Strictly 2026

[FetchFugly]

I guess we'll see what the Strictly audience make of him.

Hopefully he doesn't have a follower base that can be whipped up into a voting campaign.

 

[Shoat]

Oh I don't think he'll distort the voting at all in the way previous "influencers" have.

His audience of #lads and football fans won't care enough to follow him to Strictly in the way George Clarke's horny teenage girl army did.

But I do think the inevitable outcry of "he's not a celebrity" won't be fair or rooted in truth.

 

[Finn]

Although he's got 15 MILLION SUBSCRIBERS on YouTube?!?

 

[FetchFugly]

I guess it is similar to the hairdresser having more Instagram followers than anyone else, but not being a standard Strictly casting from a decade ago.

Obviously he is only comparable on the football side but Arsenal twitter got Tony Adams much further than he had any right to.

Anyway on paper, unless he has secret ballroom lessons in his past, you would think DOG MAN is the likely first out.

 

[lolly]

Will the male/female imbalance see the female celebs suffer more from voting spread, though?

 

[ManicKangaroo]

If the last 3 are correct there is only 1 more female than male

 

[ManicKangaroo]

Tabby Stoecker, & John Nellis confirmed so looks like Melanie will probably be the final contestant

 

[ButterTart]

John Nellis is basically a civilian and nothing will convince me otherwise.

 

[Shoat]

Moopy does Daily Mail Boomer

 

[lolly]

I wonder if Melanie might be the new Debbie McGee. She runs her own pilates studio, which presumably gives her a good core, balance and flexibility.

 

[FetchFugly]

 

[lolly]

Looking forward to all the omelette jokes already

 

[lolly]

 

[FetchFugly]

It doesn't sound like it is going to be quite as different as previously suggested, though they won't just be interviewing everyone in their couples now. Nothing to indicate it will be a visual podcast format.

 

[straightorbroken]

Can't say I'll be drawn back in to watching it, she don't make me laugh.

 

[Eddie]

I think I'm going to pass on Strictly in general this year tbh.

 

[lolly]

I'll certainly watch the first show. Or the first Sunday at least, as I'll be at my mum's and there's no way she won't enjoy criticising it.

I like Ellie, but I've not watched ITT for years, and don't see that changing.

 

[Nancy]

Vito and Nancy are dining in my vegan restaurant right now!

 

[Nancy]

Vito is here again and he just gave me a big hug

 

[FetchFugly]

I'd got used to the VT reveals but all change (back):

 

[Shoat]

Probably too risky to do last year knowing one of the pros was going to be AMBUSHED LIVE with Thomas Skinner

 

[lolly]

NAR:

 

[straightorbroken]

Spoiler: I used chatgpt to zoom in a little

 

[FetchFugly]

I'm sure she is pleased for Will but poor Fleur could probably do without so much Strictly this year.

 

[FetchFugly]

 

[FetchFugly]

https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/enter...ing-2026-launch-show-date-trailer-newsupdate/

The celebs AND the pros will only find out who they are paired with during three routines on the launch show. It will be interesting to see how that plays out.

 

[straightorbroken]

2 weeks. Amazing, I'm so ready now. Hate that Summer is now over though.

 

[FetchFugly]

I know that Richard Osman/TRE are in the bad books, but he interviews Emma, Johannes and Josh on the latest episode and they are very entertaining talking about their casting process.

Alternatively, this interview is effectively an abridged version:

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-...g-johannes-radebe-emma-willis-josh-widdicombe

 

[Finn]

Actual lol at Johannes' "I hated having to lie to Annabel Croft"

 

[FetchFugly]

I'm trying to avoid spoilers of the pairings but re benched pros:

Spoiler

ALJAZ is apparently a spare this year, along with Neil (obvs) and two of the new women. Nancy has a partner, which I guess rubbishes reports of a reduced status.

 

[rhythmbandit]

Here's Vito continuing to deliver the goods:

 

[rhythmbandit]

Side note:

Dancing With the Stars kicks off tonight, the lineup includes Love Island's Maura Higgins, Tatyana Ali and Julia Stiles who is practically a professional already.

 

[Shoat]

How and why did Maura from Love Island become a US celebrity?

 

[rhythmbandit]

How and why did Maura from Love Island become a US celebrity?

She appeared on The Traitors US for some reason and did VERY WELL.

She's also the new host of the re-re-reboot of Get Me Out of Here! in the States.

 

[FetchFugly]

Not to be negative right off the bat, but the three of them standing there together feels a bit awkward at the moment. Hopefully they will all find their place as things move on.

 

[FetchFugly]

The 'impromptu' conversations between the celebs in the VTs are not the most natural.

 

[Ellie]

I know zero of the men this year.

 

[FetchFugly]

I knew Will Best, DOG MAN by face and the footballer by name. The females are starrier.

Lacey is very well spoken.

 

[Ellie]

Oh dog man, that’s who he is!

 

[FetchFugly]

So the spoilers apparently LIED and Aljaz has a partner this year.