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Strictly Come Dancing has made a major announcement (Image: BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing has announced five new professional dancers who will be joining the BBC series when it returns to TV screens this September.
The five new dancers hail from the UK, Canada, Italy, South Africa and Ukraine. They have all earned international acclaim and are described as “the most exciting talents in dance today.”
A video of the new pro-dancers dancing on the roof of the BBC has gone live across Strictly’s social channels to celebrate the announcement. This year Strictly will have a fresh look after long-standing hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepped down at the end of the 2025 series.
Replacing them this year are new hosts Emma Willis, professional dancer Johannes Radebe and comedian Josh Widdicombe. But it was confirmed this week that professional dancers Karen Hauer, Gorka Marquez, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk and Michelle Tsiakkas would not be returning.
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Strictly Come Dancing has announced that five new Professional Dancers will join the hit series when it returns (Image: BBC)
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Now the BBC has announced the new professional dancers joining the cast. These are Aleksandra Iseava, a multiple Ukrainian National Latin Champion who grew up in Ukraine but now lives in Italy; her dance partner Cristian Priori, a four-time Italian Latin Champion; Lethabo Monametsi, an undefeated South African Latin Champion; Maddie Ingoldsby, a UK National Ballroom Champion and eight-time Amateur 10-Dance World Champion from Bournemouth; and Mark Karmilta, a two-time National Latin Champion in his native Canada.
Sarah James, Executive Producer, BBC Studios said: “Aleksandra, Cristian, Lethabo, Maddie and Mark are all outstanding world class dancers and we can’t wait to see them shine under the Strictly glitterball this September.”
The five new dancers hail from the UK, Canada, Italy, South Africa and Ukraine(Image: BBC / Aleksandra Isaeva )
The five new dancers join Strictly’s returning Professionals: Alexis Warr, Aljaž Škorjanec, Amy Dowden, Carlos Gu, Dianne Buswell, Jowita Przystal, Julian Caillon, Kai Widdrington, Katya Jones, Lauren Oakley, Nancy Xu, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, and Vito Coppola.
Jo Wallace, Senior Commissioning Editor, BBC Entertainment added: “It’s so exciting to welcome the brilliantly talented Aleksandra, Cristian, Lethabo, Maddie and Mark. As if the return of Strictly wasn’t shaping up to be fab-u-lous enough already, they’re five more reasons why the new series is not to be missed.”
Celebrity contestants for the 2026 series are set to be announced throughout the summer. The launched show is set to be pre-recorded on Wednesday, September 9; therefore, in line with previous series, it is then expected to air to viewers on Saturday, September 19, on BBC One.
