Cach Mercer, the reigning champion of ‘Love Island’ 2025, has been confirmed as the fifth celebrity joining the cast of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ 2026. The social media sensation and content creator will compete in the hotly anticipated new series set to air this autumn.According to BBC Strictly’s official social media channels, the announcement was made on Thursday, July 9 across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube. The news is another huge addition to the entertainment line-up as the show readies itself for its return with new guest stars and an even bigger cast of celebrities.
Cach Mercer’s excitement about the competition
Speaking about his participation, Mercer expressed his enthusiasm for joining a show he has followed throughout his life. “I have grown up watching the show with my family and am so excited to now be part of the cast. Dancing is a huge passion of mine, and I can’t wait to learn Ballroom and do the Foxtrot for the first time!” he stated, highlighting his eagerness to develop ballroom dancing skills.
Cach Mercer’s rise to fame and social media presence
Mercer rose to prominence following his victory on the most recent series of ‘Love Island’, where he was crowned the male champion after winning the public vote. This success on the dating competition shows in his social media following, as he has accrued a combined follower base of almost 50 million across one of the big video platforms.The content creator is highly recognised for their posts and performance of Afrobeat, hip-hop and street dance movements. Beyond his social media presence, Mercer works professionally as both a model and DJ, bringing multifaceted entertainment credentials to the competition. He also serves as an ambassador for a youth mental health charity, demonstrating his commitment to advocacy and social responsibility.
Mercer revealed he grew up watching the show with his family and is excited to learn ballroom dancing for the first time.Image creadit (Cach Mercer Instagram)
Previously announced cast members and presenting team
According to Radio Times, Mercer joins four previously confirmed celebrities in the 2026 lineup. Lacey Turner, an established television performer; Dani Dyer, who achieved fame on ‘Love Island’ in 2018 (winning that series alongside her then-partner Jack Fincham); Delta Goodrem, an accomplished musician and television personality, and Chris Appleton, a hairstylist and television personality, round out the announced cast.The upcoming series will be presented by Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe, who were confirmed in May to replace the show’s longtime hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman following their departure from the programme.
Professional dancers on the show
The competition will feature an ensemble of professional dancers including Dianne Buswell, Amy Dowden, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Aljaž Škorjanec, Jowita Przystał, Johannes Radebe, Nancy Xu, Kai Widdrington, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Vito Coppola, Alexis Warr, and Julian Caillon, providing a comprehensive roster of experienced choreographers and performers for the celebrity contestants.The remainder of the 2026 cast will be announced progressively throughout the summer, building anticipation for the show’s return. The new series will premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in September 2026, with viewers able to add the programme to their watchlists on the streaming platform now.
