Who is Maddie Ingoldsby? Meet brand new Strictly Come Dancing 2026 professional

Strictly Come Dancing is officially back as series 26 launches tonight (19 September) and viewers are in for a treat as five new professional dancers have joined the show!

One of the newcomers is Maddie Ingoldsby, a former child star who has previously appeared on sister show It Takes Two, as well as on a Strictly Christmas special where she took part in a group number. She joins the show alongside Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi and Mark Karmalita.

As well as being a dancer, Maddie is also an actress and singer and has previously described herself as a "triple threat".

But what else is there to know about Maddie Ingoldsby? Read on to learn more about the dancer as she shimmies onto the dance floor.

Maddie Ingoldsby - key facts

Age: 21

Job: Professional dancer, actress and singer

From: Bournemouth

Maddie Ingoldsby is a UK national ballroom champion and eight-time amateur 10-dance world champion. She was previously also crowned world rising star and under-21 world ballroom champion.

Her performing career spans beyond dancing as Maddie played Annie in the West End as a child. She also appeared alongside Emma Thompson and Emilia Clarke in Last Christmas and made her television debut on Strictly: It Takes Two before going on to perform in a pros' group number on the main show's Christmas special.

How old is Maddie Ingoldsby?

Maddie Ingoldsby is 21 years old, making her the second youngest professional dancer in Strictly history.

Yes, Maddie Ingoldsby has a large presence on social media. She has over 50,000 followers on Instagram (@maddieingoldsby) and over 363,000 on TikTok (@madsingoldsby).

What has Maddie Ingoldsby said about joining Strictly Come Dancing?

Maddie has said that joining Strictly Come Dancing is "a dream come true".

She added: "My heart is so full of gratitude, excitement, and anticipation as I begin this incredible new chapter. Dance has always been where I feel most myself, and to now share my heart, my creativity, and my love for it on a show that has inspired millions is an honour beyond words."

Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and iPlayer on Saturday 19 September at 7:25pm.

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Authors

Nathan Katnoria is a freelance writer at Radio Times, covering entertainment shows like Strictly Come Dancing and Big Brother. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist and previously worked at heat and Closer, where he focused on showbiz news and reality TV.