Ex-England Star Shaun Wright-Phillips Joins Strictly 2026

Former England and Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips has been announced as the latest celebrity to join the line-up for Strictly Come Dancing 2026. The football pundit, who won 36 caps for England and also represented Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers during his club career, admitted the challenge is "definitely outside my comfort zone."

A new kind of footwork

Wright-Phillips, who is the son of Arsenal legend Ian Wright, is no stranger to performing under pressure on the pitch — but the Strictly ballroom is a very different arena. "Dancing is in my blood — but mainly at family events!" he said in a statement. "I'm super excited to get started and really looking forward to the challenge!"

His announcement follows former soccer star Karen Carney, who won the coveted Strictly glitterball trophy last year, proving that ex-footballers can thrive on the dancefloor.

The 2026 line-up so far

Wright-Phillips is the tenth celebrity confirmed for the 2026 series, joining a cast that includes Delta Goodrem, Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, and Jaime Winstone, among others. More celebrities are expected to be announced in the coming weeks, with a final line-up of around 15 stars anticipated.

Strictly Come Dancing 2026 is set to begin in September, with filming of the launch show already underway at Elstree Studios.