Actress Bethany Antonia has been confirmed as the ninth celebrity participant for the upcoming 2026 season of Strictly Come Dancing. The House of the Dragon star will leave her West End role in Hadestown to compete on the BBC program this September.
Trading the West End stage for the BBC ballroom
Bethany Antonia's commitment to the 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing represents a major professional pivot . The 28-year-old actress is set to vacate her current position in the Tony Award-winning musical Hadestown in London's West End to focus on the dance competition. This transition from high-caliber musical theater to mainstream reality television is a path many performers take to solidify their household-name status.
The move comes at a time when the BBC is looking to refresh its most popular entertainment offerings. By securing talent like Antonia,who has a background in both stage and screen, the network is attempting to bridge the gap between prestige drama fans and general entertainment viewers.
Lacey Turner and Dani Dyer anchor a high-stakes celebrity roster
The celebrity lineup for the upcoming series is already gaining significant momentum, with Antonia being the ninth participant announced on Tuesday via the show's official social media channels. The report notes that Lacey Turner will join the show following an extended break from her role as Stacey Slater in EastEnders. Turner has already expressed a mix of terror and excitement regarding the challenge on social media.
Adding to the star power is Dani Dyer, who is returning to the competition after a difficult period. Dyer’s participation is particularly noteworthy because she previously suffered an ankle fracture during rehearsals last year. Her return, alongside other names like Delta Goodrem and Chris Appleton, suggests the BBC is prioritizing recognizable faces with compelling personal narratives to drive viewership on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
The identity of the five new professional dancers remains unknown
A significant shake-up is occurring within the professional ranks of the show. The BBC has confirmed that five new professional dancers will make their debut this autumn,a transition that follows the departure of several long-standing stars who were recently axed from the lineup. This period of turnover has left many viewers questioning the future direction of the show's choreography and professional standards.
While the celebrities are being revealed one by one, the identities of these five new professionals have not yet been disclosed. This lack of clarity creates a sense of anticipation, but also leaves fans wondering which specific veteran dancers were let go to make room for this new generation. As reported by the source, the specific reasons for these departures have not been provided.
Leveraging the House of the Dragon pedigree
Antonia brings a unique level of "prestige TV" credibility to the ballroom. She is best known to international audiences for her role as Lady Baela Targaryen in the HBO prequel House of the Dragon. This connection to a massive global franchise provides a level of visibility that few other contestants can match.
Her previous work, including guest roles in the BBC soap Doctors and the teen thriller Get Even, demonstrates a breadth of experience that may serve her well in the highly performative environment of Strictly. As the series prepares for its September return, the question remains how her dramatic training will translate into the technical requirements of competitive ballroom dancing.
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