Lacey Turner confirmed as first Strictly contestant
The actress is best known for her role as Stacey Slater on EastEnders, the BBC One soap she joined in 2004.
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Notable Quotes
"I'm absolutely thrilled to be joining Strictly and can't wait to get started."
— Delta Goodrem , Celebrity
"I was so excited and so terrified at the same time."
— Lacey Turner , Celebrity
"I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September."
— Dani Dyer , Celebrity
"There are going to be some people on there that will make you go 'wow'."
— Shirley Ballas , Celebrity
"YES DANI!!!!"
— Josh Widdicombe , Celebrity
"I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Strictly and can’t wait to get started!"
— Delta Goodrem , Celebrity
"I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September!"
— Dani Dyer , Celebrity
"I am so excited to be making my way to the dance floor this year to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing!"
— Lacey Turner , Celebrity
"I can only hope that we are able to help to steer the ship as beautifully as they have, into this new chapter."
— Emma Willis , Celebrity
"I am so excited to being making my way to the dance floor this year to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing!"
— Lacey Turner , Celebrity
"The older they get the more you realise how quickly the little years pass."
— Lacey Turner , Celebrity
"We’re all just trying our best. And whatever your best looks like, that is enough."
— Lacey Turner , Celebrity
"Here we go, first celebrity of 2026...it's Lacey Turner. We can't wait to see you on the dancefloor."
— Lacey Turner , Celebrity
"I am so excited to being making my way to the dance floor this year to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing."
— Lacey Turner , Celebrity
"I am so excited to being making my way to the dance floor this year to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing!"
— Lacey Turner , Celebrity
"The older they get the more you realise how quickly the little years pass."
— Lacey Turner , Celebrity
"We’re all just trying our best. And whatever your best looks like, that is enough."
— Lacey Turner , Celebrity
"I am so excited to being making my way to the dance floor this year to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing!"
— Lacey Turner , Celebrity
"I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September!"
— Lacey Turner , Celebrity
"I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Strictly and can’t wait to get started!"
— Delta Goodrem , Celebrity
"I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September!"
— Dani Dyer , Celebrity
"I am so excited to be making my way to the dance floor this year to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing!"
— Lacey Turner , Celebrity
"I can’t wait to spend my weekends with Josh and Jojo, the incredible dancers and the judges."
— Emma Willis , Celebrity
"I am so excited to being making my way to the dance floor this year to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing!"
— Lacey Turner , Celebrity
"It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Strictly – I’ve cheered and danced along from my sofa for years – so to be stepping into the Strictly ballroom is something I can’t quite comprehend."
— Emma Willis , Celebrity
"Off to a flyer!"
— Josh Widdicombe , Celebrity
"Welcome Lacey Turner, lets rock and roll."
— Motsi Mabuse , Celebrity
"I was working through the seven stages of grief and rejection."
— Zoe Ball , Celebrity
"Emma, Johannes and Josh’s chemistry is undeniable."
— Kate Phillips , Executive
"I am so excited to being making my way to the dance floor this year to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing!"
— Lacey Turner , Celebrity
"I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September!"
— Dani Dyer , Celebrity
"I am so excited to being making my way to the dance floor this year to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing."
— Lacey Turner , Celebrity
"I am so excited and so terrified at the same time but I've had so many friends do Strictly and I thought it was about time that I plucked up the courage and made my way onto that dancefloor."
— Lacey Turner , Celebrity
"I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Strictly and can’t wait to get started."
— Delta Goodrem , Celebrity
"I am so excited to being making my way to the dance floor this year to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing!"
— Lacey Turner , Celebrity
"I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September!"
— Dani Dyer , Celebrity
"I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September. Hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one."
— Dani Dyer , Celebrity
Key People
Amber Davies is a reality TV star and was a contestant on Love Island.
Anton Du Beke is a professional dancer and judge on Strictly Come Dancing.
Craig Revel Horwood is a dance judge on Strictly Come Dancing.
A reality star and daughter of actor Danny Dyer, known for her appearance on Love Island.
An Australian singer and actress who rose to fame in the hit soap opera Neighbours.
A professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing.
Emma is a new host of Strictly Come Dancing.
Jarrod Bowen is the captain of West Ham United.
Johannes Radebe is a returning professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing.
A comedian and part of the new hosting trio for Strictly Come Dancing.
Karen Carney is a retired footballer and won the Strictly Come Dancing competition.
The BBC’s chief content officer.
An actress best known for her role as Stacey Slater on EastEnders.
Lacey Turner's husband.
A judge on Strictly Come Dancing.
A professional dancer who celebrated Lacey Turner's announcement.
Nikita Kuzmin is a professional dancer known for participating in Strictly Come Dancing.
Head judge on Strictly Come Dancing.
Tom Parker-Bowles is a food critic.
A presenter who discussed not getting the hosting job for Strictly.
Tags
All Coverage
The actress is best known for her role as Stacey Slater on EastEnders, the BBC One soap she joined in 2004.
EastEnders actress Lacey Turner, known for her role as Stacey Slater, is announced as the first celebrity contestant for Strictly Come Dancing 2026.
Lacey Turner, famed for her role in EastEnders, is revealed as the first celebrity contestant for the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Lacey Turner, known for her role in EastEnders, is announced as the first celebrity contestant for Strictly Come Dancing 2026.
Actress Lacey Turner is officially announced as the first celebrity contestant for Strictly Come Dancing 2026, set to return this September.
Lacey Turner, known for her role in EastEnders, is announced as the first celebrity contestant for the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing.
An overview of the contestants for Strictly Come Dancing 2026, including Lacey Turner and Dani Dyer.
Lacey Turner and Dani Dyer are confirmed as contestants for Strictly Come Dancing 2026.
EastEnders actor Lacey Turner and former Love Island star Dani Dyer are the first two contestants announced for the 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Lacey Turner, known for her role as Stacey Slater in EastEnders, is announced as the first celebrity contestant for Strictly Come Dancing 2026.
Lacey Turner, best known for playing Stacey Slater in EastEnders, is announced as the first contestant for Strictly Come Dancing 2026.
Australian singer-songwriter and actress Delta Goodrem has announced she is 'absolutely thrilled' to be joining Strictly Come Dancing 2026.
The BBC has announced the first participant for the 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing: Lacey Turner, best known for her role as Stacey Slater in EastEnders.
Dani Dyer has been confirmed as the second celebrity contestant for Strictly Come Dancing 2026, returning to the show after a fractured ankle forced her out last year before she had danced a single competitive step.
Lacey Turner, known for her role as Stacey Slater on EastEnders, is announced as the first celebrity contestant for Strictly Come Dancing 2026.
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