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Strictly Come Dancing 2026 tipped to add Gladiators and football legend to line-up
Another Gladiators star may be destined for the dancefloor.
BBC / James Stack / © Hungry Bear Media Ltd
- Lewis Knight
Published: Saturday, 18 July 2026 at 10:50 am
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It seems Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will once again have something for fans of Gladiators.
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Recent years have seen the likes of Fire (Montell Douglas) and Nitro (Harry Aikines-Aryeetey) compete for the Glitterball Trophy, but now another cast member looks set to be joining the show.
Now, The Sun has reported that former football referee and now Gladiators star Mark Clattenburg will be joining the Strictly line-up this year.
A source told the publication: "Clatts manages to appeal to young and old, families, children and football fans – plus he’s easy on the eye for the mums.
"That amazing fan base is a major bonus, the sort of thing the BBC is always keen to utililise. No final decision has been made yet but if Clatts doesn’t make the cut this year, he’ll remain a target."
Mark Clattenberg on the set of Gladiators. BBC/Hungry Bear Media Ltd/Graeme Hunter
They added: "The line-up is shaping up nicely but there are a few spots left."
When approached by Radio Times, a BBC spokesperson said: "We don't comment on speculation."
Radio Times has also approached a representative of Mark Clattenburg for comment on this story.
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The report comes after the BBC confirmed British Paralympic legend Dame Sarah Storey would be joining the cast following reports indicating such.
She said in a statement: "Embarking on a new challenge so soon after stepping down as an athlete is hugely exciting.
"I have always loved watching Strictly and my daughter Louisa is a very talented dancer, so to be able to learn from the best and hopefully understand even more about her world, is incredibly motivating! I can’t wait to get started!"
Johannes Radebe, Josh Widdicombe, and Emma Willis pose in front of a purple background. BBC/Ray Burmiston
It has already been revealed that stars, including EastEnders favourite Lacey Turner and former Love Island champions Dani Dyer and Cach Mercer.
Of course, it's a huge year for Strictly, following the departure of long-time presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, and it was previously announced that Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe will now front the show - and with a new logo to boot.
Fans can expect the rest of the 2026 cast to be announced in due course and ahead of the show’s comeback on BBC One and iPlayer this September.
Strictly Come Dancing is available to watch on catch-up on BBC iPlayer.
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Authors
Lewis KnightNews and Trends Editor
Lewis is the news and trends editor at Radio Times and leads our approach to news, reactive content, and serving audience demands and interests. An obsessive fan of television and film, Lewis is a Nicole Kidman fanatic with a side of passion for science-fiction, art-house cinema and the latest HBO drama. Lewis has a degree in Psychology and a Masters in Film Studies. After working in advertising, Lewis worked at The Mirror for three years in community management and SEO, showbiz, film and television reporting.
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