Strictly 2026 : It’s Emma, Josh and JoJo

[EineReiseDurchDieZeit]

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

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

Tasha with whom he was paired, was born deaf has a cochlear implant.

He did.

Possible chance of it being the referee from Gladiators

I thought it was a football referee who had been signed ?

The referee on Gladiators is a former football referee, Mark Clattenburg. He's refereed a few internationals but when I looked at his Wiki page to check, he's not had an unspotted history.

Ahhh !!

Damn. Forgot Aljaz had Tash.
Knew Kai had danced one routine with Brian and one with Tayce but not on main series.
Fine, in that case I will swap Carlos with Kai.
And Kai can partner Sarah.
Aljaz can have whoever's left.

Hardly any of my uni students when I ask them watch Strictly. Shoehorning younger Latin dancers into the show won't change that.

They should be more worried about consolidating their existing audience, rather than chasing an audience that isn't there.

I agree just let us watch it in peace, the new dancers will be fine but the dancers they got rid of were fine.

I’ve been thinking about this (whilst ignoring other things that I should be doing), and I’m quite pissed off.

I really can’t see the main TikTok demographic watching Strictly live on Saturday nights. So if they stick to the same schedule, votes will still come in droves from people not even watching the show - but alerted to do so by social media cues. And then perhaps watching reels or clips at a later time, thus helping the BBC say that it is engaging them.

Which I understand George Clarke massively benefited from (albeit he turned out to be quite endearing).

Maybe I’m too old school, but I still think of Saturday night tv as something to sit down and watch. There is an absolute plethora of options for others. But it feels like there is scant left for us lot, and considering that this has live viewer vote the fact that it now has to pander to TikTokers is really annoying me this morning!

Maybe I need more coffee.

I agree, they are in grave danger of losing the existing audience by chasing a group that will never be their audience, they might watch clips or vote for the person they like from their on line presence but they aren't going to sit down in front of the TV for 2 hours and watch the whole shebang. So the core audience drift away as the tire of 'celebs' they have never heard of, fewer recognisable ballroom dances, CGI, childish costumes etc and the TikTok watchers don't put down their phones and watch TV for a whole show, they just see the 2 minute clip of the 'content creator' they like dancing and move on to other 'content'.

Hear Hear @CollaterlieSistersSister

Bethany Antonia has been announced as the latest celeb.

I don't watch it but she's in House of Dragons.

Finally someone I know!

I watch HOTD she’s young I wonder if she’s got Stage School Training

A quick look on her Wiki page says she went to study musical theatre at Birmingham Ormiston Academy and British Youth Music Theatre.

She's done a couple of musicals.

Gah, I am doing badly this year.
Have only recognised 4/9 on name recognition.
It's going to feel like watching DWTS at this rate!
😉

I have 2/9. But I don't mind if I don't recognise anyone.

So definitely not a beginner. I like her though she could do well

Former England footballer Shaun Wright Phillips confirmed as a contestant. Timed well, now that Works Cup is over.

www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2026/strictly-come-dancing-shaun-wright-phillips

Interesting pick. He’s a name. I can get behind that.

I don't really know much about footballers is he Ian Wrights son?

4/10 for name recognition now, never heard of him! But I don't watch ⚽.
But yes, from the link, Ian Wright's son 👍🏻
I have heard of him.
I didn't know the footballer last year though - Jimmy Floyd H, and loved him. Stupid Prince and Purple Rain 😈

Yes, he is Ian Wrights son but a success in his own right

He is. Just been looking him up. It's just I'm old enough to remember his dad and the Wright stuff, whereas I've not seen his son before. I wouldn't have made the link with Wright Phillips either, had it not said in X's link.
Ian adopted him when was 3. Shaun also has a brother Bradley that plays football and a son that plays in Belgium called D'Marjio.
I am all caught up now. 😂
Am surprised Wrighty never did [strictly] himself as he did do I'm a celeb seven years ago and did some fashion reality show too.