Strictly 2026 : It’s Emma, Josh and JoJo

[EineReiseDurchDieZeit]

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

I agree that you keep seeing the same comments from viewers on various fora about the things they dislike, but nothing alters.

Looking back at last year’s contestants I’d heard of 6 out of the 15. So far of the 10 announced I’ve heard of 4 so likelihood is it will be a similar amount. Years ago there would be 1 or 2 I’d not heard of but not sure if that’s because the casting standard has dropped or I’m less relevant in my interests!

Graeme Hall has been announced. I haven't heard of him, as he's from a very niche market, but he's a canine expert.

https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2026/strictly-come-dancing-graeme-hall

He is a dog trainer but does tv and books, dog owners/professionals either love him or hate him. I like him

I've just read on Digital Spy that he could be a secret ringah!

Another nobody (IMO) never heard of him

It doesn't bother me how many celebs I know or don't as we get to know them as they progress through the show.

More often than not, it's the nobodies who become the popular ones in the end.

I hadn't heard of George or Karen last year, but they ended up as finalists and Karen won.

Hamzah won in 2022 and was super popular here but I doubt everyone who voted for him also knew much about him to begin with.

Blimey, that's now seven I don't know.
I'd rather have had Ashleigh Butler from Ashleigh and Pudsey fame, if we're doing Dog trainers
🐕🐩🦮🐕‍🦺
Do you think there'll do a recycle of Who let the dogs out? I recall furry vibes, was it Amy and the CBBC bloke?

I'd normally concur x, but there is a difference between farting and shitting yourself 😉😂
The line-up this year is so poor, especially if you compare it with, say, Celeb traitors.
And I know that's an unfair comparison. Most would pick Traitors if asked. But I am becoming an 🦉myself now. Who who 😁

I totally agree. Two of my favourites over the years have been Jay McGuiness and Hamza and I had never heard of either of them before Strictly. I have since been to see Jay in a couple of the stage shows he has done.

I just think that if we’re down to hairdressers and dog trainers the barrel hasn’t been scraped it no longer has a base….

yes there have been people such as Hamza that I’ve voted for, but this IS the worst lineup we’ve ever had on TOP of an untested hosting team

Ha yes! I wonder if Delta was actually signed up because they'd scraped so hard they end up in Australia?

Hairdressers I have heard of -
Nicky Clarke 68
Michael Douglas 50
Jonathan van Ness 39

I don't mind a different job - we haven't had authors (or that many DJs or politicians) so I really don't mind thinking out the box but there's Z-list and Never been on any list list.
They might end up having to do a full series of People's Strictly type contestants at this point.

I didn't think Graeme Hall was obscure? Dogs Behaving Badly is really popular, as is his podcast. And he's on This Morning a lot

I rarely see This Morning and I don’t have a dog!

I must admit, I thought some people were being sarcastic when they wrote "Hurray! One that I know" so certain people obviously watch his show.
It is the same as when a Love Islander is announced and people say "Who? Or never heard of them".

Nobody is going to know absolutely every contestant unless they've watched whatever TV programme they're in.

It's not compulsory to have a dog to watch the show 😏

Apparently Graeme has some experience of ballroom. I think he will go down well with the viewers.
Just to add Chris Appleton (hairdresser) has 4 million followers on IG, I guess most are not in the UK but he has a far larger social media presence than most celebs on the show.
This drib/drab announcing is very odd, they do seem to be “re-positioning”
the show.

I’ve watched his dog show I’m not a fan of him. There’s been rumours kicking around for years that his methods don’t last / there’s no real interaction and there’s no actual support for the dog owners.

i agree the bar feels very low this year but hopefully it will all work out and we will be routing for the unknowns by the end!

Lawrence Robb from Emmerdale has just been announced. Another one I don’t know!

🦉🤦🏻

I must admit , I don't know many celebrities these days, but who are people expecting to appear on Strictly?

BBC News - Presenter and dog trainer Graeme Hall joins Strictly line-up
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg74gvy8lgjo

Its not much different from usual if you look at the whole list
Couple of soaps
Couple of reality tv
Ex footballer
Other sports person
Couple of presenters
Couple of actors/singers
The hairdresser is unusual but Colour Wow is very on trend

OMG 😍😍😍...This is the best news ever !!

I hope he doesn't let me down and turn out to be a real Knob head !!

He pops up on my FB with Danny Miller and seems nice .

LR is very tall. Well over 6foot and broad .

Did they recruit a new tall female pro ?