Stacey Slater trading Albert Square for the Strictly ballroom, that’s basically the headline EastEnders fans woke up to earlier this year. Lacey Turner, who’s played the role on and off since 2004, was announced as the very first celebrity confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2026. Big moment, honestly, and one that got people talking straight away. Here’s where things actually stand with her journey so far, and what’s still left to unfold once the show kicks off properly.
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The Announcement That Caught Everyone Off Guard
Turner’s casting dropped way earlier than usual. Strictly Come Dancing normally trickles out names closer to autumn, not months ahead like this. The news went out on the show’s Instagram, short caption, straight to the point, welcoming her to the dancefloor. Reaction came in fast too, professional dancers like Dianne Buswell and Motsi Mabuse left comments almost immediately, mostly warm, mostly excited. Turner herself admitted to feeling excited and terrified all at once, saying she’d watched plenty of mates go through Strictly before and finally decided it was her turn.
Why the Timing Became a Talking Point
What really stood out wasn’t the casting itself, it was how early it landed. Fans picked up on that instantly. Some pointed out this just isn’t how Strictly usually does things, announcements this far ahead of the September launch. That early reveal turned into one of the bigger discussion points around her season so far, less about drama and more just about format, but it kept her name floating around in conversation for weeks regardless.
A Show Going Through Its Own Changes
Turner’s season also lines up with a pretty major shift behind the scenes. Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepped away after years of hosting, making room for Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and pro dancer Johannes Radebe to take over. A handful of professional dancers left the lineup too, so the whole cast, celebrities and professionals alike, is walking into something unfamiliar together this year. For Turner, stepping into a freshly shaken up version of Strictly adds one more layer to what’s already a nerve wracking situation for any newcomer.
Also Read: Lacey Turner Husband: Who Is Matt Kay and When Did They Get Married?
No Partner Confirmed Yet
Right now, there’s no professional partner attached to Turner’s name. That pairing usually happens live during the launch show, when every celebrity finds out who they’re training with for the rest of the series, right there on air. Until that airs, nothing’s confirmed, though fans have already started guessing anyway, throwing around names based on who they think might match her energy or dance style best.
Dances and Scores Are Still Ahead
Since the launch show hasn’t happened yet, there’s nothing to report on dances or judges’ scores just yet either. Once partners get revealed and training starts, most contestants ease in with something like a waltz or a cha cha first, easier routines before things ramp up in difficulty. Given how much emotional weight Turner’s brought to her EastEnders storylines over the years, it wouldn’t be shocking if she carries that same expressiveness into her early routines. Judges tend to respond well to that kind of thing, even in week one.
What’s Coming Next for Fans
With the show heading back to BBC One this September, a lot of attention’s going to land on how Turner handles this jump from soap actress to ballroom hopeful. Her EastEnders fanbase is huge and loyal, which could translate into serious public support once the voting lines open. Between a brand new hosting team, a reshuffled pro lineup, and Turner’s high profile casting, this season’s already got more buzz around it than usual. Anyone wanting to catch things live should probably start looking into Strictly Come Dancing Tickets 2026 sooner rather than later, since the live tour and studio audience spots tend to disappear fast once dates go public.
Lacey Turner Strictly Come Dancing Controversy
Lacey Turner never had any personal controversy tied to her time on Strictly Come Dancing, nothing about her specifically caused a stir. What did cause a bit of a stir though was the wider reaction to her being named the first contestant for the 2026 series, more about the show’s overall cast than her.
Once she got confirmed as the lead signing, a good number of fans weren’t impressed. They took to social media complaining that the lineup lacked real star power this year. Some called the broader cast underwhelming outright, with quite a few saying openly online that they barely recognized the names being announced.
Wrapping This Up
Turner’s Strictly story is really just getting going. Partner, first dance, opening scores, all of it’s still ahead once the series actually starts. The early announcement and the whole shakeup around the show have already made this one of the more talked about seasons in a while. Once the launch show airs and everyone’s paired off, there’ll be a lot more to follow, training room moments, leaderboard positions, all the usual drama that comes with a new series. For now though, it’s just a waiting game until those ballroom doors officially open.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Who’s Lacey Turner dancing with on Strictly?
No announcement till now. That only gets revealed on the launch show itself. Until then it’s just fans throwing out guesses.
When’s her first dance happening?
Once the launch show airs and everyone gets paired up. First dances are usually easy ones, waltz or cha cha, nothing too wild before things get harder each week.
Why’d they announce her so early this year?
That’s the bit that surprised people. Strictly normally waits till closer to September to reveal names, so doing it months early was a bit unusual.
Is this season different from the usual Strictly setup?
Kind of, yes. New hosts this time, Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, Johannes Radebe, taking over from Tess and Claudia. Few pro dancers left too. Turner’s walking into all that change right from the start.
How can people watch or grab tickets?
Show’s back on BBC One in September. If anyone wants to catch it live, worth checking strictly come dancing tickets 2026 early, they go pretty fast once dates drop.
