Strictly star Amy Dowden admits 'it's going to be tough' as she addresses 2026 celeb line-up following BBC backlash
The show's return is fast approachingStrictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden has reassured viewers that the programme remains true to its roots. The 2026 series will introduce a new presenting team of Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe, but Amy believes its central appeal remains intact.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, Amy said: “We need to remember the core of Strictly is not changing.”
The Strictly Come Dancing 2026 celebrity line-up includes Dani Dyer, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Delta Goodrem, Jamie Winstone and Lacey Turner. YouTuber John Nellis and TV dog trainer Graeme Hall will also take to the floor.
Amy offered an upbeat verdict on the contestants. She said: “The celebrities are so lovely and they’re so good. We’re in for a good series, let me tell you. I think it’s gonna be one that you can’t call it, it’s gonna be so tight and so tough.”
What is changing on Strictly Come Dancing 2026?
Amy will return as a professional dancer when Strictly launches on 19 September. Emma, Johannes and Josh will take over from long-serving presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who stepped down last year.
The launch show will also restore a familiar part of the Strictly format. Celebrities will discover their professional partners on the dancefloor rather than meeting them in introductory films recorded around the country.
Graeme revealed the change during an appearance on BBC Radio Northampton. He said: “This year, they’re doing it slightly differently. We don’t find out until the launch show. You have no say in it; the pros have no say in it.”
The launch programme will air on 19 September after being recorded in advance. The live competition starts the following week, although no couple will leave during that first weekend. The first elimination will follow the performances and public vote on 4 October. Strictly’s 2026 final will take place on 19 December.
Amy Dowden looks forward to a new chapter
Amy spoke while supporting breast cancer charity CoppaFeel at an awareness event with Pink Lady apples at Lingfield Park Racecourse. She credits the charity with helping her discover her own breast cancer in 2023.
The Welsh dancer underwent chemotherapy and a double mastectomy. She also experienced serious side effects, including sepsis, and missed that year’s Strictly series. Amy is now in remission and says she feels stronger as the programme enters its next era.
She said: “I feel in a new chapter personally myself with how I’m feeling mentally, physically, and health-wise.”
Amy also reflected on how Strictly supported her during treatment. She described the programme as light-hearted family entertainment that can offer relief from stressful everyday life.
Despite the new presenters and a different way of revealing the partnerships, Amy’s message remains clear. Viewers will still watch celebrities learn ballroom and Latin routines before testing their progress each weekend — the competition that she regards as the heart of Strictly Come Dancing.
Read more: Strictly fans convinced Dani Dyer’s pro partner is Nikita Kuzmin for 2026 series
Strictly returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Saturday, September 19.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI technology to synthesise source reporting and structured data. It has been reviewed, edited, and fact-checked by our human editorial team before publication.
