Graeme Hall and Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb have become the 11th and 12th celebrities confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2026. Dog trainer Hall was announced on Wednesday, August 5, before the BBC revealed Robb on Thursday, August 6.
Hall is best known for presenting Channel 5’s Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly, while Glasgow-born Robb plays Mackenzie “Mack” Boyd in ITV’s long-running soap Emmerdale.
They join a cast drawn from television, music, sport, fashion and entertainment. The new series is scheduled to begin on September 19 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Graeme Hall swaps dog training for the ballroom
Hall built his television career by helping owners understand and manage difficult behaviour in their pets. His calm, practical approach earned him the nickname “The Dogfather” and made him a regular face on British television.
Alongside Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly, he has appeared on ITV’s This Morning, contributed to BBC radio and made a cameo in All Creatures Great and Small in 2025. He is also the author of the bestselling book All Dogs Great and Small.
Hall said he had watched Strictly for years and described the opportunity to train with its professional dancers as a dream come true.
“I have always loved dancing, so to have the opportunity to learn from the best in the business is a dream come true,” he said. “I can’t wait to get started. Bring it on!”
His experience with unscripted television may help him stay composed during rehearsals, but ballroom competition will require him to develop precise footwork, musical timing, posture and stamina.
Lawrence Robb becomes the 12th confirmed celebrity
The BBC announced Robb’s participation at 11am on August 6 through the official Strictly accounts on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.
Robb joined Emmerdale in 2020 as Mackenzie Boyd, who later became part of the soap’s Dingle family. His character has appeared in major storylines involving relationships, kidnapping and murder, as well as the 2026 Corriedale crossover with Coronation Street.
Before arriving in the Yorkshire Dales, Robb appeared opposite Billie Piper in I Hate Suzie. His stage credits include Legally Blonde The Musical and the West End production of Mojo.
The actor said his mother was likely to be as excited as he was about the announcement.
“I can’t quite believe that I am going to be getting my dancing shoes on this September on one of my favourite shows of all time,” Robb said. “It’s a dream come true, and I can’t wait to bring my all to ballroom.”
His theatre background may provide some familiarity with choreography and live performance, although ballroom and Latin dancing demand specialist techniques that differ from acting on stage or television.
Strictly Come Dancing 2026 lineup reaches 12
The celebrities confirmed so far are Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton, Cach Mercer, Will Best, Dame Sarah Storey, Jaime Winstone, Bethany Antonia, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Graeme Hall and Lawrence Robb.
The Strictly Come Dancing 2026 celebrity lineup began with the announcements of Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer and Delta Goodrem before additional names were revealed throughout the summer.
Former England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips was named as the tenth contestant, followed by Hall and Robb. Their additions give the programme a mix of experienced performers and celebrities entering without a publicly established background in competitive dance.
Jaime Winstone’s Strictly Come Dancing announcement brought another actor to the cast, while Dame Sarah Storey contributes the discipline developed during a record-breaking Paralympic career.
Previous stage or sporting experience can help with confidence, fitness and presentation. However, contestants still have to master a different routine each week while responding to judges’ feedback and public voting.
Read More
When Strictly Come Dancing 2026 begins
The 24th series is scheduled to premiere on Saturday, September 19, on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Professional partnerships and opening routines will be revealed closer to the launch.
The programme will be presented by Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe following the departure of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
Official episodes, schedules and programme updates can be found on the BBC Strictly Come Dancing page.
Hall now faces the challenge of transferring his calm television manner to live dance routines, while Robb will exchange the fictional drama of the Dales for the pressure of weekly ballroom performances.
Make Swikblog your go-to source on Google for reliable updates, smart insights, and daily trends.
