Strictly Come Dancing 2026: Dame Sarah Storey, Jaime Winstone & Shaun Wright-Phillips Q&As
Strictly Come Dancing 2026 is almost here, and this time, Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe take the helm, as a brand-new year in the ballroom begins. The launch show opens in spectacular style, with an incredible performance from the entire Strictly cast. Fifteen celebrities nervously wait to find out their professional partners and this year – there’s a twist.
Five new Pros make their entrance on the dancefloor and reigning champion, Karen Carney returns for an epic performance. Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke return to the judging panel to keep a watchful eye over proceedings before the competition officially kicks off next Saturday, September 19th on BBC1 at 7.25pm.
Dame Sarah Storey
What made you say yes to Strictly?
It is a show I have wanted to do for a long time but every other year I have been competing in the autumn and so couldn’t ever say yes. Now I have stepped down from competition it was the perfect time, so when the Strictly team contacted me I didn’t hesitate to say yes please!
How do you feel about joining the Strictly class of 2026?
A combination of nervous and excited! I am looking forward to working with the professionals and getting to know a whole new world that these incredible people have excelled in.
What are you most looking forward to?
I am looking forward to learning from the professionals and getting to know a completely new group of people. I am also looking forward to getting into my glittery and fake tan era!
What are you most nervous about?
The whole thing! I think nerves are always a sign you care and are invested in giving your best. This is a different type of experience and competition to being an athlete though, because the preparation is completely led by others and as an athlete we are used to knowing our events inside out and having more understanding of what good looks like. It’s completely out of my comfort zone to be on national tv doing a competition I know nothing about! But that’s one of the reasons I am so excited too!
If you could perform any iconic Strictly routine from past series, which would it be?
Gosh, I am spoilt for choice, but I was in the Ballroom for Karen and Carlos’s Paso Doble last year and that was truly incredible, so getting to do a Paso Doble would be amazing.
How did your family and friends react when you told them?
When the announcement happened I was working backstage at the English Youth Ballet’s production of Swan Lake, which my daughter was performing in. I got a knock on the door of the dressing room I was looking after and when I opened it the company and crew were jumping up and down with excitement! My daughter said “Finally!” and my son said “that’s a good plan!”, while my Dad offered to teach me to dance – which is hilarious as no one has ever seen him even do a dad dance! My husband knew all along, so he was in on the secret. I’ve had so many messages of good luck too, it’s been a fabulous reaction.
Is there anyone in particular – whether family or friend – who you’re doing Strictly for?
Not specifically but as my daughter is a very talented dancer and ballerina I know I’ll be getting the most honest and brutal feedback!
What are you hoping to get out of the experience?
Have fun, learn something new and find out more about the world of dance and the people I’ll have the privilege to work with. I think it’s good to challenge yourself, and there’s no better place to do that than live on national TV!
What would be your dream song to dance to?
The one that gets me the highest score! Perhaps something by Kylie or Take That!
Do you have any backstage rituals to get you in the zone?
I have no experience of being backstage before my own performance but based on pre race routines, I will be playing back the step sequence in my head I think. Pre race I would be concentrating on the shape of a course, so I suspect I will be focusing on the shape of the dance.
How would your family and friends describe your dancing skills?
Limited!
What do you think will be more nerve wracking – competing for a gold medal or dancing live on TV?
Probably the dancing, because every time I have competed for gold I have had years of prep behind me!
Are there any transferable skills between competing at the Paralympics and taking part in Strictly?
I should imagine the psychological skills to focus on the controllable parts of the process and attempt to remain calm will be transferable, as well as the work ethic and pain threshold. Dancing is physically demanding too, so I hope my physical fitness will transfer as well
Jaime Winstone
How do you feel about joining the Strictly class of 2026?
I feel so excited! I feel like this is such a good time for me to do this. It’s such a great opportunity to show a little bit more of who I am, but also show how much I love performing, dressing up, collaborating with people, and being part of a team. Obviously, I’m a bit nervous which I think is normal, and I’m aware that it’s going to be a lot of hard work, but I’m certainly up for the challenge!
What made you say yes to Strictly?
It just felt right! I have been asked before and I’ve always been working and busy or just being full-on mum, but I turned 40 last year and I’ve really got to just lean into this moment. A lot of people in my life know how much I love dancing – music and dance is such a big part of who I am. There were some clear signs that this should be my Strictly year – one of them being Madonna’s new album and its track with the lyrics ‘everybody get up and dance’. I took that as a personal sign as I’m such a huge Madonna fan – there’s not a room in my house without a disco ball! Another very clear sign came when I went to my friend Poppy Delevingne’s birthday party a few months back, and Taylor Swift was there! I was just dancing as I do, and she came up to me out of nowhere and just said, ‘Oh my lord, how do you dance so freely?’. When someone of her calibre and status says that, it’s a very clear sign! I’ve done every sort of gritty drama you possibly could do, and I usually play people quite a lot older than me, and I just thought: this is the time to step into a realm that I don’t know, which is the ballroom, and give it a real good go. If you’re going to do one, this is the most joyous, sparkly, and challenging one to do. Oh and another big reason is my Nan! My Nan is going to lose her marbles over this!
What are you most looking forward to, and what are you most nervous about?
I am most looking forward to getting to know the new dances, testing my muscle memory, and understanding the characters and the essence behind the dance. I’m an actor, and I always go off music when I’m building a character, so this feels in my domain somewhat. Also, connecting with my dance partner, and obviously seeing how I perform live for the first time. I’ve done plays and I remember lines, but remembering footwork… I keep trying to say to myself, ‘dancing is acting’ – you remember where to stand, you remember where to go, you remember when to say your lines at the right time. I guess one thing I’m not looking forward to with my poor partner is that I can be a little bit of a daydreamer, and I do tend to add my own essence to things. Hopefully I won’t go too freestyle! As an actor, you often feel like you have to be in control of your performance all the time, so I’m nervous about allowing that trust to take over. Obviously I’m also very nervous about falling, but I’m still going to jump in the deep end and ask to be thrown around and do lifts if I can!
Do you have a signature dance move?
I do a lot of stuff with my hands. I am quite up into the voguing scene. I’ve always said the three things that describe me are; I’m a mother, I’m an actor, and I’m a raver. I’m not a controlled dancer, I’ve never done a dance lesson in my life and I’ve never done a routine, so I’m quite excited to see how I get on with that.
How did your family and friends react when you told them, and did they give you any advice?
My mum screamed! She absolutely loves it. My dad was kind of like, ‘oh my lord’ [laughs], but everybody’s very, very excited, my mother-in-law the most out of them all as she’s such a huge fan. I think everybody responded like “you’re going to win it!” – the blind confidence of your family and friends is always just so humbling and so beautiful. The women in my family were definitely more responsive than the men! [laughs].
What are you hoping to get out of the experience?
I really want to gain the knowledge of traditional dance. Music is such a huge part of our cultures, and we’re so lucky enough to be brought up in a world where music is just everywhere in all its different styles. I would love to incorporate this experience into my world and hopefully go and do something professionally in dance or musical theatre or film. I hope I take some amazing dance moves with me that I’ve never had the opportunity to learn, and I hope I make a lot of friends! Since I was a little girl and I watched Strictly Ballroom, I fantasised about being a dancer and wearing the clothes and dipping my toe into this world where it’s just so glittery and tanned and camp!
What would be your dream song to dance to?
I’d love a tango to ‘Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon’ by Neil Diamond. In movie week, Grease or Pretty Woman would be iconic! Also, doing some sort of Kate Bush inspired dance to ‘Running Up That Hill’ would be amazing. I’d love to do something Madonna inspired; she’s such a queen, and I’ve always seen myself matching that energy of ‘Material Girl’ – that would just be epic!
Have you met any of your fellow Strictly 2026 alumni before?
I know Dani Dyer, and she is such a mega babe – she’s so sweet and so easy to get along with. I’ve worked with her dad, and our dads have worked together, and our kids have bonded, so I feel like I’m in really good company. Also Lacey Turner, who I worked with on a Dominic Savage film, and I obviously did a couple of episodes of EastEnders where I played Peggy Mitchell. There seems to be a really good girl gang taking part. I’m excited to meet new friends!
Do you have any backstage rituals to get you in the zone?
I lead quite a chaotic lifestyle in terms of schedule, so I do a lot of meditation and breathing. You just need to have that calm time. Also, I surround myself with fabulousness. At home my husband doesn’t let me decorate the place like a complete boudoir, so wherever I go I tend to take a suitcase full of feather boas and glittery stuff!
You’re no stranger to the big screen – which one of your film credits do you think would be the best to translate into a dance for Movie Week?
Probably ‘Made In Dagenham’, because you could do a 60s-inspired dance. It’s about a big protest and female empowerment; the music in the 60s was so cool, and you could do a lot with the look. And because I did ‘Babs’, Barbara Windsor’s biopic, how good would it be to do a ‘Carry on Camping’ dance? Or maybe a ‘Love Rosie’ waltz? That would also be cute.
Shaun Wright-Phillips
How do you feel about joining Strictly 2026?
It’s something that’s definitely out of my confront zone, but overall I’m really looking forward to it!
What made you say yes to Strictly?
I wanted to challenge myself and learn something new.
What are you most looking forward to?
Stepping into a new arena and learning new skills. I’m also really excited to meeting some amazing people along the way.
What are you most nervous about?
I don’t get overly nervous in general, but this is obviously something that’s really new to me. I’m not saying I won’t be nervous at all, but I’m here to do the best I can and I have people who are rooting for me, so what will be will be! Right now I feel pretty relaxed – but ask me the same question 10 minutes before the first live show and I might have a different answer! [laughs]
How did your family and friends react when you told them?
Everyone was crazy excited, I’ve received a really nice amount of support so far. And then all of a sudden my inbox was filled with friends and family trying to get their live show ticket orders in!
Is there anyone in particular – whether family or friend – who you’re doing Strictly for?
I know my mum is over the moon that I’m doing it. I guess it will be nice for my kids to see their dad moving some shapes on TV too!
What are you hoping to get out of the experience?
To meet some amazing people and have as much fun as possible learning and dancing.
Have you had any advice from any former contestants?
Yes – from last year’s winner Kaz (Karen Carney), in fact. She said to just dive straight into it and don’t hold back, so I’ll take that advice. I’m going to go for it and do the best I can.
Will you have any backstage rituals to get you in the zone?
I never really had any rituals throughout my football career, as I like to not overthink things and just go with the flow – but let’s see how I feel when I get to the studios.
How would your family/friends describe your dancing skills?
I dread to ask them – but I’m sure they’ll be giving me as much feedback as the Strictly judges! They’re used to seeing me dance at parties, but this will be the first time they’ve seen me dance while sober!
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.