018SAT \ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25\u2764\ufe0f\u2764\ufe0f\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018So excited!!! Xxx,\u2019 commented Russell T Davies, while her fellow competitor Dani Dyer added: \u2018So so beautiful \u2764\ufe0f\u2764\ufe0f\u2764\ufe0f.\u2019<\/p>\n Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday night on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Nancy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/SEI_313133601-23ea.jpg\")
\n\t\tBethany said in Saturday night\u2019s launch show that watching Nicola Adams and Katya Jones on Strictly helped her come out (Picture: Ray Burmiston\/BBC\/PA Wire)<\/p>\n![\"Bethany](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/SEI_306710556_df1b78.jpg\")
\n\t\tBethany Antonia will return as Baela in the fourth and final season of House of the Dragon. (Picture: HBO)<\/p>\n
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\nMORE: Strictly fans give their honest verdict on new presenters: \u2018Three\u2019s a crowd\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: Strictly fans convinced one \u2018fantastic\u2019 new pairing are already the frontrunners to win<\/a><\/p>\n