House of the Dragon's Bethany Antonia joins Strictly Come Dancing 2026
House of the Dragon star Bethany Antonia will be showing off her moves on Strictly Come Dancing from September.
House of the Dragon's Bethany Antonia has joined the line-up for Strictly Come Dancing 2026.
The 28-year-old actress - who plays Lady Baela Targaryen in the prequel to HBO fantasy drama, Game of Thrones - grew up with the BBC Latin and Ballroom dance show, and the star is in disbelief that she is now on the programme.
Bethany said: "I can’t quite believe that I will be heading to the Strictly ballroom this September! I have grown up watching Strictly, and I am so excited to take the challenge on and (hopefully!) learn a new skill. See you on the dance floor!"
The Doctor Who alum's signing comes days after it was confirmed that Babs actress Jaime Winstone, 41, will be competing on this year's series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Jaime said: "I am so excited to announce that I will be joining the Strictly Come Dancing cast this year. I am no stranger to a dance floor, but the ballroom is a whole new world for me.
"I love a challenge though, so can’t wait to enter my showgirl era and get super sparkly! Let’s get physical – see you on the dance floor!"
In June, the BBC confirmed that Love Island alum Dani Dyer will get a second shot at doing Strictly Come Dancing after she was forced to pull out of the 2025 series due to an ankle injury.
The 29-year-old beauty said: "I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September! I just cannot wait to get my dancing shoes back on and hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one!
"I’m just over the moon and cannot wait to find out who else is doing it!"
So far, Bethany, Jaime, Dani, EastEnders icon Lacey Turner, 38, Neighbours alum Delta Goodrem, 41, celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton, 43, Love Island's Cach Mercer, 25, Big Brother host Will Best, 41, and Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey, 48, will battle it out to lift the coveted Glitterball Trophy.
The BBC will announce more contestants in due course.
Strictly Come Dancing 2026 also introduces five new professional dancers - British dancer Maddie Ingoldsby, 21, who performed in a special one-off routine on the show with the programme's troupe 10 years ago at the age of just 11, Ukrainian Aleksandra Isaeva and her dance partner, four-time Italian Latin Champion Cristian Priori, undefeated South African Latin champion Lethabo Monametsi, and Canada's Mark Karmalita.
As well as five new professional dancers, the upcoming series will see Emma Willis, 50, Josh Widdicombe, 43, and 39-year-old Johannes Radebe - a pro on Strictly since 2018 - debut as hosts, following the departure of Tess Daly, 57, and 54-year-old Claudia Winkleman.
