Strictly 2026 lineup faces criticism as final contestant announced

The BBC has completed the celebrity lineup for the 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing, announcing social media star John Nellis as the 14th and final contestant. The reveal, made on August 11, has been met with significant criticism from fans, who have widely described the cast as the weakest in the show's history.

Nellis, a Northern Irish football content creator with a combined audience of over 15 million followers, expressed his excitement and nervousness about the opportunity. "I'm still in disbelief that I've been selected for Strictly and, if I'm honest, I'm a little nervous as I've never danced before!" he said. "It's such an incredible opportunity, and I'm going to throw myself into every moment." Nellis left his job as an air traffic controller to pursue content creation full-time and won Sport Creator of the Year at the 2024 TikTok Awards UK & Ireland.

He joins a cast that includes EastEnders stars Lacey Turner and Jaime Winstone, Love Island contestants Dani Dyer and Cach Mercer, Australian singer Delta Goodrem, hairstylist Chris Appleton, and House of the Dragon actress Bethany Antonia. The lineup also features Olympic gold medallist Dame Sarah Storey, former...