Overview
- The BBC announced Shaun Wright-Phillips as the tenth celebrity contestant on Thursday, July 30, using the official @bbcstrictly social channels.
- Wright-Phillips, a 44-year-old former England international with 36 caps and a club career including Manchester City and Chelsea, said Strictly is outside his comfort zone but he is “super excited” for the challenge.
- His casting joins a partly confirmed line-up that already includes Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton, Cach Mercer, Will Best, Dame Sarah Storey, Jaime Winstone and Bethany Antonia.
- The 2026 series will feature new presenters Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe and five newly announced professional dancers following the departure of several long‑running pros.
- More celebrity names and full pairing details are expected in the coming weeks as the show prepares to return to BBC One and iPlayer in September and the BBC continues its paced summer rollout.