Graeme Hall, known as 'The Dogfather', is returning to the 'Strictly Come Dancing' dancefloor for the 2026 series, but admits he feels apprehensive. This marks his comeback after a stroke in 2019 forced him to step away from dancing, a passion he had pursued since an amateur competition in 2012.
Hall, a 59-year-old TV presenter and dog trainer, revealed that he views the BBC show as his opportunity to dance again after recovering from the stroke and a subsequent heart operation. "I love dancing. I did a little dancing as a hobby years ago, but had to stop when I had a stroke," Hall stated. "I recovered fully after a heart operation, but I haven’t danced for years."
He confessed that his primary nervousness stems from stage fright itself. "I’m a bit of a perfectionist. 'If a job’s worth doing it’s worth doing right' is something I say a lot and I’ll work hard to get it right but there’s no accounting for stage fright. Strictly is way out of my comfort zone."
Chef James Martin, a friend and fellow Yorkshireman, has offered Hall advice, reportedly laughing when he heard Hall was joining the show. Martin, who reached the semi-finals of 'Strictly' in 2005, reminded Hall of his own success on the show.
Hall is particularly keen to impress his 90-year-old mother, whose own romance with his late father began on the dancefloor in the late 1950s.
Beyond his upcoming 'Strictly' appearance, Hall is widely recognized for Channel 5's 'Dog’s Behaving (Very) Badly', which has aired for nearly a decade. He has also presented 'The Dog Hospital with Graeme Hall', contributed to ITV's 'This Morning' and BBC radio, and made a cameo in the drama 'All Creatures Great and Small'. Hall is also an author of three adult books, including the Sunday Times bestseller 'All Dogs Great and Small', and his children's book 'The Ultimate Kid’s Guide to Dog’s' was shortlisted for an award in 2025.
'Strictly Come Dancing' is set to return to BBC iPlayer and BBC One on Saturday, September 19, at 7:25 p.m.