Olympic gold medalist Tabby Stoecker has been revealed as the 13th and final celebrity contestant for the 2026 season of BBC's "Strictly Come Dancing." The announcement was made on Monday via the show's official social media channels.
Stoecker, 25, is a decorated Team GB skeleton athlete who won gold at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. She made her international debut five years ago and has since achieved numerous accolades, including a World Cup race win, two World Championship medals, and a European Championship medal.
"I am over the moon to be joining the cast of Strictly 2026," Stoecker said. "I've had the wildest year of my life so far, so to be rounding it off with a childhood dream of dancing in the Strictly ballroom is surreal and I can't wait to get stuck in!"
Stoecker joins previously announced contestants Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton, Cach Mercer, Will Best, Dame Sarah Storey, Jaime Winstone, Bethany Antonia, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Graeme Hall, and Laurence Robb.
Despite the addition of an Olympic champion, the overall reception to the 2026 lineup has been mixed, with some viewers voicing disappointment over a perceived lack of well-known celebrities. Online comments included sentiments such as, "I generally know one person out of everyone that's been announced. Where are the celebrities?" and "This has got to be one of weakest line ups; I only know 5 people so far this year." Others expressed more positive views, with comments like "Worth watching now" and "brilliant."
The new season is also set to feature a new hosting team and several new professional dancers. Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who hosted the show for years, have been replaced by Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and professional dancer Johannes Radebe. The professional dance roster includes returning stars like Amy Dowden, Dianne Buswell, and Jowita Przystal, alongside five new additions: Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi, Mark Karmalita, and Maddie Ingoldsby. This comes after a significant shake-up that saw several professional dancers depart the show.
Lacey Turner, known for her role as Stacey Slater in "EastEnders," was among the first contestants announced. The "Strictly Come Dancing" 2026 season is scheduled to begin in September.