Strictly Come Dancing Odds: Josie Gibson Frontrunner To Be Celebrity Contestant
Strictly Come Dancing bosses have confirmed Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Head Judge Shirley Ballas will all return for this year's series, as well as several familiar pro dancers.
However, producers are yet to reveal which celebrities will be part of the Class of 2026, or who will replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman as Strictly co-hosts, meaning both markets on betting sites are yet to be finalised.
It has recently been reported that professional dancers Karen Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk and Michelle Tsiakkas won't be back for this year's series - and none of the quintet featured on the official retained list.
Strictly chiefs have also confirmed there will be "brand new professional dancers" joining the line-up later this year, but who will they and the returning pros be dancing alongside?
Sure-Fire Hit Josie
This Morning presenter Josie Gibson is the early 11/8 favourite on betting apps to be one of the celebrity contestants on the BBC Latin and ballroom show.
Last month, it was revealed by The Sun newspaper that the BBC had finally got their woman - after they came close to signing Josie three years ago, before she opted for I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!.
A source told the publication: "Josie has been on the BBC’s radar for a while and they’ve not given up their pursuit.
"They’re hoping this year is the year, and talks are progressing well.
"Bosses are convinced her down-to-earth charm will be the boost this year’s new-look show needs."
Strictly producers are hoping Josie is a "sure-fire hit" with fans of the show, and Dani Dyer could be another.
Strictly Come Dancing Odds: Celebrities To Take Part
Celebrity | Odds | Probability |
Josie Gibson | 11/8 | 42.1% |
Dani Dyer | 6/4 | 40% |
Delta Goodrem | 13/8 | 38.1% |
Brian McFadden | 7/4 | 36.4% |
Tom Daley | 15/8 | 34.8% |
Charlotte Church | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Stacey Solomon | 5/2 | 28.6% |
Rob Beckett | 3/1 | 25% |
Sarah Jayne Dunn | 7/2 | 22.2% |
Bradley Riches | 4/1 | 20% |
Ashley Cain | 5/1 | 16.7% |
Miranda Hart | 11/2 | 15.4% |
Tom Parker Bowles | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Angellica Bell | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Olivia Dean | 10/1 | 9.1% |
The 6/4 shot knows all about Strictly after signing up for the programme last year, only to be forced to pull out due to injury.
Dani recently told RSVP Magazine that she would "absolutely love" to go back and take part in Strictly again.
As well as winning Love Island, Dani is also known as the daughter of former EastEnders actor Danny Dyer, but another soap star could be joining this year's Strictly.
Bosses are said to be keen to sign up former Neighbours star Delta Goodrem.
A source told the Daily Mail newspaper's Eden Confidential column: "It is all but a done deal. They've been trying to get her for years.
"Obviously, she is a good name for the show."
Delta's Ex Brian Back For More Dancing?
Delta is 13/8 to join the celebrity line-up, just in front of her ex - Irish singer Brian McFadden (7/4), who she was previously engaged to.
Like Dani, Brian also knows a thing or two about Strictly after he took part in last year's Christmas Special.
He was defeated by I'm A Celebrity... South Africa's Scarlett Moffatt - who is currently expecting her second child - but admitted beforehand he was "honoured" to be taking part in the festive episode.
Olympian Tom Daley has been linked to Strictly several times before, and it's just 15/8 that he finally signs up this year.
Welsh singer Charlotte Church - who took part in BBC show The Celebrity Traitors last year - is also no stranger to Strictly links, and she is just 2/1 to waltz onto the dancefloor in the coming months.
One celebrity who has made no secret of the fact she is desperate to appear on the show is former Hollyoaks star Sarah Jayne Dunn.
Strictly Come Dancing Odds: New Hosts
Host | Odds | Probability |
Angela Scanlon | Evens | 50% |
Rylan Clark | 11/10 | 47.6% |
Emma Willis | 6/5 | 45.5% |
Zoe Ball | 11/8 | 42.1% |
Miranda Hart | 6/4 | 40% |
Alison Hammond | 15/8 | 34.8% |
Alex Jones | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Tom Allen | 5/2 | 28.6% |
La Voix | 3/1 | 25% |
Paddy McGuinness | 5/1 | 16.7% |
Bradley Walsh | 8/1 | 11.1% |
The OnlyFans content creator is so keen to land a spot on the star-studded line-up she has been manifesting a place on Strictly for the past 12 weeks, via a video series on her Instagram page.
It is 7/2 that her Strictly dreams come true this year, and it's 4/1 that fellow soap star and Strictly fan, Emmerdale actor Bradley Riches, is part of this year's cast.
Miranda Hart is definitely taking part in one BBC show this year - the upcoming second series of The Celebrity Traitors - and she's 11/2 to be a Strictly 2026 star, too.
Presenter Frontrunner Angela
If Miranda doesn't sign up as a contestant in this year's Strictly it could be because she is one of the presenters.
The actress has been linked to a hosting role, and she is a 6/4 shot to sign up for the job.
However, she faces some strong competition.
Rylan Clark has been a recent favourite to take over from either Tess or Claudia, but Irish host Angela Scanlon has leapfrogged him as the Evens frontrunner.
It's likely that two, or perhaps three, presenters will replace Tess and Claudia, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see Angela and Rylan co-host.
According to the Daily Mail, Angela is said to have impressed Strictly bosses at recent filmed auditions to find new presenters.
Emma Willis (6/5) and Zoe Ball (11/8) were also said to have performed well in the auditions, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see former Big Brother presenter favourites Emma and Rylan reunited.
A spokesman for the BBC has said: "Plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be confirmed in due course."
* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.
Who would be the perfect hosts to replace Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly in the latest series of Strictly? Let us know in the comments below or vote in our poll above!
