Celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton has been announced as the latest star to be taking part in this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing.
The 43-year-old is the fourth contestant to be revealed after Australian singer Delta Goodrem, Love Islander and WAG Dani Dyer and actress Lacey Turner were unveiled earlier this month.
The news was officially revealed on Friday on @bbcstrictly’s official social channels via Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.
Chris is a world-renowned hair stylist and is best known for working with Kim Kardashian.
Named a ‘Hair Star’ by Vogue UK, Chris’ work has been showcased on covers and in major features for publications including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Marie Claire, Grazia, L’Officiel Paris, and more.
His other celebrity clients include Jennifer Lopez, Sofía Vergara, Ariana Grande, and Katy Perry.
Celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton has been announced as the latest star to be taking part in this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing
He recently made the New York Times Best Sellers list for his debut memoir Your Roots Don’t Define You.
Chris said of joining the Strictly line up: ‘I’m thrilled to be joining Strictly Come Dancing and coming home to the UK for this incredible experience.
‘I’ve always believed that the best things happen when you take a chance and try something new. I may know my way around a salon floor, but the dance floor is a whole different story – and I can’t wait to get started.’
Strictly Come Dancing returns to screens later this year and the rest of the lineup will be announced this summer.
It comes after Emma Barton appeared to ‘give away’ another Strictly contestant in an awkward moment on The One Show on Thursday night.
Emma seemed to accidentally reveal that Roman Kemp is in the lineup as she made an awkward blunder on live TV.
As host Alex Jones asked Emma about her EastEnders co-star Lacey starring on the show, she asked: ‘Have you spoken to her? How is she feeling?’
Emma replied: ‘She’s such a gorgeous wonderful woman and the audience are going to love her. And I’m so proud of her because it’s nerve-racking, isn’t it. And it’s scary.’
Chris is a world-renowned hair stylist and is best known for working with Kim Kardashian (seen together)
It comes after Emma Barton appeared to ‘give away’ that Roman Kemp would also be one of the new Strictly contestants in an awkward moment on The One Show on Thursday night
As Rob Rinder joined Emma on the couch, she said ‘Oh you know’ before also pointing at Roman and adding: ‘Roman you know as well.’
As Alex and Roman looked at each other awkwardly, Roman insisted: ‘I have never done it. I’ve never done it.’
Meanwhile Rob was left smiling embarrassingly as he realised Emma’s faux pas.
The Daily Mail have contacted both Roman’s representatives and the BBC for comment.
Last week Delta Goodrem was revealed as the third contestant confirmed for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.
The Aussie superstar, 41, comes fresh from competing in the Eurovision Song Contest, where she finished fourth.
The news was announced on the BBC’s official social media pages, which revealed: ‘The class of 2026 is growing. She’s performed on the world’s biggest stages and the ballroom is next. It’s Delta Goodrem!!’
It comes after it was revealed Dani Dyer is also making her Strictly comeback.
The TV star has been confirmed as the second celeb to take part in the 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing one year after she was forced to quit the 2025 run after fracturing her ankle during rehearsals.
Dani 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!’
Upon her exit last year, BBC bosses confirmed the door would be left open for ‘heartbroken’ Dani to return for the 2026 series as they said they ‘hope to welcome her back to the ballroom in the future’.
Meanwhile Lacey Turner was the first contestant announced for 2026 as she is currently on an extended break from playing her iconic character Stacey Slater in the soap and is keen to use her time to train for the BBC competition, which will start in September.
In a video shared to Instagram, Lacey admitted she is ‘terrified’ to be taking part in the BBC show, which will return to screens in September, and can’t wait to ‘learn a new skill’.
She said: ‘Hello it’s Lacey Turner I can’t quite believe that I’m actually saying this but I want to let you in on a little secret.
‘This September I will be taking my little toes onto the dancefloor to do Strictly Come Dancing.
‘I can’t believe it. I’m so excited and terrified at the same time but I’ve had so many friends do Strictly and I thought it was about time that I plucked up the courage and made my way onto that dance floor.
‘So, there you go the secret is out, see you there in September.’
