Will Best, co-host of Big Brother and Hits Radio Breakfast Show, is the latest celebrity confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2026. His announcement follows controversy over Love Island star Cach Mercer's inclusion due to his dance background and a social media blunder by the official Strictly account.
Presenter Will Best, aged 41, has been announced as the sixth celebrity participating in the 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing, which is scheduled to commence in September.
Best, known as the co-host of ITV's Big Brother and the Hits Radio Breakfast Show, began his presenting career on T4 and has appeared on various television programmes including This Morning, BBC Three and Viva. He most recently gained attention by winning Celebrity Mastermind, with Danny Dyer as his specialist subject. The announcement was made on Tuesday through the official Strictly social media channels on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.
In response, Will Best expressed his excitement, stating: 'I can't quite believe it…I'm doing Strictly! What an absolute dream. Albeit a pretty terrifying one. I've been lucky to do lots of live telly before, but absolutely nothing like this.
And I cannot wait! I have no idea if I can actually dance, but bring on the sequins, bring on the quicksteps, bring on the dance floor! I'm going to try to enjoy every minute of it.
' He joins a line‑up that already includes Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton and Cach Mercer. The inclusion of Cach Mercer, the 25‑year‑old Love Island winner and social media influencer, has sparked controversy among some Strictly fans. Critics highlighted his existing dance experience in Afrobeat, hip hop and street styles, as well as his work teaching dance classes, arguing that it gives him an unfair advantage over other contestants.
This backlash mirrors the criticism previously directed at participants such as JB Gill and Tasha Ghouri, who also had performance backgrounds. Some viewers voiced their displeasure on social media, with comments like 'Had to google who he was, and the first thing that came up was 'professional dancer'!!! wtf @bbcstrictly', 'He's a professional dancer', and 'Can we get some proper celebrities? Never heard of him'.
Compounding the issue, the official Strictly Instagram account mistakenly tagged the wrong person when announcing Cach, prompting further comments pointing out the error and a giff from Cach himself referencing Dwayne Johnson's confused expression. Meanwhile, the casting process has not been without its own on‑air mishaps. During an episode of The One Show, EastEnders actress Emma Barton appeared to accidentally reveal that radio presenter Roman Kemp is also set to join the Strictly lineup.
When host Alex Jones asked Emma about her co‑star Lacey Turner's participation, Emma responded positively and then turned to Roman, saying 'Roman you know as well.
' Roman Kemp immediately denied involvement, stating 'I have never done it. I've never done it,' while fellow guest Rob Rinder smiled awkwardly. The incident has led to speculation that the BBC's lineup may already be partially known, and the Daily Mail has contacted both Roman's representatives and the BBC for comment. Strictly Come Dancing is set to return later this year, with the remaining celebrity contestants to be announced over the summer
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Will Best Joins Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Lineup Alongside Cach Mercer and Delta GoodremBig Brother presenter Will Best has been announced as the sixth celebrity to join the Strictly Come Dancing 2026 lineup, alongside Love Island star Cach Mercer and singer Delta Goodrem. The news was announced on Tuesday via bbcstrictly's official social channels on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube. Will, 41, is the co-host of ITV's Big Brother and the Hits Radio Breakfast Show, and has previously worked on TV shows such as This Morning and BBC Three.
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Will Best Announced as Sixth Celebrity for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Amid Cast ControversyWill Best, co-host of Big Brother and Hits Radio Breakfast Show, joins Strictly Come Dancing 2026 as the sixth confirmed celebrity. His announcement follows backlash over the inclusion of professional dancer Cach Mercer, raising questions about fairness. The show also faced a social media mishap and a possible spoiler on The One Show.
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