Melanie Walters confirmed as final celebrity for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 line-up

Gavin & Stacey actor Melanie Walters in 2023Strictly Come Dancing completed its 2026 line-up on Wednesday by confirming Gavin & Stacey actor Melanie Walters as its 15th and final celebrity. Melanie is best known for playing Stacey’s omelette-loving mother, Gwen, on the beloved sitcom.Reacting to the news on Instagram, the sitcom’s creator Ruth Jones shared a photo of herself and Melanie on a red carpet, celebrating her co-star’s “amazing” news.In the caption, Ruth said she had a message from her famous character, Nessa.“O’ Gwen. I hears you’re donnin’ the dancin shoes. Tidy,” she wrote. “[Shirley Ballas] learnt all she knows from me back in the 70s. So if you needs any tips on rhythm just call.“And don’t take no crap from [Craig Revel Horwood]. He’s a pussy.”Ruth Jones in character as Nessa from Gavin & StaceyMeanwhile, Stacey herself, Joanna Page, also spoke to Magic about her “gorgeous” TV mum joining the BBC Saturday night dance show.“’I will be watching every week supporting her, she’s brilliant and she’s a pretty nifty mover,” the Love Actually star enthused. “I think she will be absolutely fab on [Strictly].”Joanna continued: “I want to say she’s very flexible, because she is – I don’t know if people know this, but she’s a qualified Pilates instructor so if anybody can do it, Mel can do it.”The stars of Gavin & StaceyThe Taskmaster contestant also had a suggestion as to who Melanie should be partnered with on Strictly. “I think that Mel would be really good with Vito because he’s just a lovely, lovely fella,” she said, referring to the Italian dancer Vito Coppola who last year was partnered with model Ellie Goldstein, and won with Ellie Leach in 2023.“He’s really nice, really good fun and excitable as well so she’ll be doing some really exciting moves,” she claimed.When Melanie was announced for the BBC series, the Welsh actor said: “Performing in Pantomime for the last 15 years, my Strictly ‘fix’ has always been watching in a dressing room rather than my front room.”She added that, as a result, she was “thrilled” to “swap my fairy wand for sequinned dance shoes”.Melanie will compete for the glitterball trophy against the likes of EastEnders actor Lacey Turner, Big Brother host Will Best, Australian pop star Delta Goodrem, actor Jaime Winstone, Love Island champion Cach Mercer and record-breaking Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey.Check out our round-up of all 15 celebrities on the new Strictly line-up here.MORE STRICTLY:It's All Change At Strictly Come Dancing This Year – Here's Everything We Know So FarWill Best's Big Brother Future Confirmed After Strictly Come Dancing AnnouncementFootballer Shaun Wright-Phillips Already Has A Strict Rule About His Strictly Costumes

The complete line-up for the revamped Strictly Come Dancing 2026 series has been confirmed, with Gavin and Stacey icon Melanie Walters the final to be announced. The BBC staple returns to iPlayer and BBC One in September with presenter Emma Willis, professional dancer Johannes Radebe and comedian Josh Widdicombe as the new hosts.  The judging […] The post Strictly Come Dancing 2026 full line-up as Gavin and Stacey icon joins appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.

Gavin & Stacey star Melanie Walters is the final name announced for the celebrity cast of Strictly Come Dancing 2026.

Swansea-born Gavin and Stacey actress Melanie Walters has been confirmed as the final celebrity joining Strictly Come Dancing 2026, completing the star-studded line-up

Strictly Come Dancing have announced Gavin and Stacey star Melanie Walters as the fifteenth star for this year's series, completing the line-up

Melanie Walters in 2023Gavin & Stacey star Melanie Walters is the 15th and final celebrity revealed to be taking part in this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing.Melanie is best known to fans of the Bafta-winning BBC sitcom for her portrayal of Gwen West, the doting mum of Joanna Page’s Stacey.Following the news of her casting, she explained that because she has been appearing “in pantomime for the last 15 years”, her “Strictly ‘fix’ has always been watching in a dressing room rather than my front room”.“This year I am completely thrilled and happy to swap my fairy wand for sequinned dance shoes,” she enthused. “I just hope I don’t follow Cinderella and leave one on the Ballroom stairs.”Melanie added: “I cannot wait to take part in this absolutely iconic show, it’s so exciting. See you in September!”View this post on InstagramMelanie joins a cast of celebrities for this year’s series that also includes EastEnders icon Lacey Turner, Big Brother host Will Best, former England star Shaun Wright-Phillips, actor Jaime Winstone, Love Island champion Cach Mercer and record-breaking Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey.Also on the line-up are pop singer Delta Goodrem, hairstylist Chris Appleton and TV personality Dani Dyer, who had previously been booked for last year’s Strictly, but was forced to pull out at the eleventh hour when she sustained an injury during training. The forthcoming 24th season of Strictly will be a year of change for the show – not least because it will introduce a new presenting team made up of Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe, following the departures of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman at the end of last year’s run.Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer in September, with a pre-recorded launch show in which the celebs and professionals are paired up, followed by the first live show later in the month.MORE STRICTLY:It's All Change At Strictly Come Dancing This Year – Here's Everything We Know So FarWill Best's Big Brother Future Confirmed After Strictly Come Dancing AnnouncementIt Takes Two Host Janette Manrara Sets The Record Straight On Her Strictly Future