Strictly returns with new hosting trio as celebrities find out dance pairings

Strictly returns with a new hosting trio as the celebrity cast learns its dance pairings for the upcoming series. The fifteen partnerships announced are: actress Lacey Turner with Vito Coppola; reality‑TV star Dani Dyer paired with Nikita Kuzmin; hair‑stylist Chris Appleton teamed with Amy Dowden; Australian singer‑actress Delta Goodrem alongside Kai Widdrington; DJ Cach Mercer matched with Maddie Ingoldsby; television presenter Will Best dancing with Dianne Buswell; Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey partnered by Julian Caillon; actress Jaime Winstone teamed with Carlos Gu; TV performer Bethany Antonia paired with Nancy Xu; former England footballer Shaun Wright‑Phillips coupled with Alexis Warr; presenter‑writer Graeme Hall alongside Lauren Oakley; actor Lawrence Robb teamed with Jowita Przystał; skeleton athlete Tabby Stoecker partnered by Mark Karmalita; YouTuber John Nellis matched with Katya Jones; and television performer Melanie Walters dancing with Aljaž Škorjanec. Dani Dyer, who withdrew from last year’s competition after fracturing her ankle, is returning for a second attempt. Following the reveal she said, “I'm conscionable implicit the moon. I'm so, truthful happy,” and Kuzmin added that he had “tears of joy” in his eyes. Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu become the show’s third all‑female duo. Antonia reflected that watching Nicola Adams and Katya Jones perform together in Strictly’s 2020 series was a “big portion of my coming retired journey.” Other notable pairings include Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola, Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon, and Shaun Wright‑Phillips with Alexis Warr. Reigning champion Karen Carney, formerly of the Lionness squad, is set for a final rotation. She will wear the same diamante‑encrusted shot shirt that accompanied her original Jive, which she will reprise alongside her creation spouse Carlos Gu. After the routine Carney told Willis, “I perfectly consciousness similar I'm astatine home,” adding that she paid tribute to her professional partner. In thirteen weeks she will be required to relinquish the glitterball trophy to a new victor.