Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Olympic Skeleton Gold Medalist Tabitha Stoecker Joins Strictly 2026

8/10/2026

28 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Tabitha Stoecker, 25, Olympic gold-medallist, is the 13th celebrity confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2026.
She won gold in mixed-team skeleton at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Britain’s first in the event.
Stoecker said she is “over the moon” after what she called the wildest year of her life.
The show returns to BBC One and iPlayer on its usual Saturday-Sunday slots, premiering September 19, 2026.

History

Historical Context

Kelly Holmes, double-gold medallist at Athens 2004, exemplifies the Olympic champions the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing has showcased, a practice that began with the 22 July 2012 Olympic special featuring medal-winning athletes. The show’s long-standing habit of inviting recent gold-medallists persists into the 2020s, reinforcing its appeal to broader television viewership audiences.

1 of 2

Story summary

Tabitha Stoecker, 25, Olympic gold-medallist, is the 13th celebrity confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2026.
She won gold in mixed-team skeleton at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Britain’s first in the event.
Stoecker said she is “over the moon” after what she called the wildest year of her life.
The show returns to BBC One and iPlayer on its usual Saturday-Sunday slots, premiering September 19, 2026.

1 / 2