Strictly 2026 : It’s Emma, Josh and JoJo

[EineReiseDurchDieZeit]

First thread of the year! Let us reconvene here for further discussions

Zoe and Sophie arguably overtook their parents' fame, same as Claud and her mum (Eve?).
Dani will get it, as did Tilly. Tilly held her own.
I have heard of Jaime in her own right and she has a steady body of work. Nonetheless, for many who are not acquainted with her, there will be interest in her father.
Who are George's parents?

Ah, Aardman animations. Just googled. Apparently he is a secret nepobaby! 😂
Never heard of his dad, probably because I have incorrectly only associated Nick Park with the production .

Oh, take that back, I have seen her in EE (watched from it started) and Mad Dogs, which I loved, but had no idea what she was called. Apologies

George never once took as to Aardman studios not once did he mention it that is why he could sit on YouTube all day he didn't neec to work ! I did like him but he clearly wanted to hide his connections

Jamie Winston played Barbara Windsor in her biopic that was on bbc 1 a few years ago, then she has played Peggy Mitchel the flashback episodes they did with phill when he was in psychosis.

New Strictly pros have been announced on their Facebook page.

Edit. From their BBC page

www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2026/strictly-come-dancing-new-pro-dancers

Justice for Karen!

(I liked her, thought she was unlucky and went before she was pushed)

These new ones appear to be just out of the womb!
I also think Karen should have stayed. And Michelle did not get a fair chance.
Ok with Nadiya and Luba going.

The absolutely do they look like they should be in a Cbbc teen show 😀

I've seen comments on Facebook that says they look like contestants from Love Island.

I guess we need to see them on the show itself before we can judge. It does look like producers are attempting to attract a younger audience though.

Oh yes love island bless them 😂
to be honest Strictly is family viewing isn't it?
so i don't think trying to appeal to a younger audience will work, they will either sit down and watch or not, i mean I guess if there is contestants that are aimed at tik tok generation then they are just going to watch them.vote and move on I don't think they will watch 2 hours on Saturday night because there is young .dancers.

It was suggested a while back on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast that they are trying to emulate what has worked for Dancing With The Stars USA but I feel like the UK audience is more discerning

I’m so very very unenthusiastic for this year’s series.

My first thought was Love Island identikits as well. What a shame.

Four out of the five are Latin champions, only one is ballroom

Aleksandra, Cristian, Lethabo, Maddie and Mark
replacing Karen, Gorka, Michelle, Luba, JoJo and Nadiya
If Luba and Nadiya gone, who's the tallest female pro now. Do we have the heights?
And why have they kept Neil and Nancy on the bench if they are hiring five more?
How many of these are going to be benched like Chloe and Cameron were?

The tallest of the new females is Aleksandra at 5ft 6. I think Luba was 5ft 9.

According to this, we don't have tall female pros this year and with 19 pros, two of those new ones might end up benched along with N&N!

• Pro heights:
• Kai - 188cm (6ft2)
• Aljaž - 183cm (6ft)
• Julian - 183cm (6ft)
• Vito - 181cm (5ft11)
• Nikita - 180cm (5ft11)

Mark - 182cm (5ft11)

• Carlos - 178cm (5ft10)
• Neil - 175cm (5ft9) Benched

Cristian - 174cm (5ft8)

• Nancy - 168cm (5ft6) Benched

Aleksandra - 165cm (5ft5)

• Lauren - 167cm (5ft6)
• Katya - 165cm (5ft 5)
• Amy - 165cm (5ft5)

• Dianne - 159cm (5ft3)
• Alexis - 157cm (5ft2)

Maddie - 157cm (5ft2)

• Jowita - 152cm (5ft)

Lethabo - 151cm (4ft11)

• Celebrity heights:
• Chris - 191cm (6ft3)
• Cach - 187cm (6ft2)
• Will - 178cm (5ft10)
• Delta - 177cm (5ft10)
• Sarah - 175cm (5ft9)
• Lacey - 160cm (5ft3)
• Jaime - 160cm (5ft3)
• Dani - 155cm (5ft1)

Thanks to kiwijay on Dig Spy for the above list 🥰 edit: made two changes to Katya and Aleks

Ah, that should say 5"6 for Aleks, won't let me re-edit

They haven't announced the gladiator yet, and a lot of them are taller than average.

Wow , I did not know Jowita was only 5 foot .
Same as me , but she oozes more height !!

Edited to add ..
I forgot about those amazing heels they wear 😂😂

It is the teeny tiny costumes and heels that gives her a bit of length also she is light as a feather, where as I am 5ft and dumpy i think it makes me look smaller

• Chris (43) and Kai (30) Kai is tall and hasn't done same sex partnership in main series

• Cach (25) and Katya (37) Love island singleton and Katya's last hurrah.

• Will (41) and Lauren (35)

• Delta (41) and Julian (30) Both Australian

• Sarah (48) and Aljaz (36) Aljaz has never had a pairing with additional need

• Lacey (38) and Nikita (28) He was down for Dani last year

• Jaime (41) and Carlos (33)

• Dani (29) and Vito (33) If she got Nikita last year pre injury, then Vito is a good shout

See? I am getting into it already!! 😉😁

My head is frazzled !
But ..yes ..Kai in a same sex partnership.

Didn't he do a dance with another pro on a rooftop a few years ago ...??

Edit ..
I want to say around remembrance day...or another special occasion that they do .

It was beautiful 😍

Kai danced with Johannes a few years ago, it was great. Didn’t Kai dance with Brian Dowling in the Irish version?