Strictly lineup declared 'unrecognisable' by former dancer Brendan Cole as he calls himself 'bitter old pro'

On Saturday, the popular BBC show made its return to our screens with a brand new trio of hosts, after Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepped down from their roles at the end of the year.

The launch show saw an array of stars, ranging from EastEnders’ Lacey Turner to Australian singer Delta Goodrem, paired with their professional dancers ahead of the first live show earlier this week.

The 2026 celebrity Strictly Come Dancing lineup

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However, Cole has been left unimpressed with this year’s batch of stars, many of whom he said he did not recognise at all.

Appearing on Good Morning Britain on Monday, September 21, the New Zealand ballroom dancer said: “It’s hard to know them if you’re here [in the UK] because I don’t think there are many, many recognisable names on the show.

“And I certainly didn’t know them. I’m not a massive television watcher.”

He continued: “I don’t think it’s like it was. I sound like a bitter old pro, I probably am.

Brendan Cole featured on the show from 2004 to 2017

BBC/Guy Levy

“But it didn’t seem like it had that real ‘ooh this is going to be exciting’.”

Host Kate Garraway conceded that perhaps BBC producers have cast this series with a younger audience in mind.

Fellow former pro James Jordan agreed with Garraway, arguing that the show is such a “juggernaut” that it will always be entertaining, regardless of the cast.

He said: “I think whatever celebrities you have on there, we grow to love them over the week.

James Jordan, who appeared on the show from 2006 to 2013, disagreed with Cole’s comments

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“And the show is such a great format and it just works. Whoever you have on there, even if it was nonsense, the show will still work because it's brilliant.”

“It’s a great show,” Cole conceded.

Cole and Jordan were joined by former professional dancers Pasha Kovalev, Ian Waite and Vincent Simone on the Good Morning Britain sofa as they discussed the new era of the reality competition.

Here is the list of this year’s celebrity cast in full:

Lacey Turner - EastEnders star

Dani Dyer - Love Island winner and daughter of actor Danny Dyer