Nigel Farage is the latest in a long line of politicians to face questions about his financial affairs. Despite this, the Reform UK leader comfortably avoided a binning by his constituents in the Clacton byelection – albeit in the absence of the main parties.

This is perhaps unsurprising. The allegations against Farage include the claim (currently subject to a parliamentary standards investigation), that he should have declared a £5 million gift he received ahead of the 2024 general election. Farage has insisted that he has “done no wrongdoing” and that he “followed the rules”.

But a series of academic studies suggest that people tend to justify the behaviour of politicians they support rather than changing their vote to back someone else.

Only when scandals become too blatant and heavily covered for supporters to rationalise away do politicians tend to lose support. With this in mind, it’s perhaps not surprising that Farage won comfortably on home turf.

The effects of scandals on our political attitudes are difficult to study, in part because scandals are rare events. The fallout from any individual scandal could be specific to the politician involved, the time period in which it occurred, or the detail of the scandal itself. Measuring the “scandalousness” of any one event is quite difficult.

These are some of the problems that my colleague James Tilley and I tackled in a study of the 2009 parliamentary expenses scandal in the UK. Back then, hundreds of MPs were accused of claiming expenses to which they were not entitled. Many were required to repay money, and a small number were convicted of fraud and even jailed.

The advantage of studying this particular scandal is that a large number of MPs were implicated in similar misconduct at the same time. In addition, the extent to which each MP was implicated could be quantified, both in terms of the value of expenses they were asked to repay, and by measuring the press coverage focusing on each MP.

Importantly, the extent to which each MP was implicated was essentially random across constituencies. This meant that we could measure how a broad swathe of people responded to allegations affecting their local MP.

We found that voters were remarkably aware of the extent to which their MP was implicated in the scandal. The greater an MP’s apparent wrongdoing, either in terms of the money involved or the press coverage, the more their constituents noticed. However, while some constituents reduced their support for their MP, these effects were generally quite small and would probably have mattered only in marginal constituencies. This reaffirmed some previous work about the same scandal.

Wider trust issues

Another point we considered is whether scandals not only affect people’s attitudes towards the politician implicated, but whether they also affect people’s wider attitudes towards politics as a whole. As such, a judgement about a particular politician becomes generalised into a wider assessment of the performance of politicians in general.

This could be a cause for concern. Trust in politics is associated with whether people turn out to vote, whether they comply with the law and whether they support democratic forms of government. As such, allegations of financial misconduct by politicians could have implications beyond election results.

However, we found no evidence that the constituents of heavily implicated MPs changed their attitudes toward the wider system, in comparison to those whose MP was less implicated. It doesn’t appear that people tend to generalise the behaviour of their local MP into a wider judgment about the system as a whole.

Of course, there are several caveats when comparing the fallout from the expenses scandal with the claims against Farage. The former implicated many MPs at the same time, and the nature of the allegations was different. Farage is also a much more prominent figure than the typical MP we studied. And at the time of writing, the investigation into the claims against him is yet to conclude.

But there are good reasons to expect any change in attitudes among Farage’s constituents to be even weaker in his case. For example, Reform UK voters already tend to have less trust in the system than the average voter. If the claims against Farage are seen to come from that system, his supporters may be even less likely to believe them. Equally, voters with lower levels of trust in politicians generally may be less likely to view the claims against Farage as unusual or particularly deserving of electoral punishment.

When it comes down to it, so far Farage’s experience in Clacton seems to back up the idea that misconduct claims against MPs do not always have substantial effects. That said, with the investigation into the claims against him now resumed, whether this pattern will continue remains to be seen.

The incident happened during the afternoon rush hour on Thursday at the junction of Bishopthorpe Road and Nunnery Lane.

According to police the two convertibles were both Audis and one of them was white.

The other vehicle involved was a Lexmoto motorcycle with an L plate attached.

North Yorkshire Police are appealing to anyone with information about the road rage incident at 5.15pm on Thursday or who witnessed it to contact PC Clair Bailey-Lane by emailing  Clair.Bailey-Lane@northyorkshire.police.uk.

Alternatively, you can visit North Yorkshire Police’s website, select ‘Tell us about’, then choose ‘An existing case or report’ or contact the force through “Live Chat” via our website, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

A third option is to call North Yorkshire Police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their website

Please quote reference 12260138604 when passing on information.

CHICAGO (AP) — After trade negotiations crumbled at the eleventh hour, U.S. President Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on scores of Canadian imports kicked in Saturday.

The new levies are expected to affect about 5% of Canada’s annual exports to the U.S., roughly $20 billion in goods ranging from hockey sticks to agricultural products. Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney quickly promised Saturday that his government would roll out “dollar for dollar” retaliatory measures starting Sept. 8.

No further talks are scheduled. The latest escalation between the two countries — which once held one of the world’s most durable trade alliances — plunges them deeper into a trade war that has kept both sides of the border on edge throughout Trump’s second term in office. Experts warn steeper tariffs raise costs for businesses and almost always trickle down to households in the form of higher prices.

“Nearly all industries and professions are likely to see downstream effects from this spiraling trade dispute,” said Augustine Lo, of law firm Dorsey & Whitney, whose work includes advising clients on international trade.

Here’s what we know.

Which goods are affected?

Again, the 50% tariffs from the U.S. are set to affect $20 billion of Canadian goods.

Canada sends the vast majority of its goods exports to the U.S. (72% last year), and Trump administration says the new taxes will be levied on products ranging from hockey sticks to wine and cement. The list is long. According to documents published by the White House, other goods subject to the tax include honey, seeds and agricultural products — as well as select makeup, perfumes, clothing, jewelry, furniture, cameras, fabric and more.

The 50% levy also applies to some products that were previously protected under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a trade pact from Trump’s first term. That marks a shift from past levies — and further underlines questions around the future of the USMCA overall.

How is Trump imposing these tariffs?

To impose these 50% tariffs, Trump reached back to a long-dormant Great Depression-era law: Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930.

When the U.S. and world economies were in collapse nearly a century ago, Congress passed the 1930 law as part of broader “Smoot-Hawley” legislation (named after its congressional sponsors). The act raised tariffs more generally across the board, and became notorious among economists for limiting world commerce and making the Great Depression worse. But Section 338 — which authorizes the president to slap import taxes of up to 50% on imports from countries that have discriminated against U.S. businesses — has never been used specifically to raise tariffs until now.

No investigation is required to justify the levies. Nor is there any limit on how long they can stay in place. Since there’s no precedent, however, the latest tariffs may also see more legal challenges.

When announcing his planned tariffs last month, Trump claimed that Canada was unfairly discriminating against U.S. exports of automobiles, alcohol and dairy products. The president expressed anger over Canada’s retaliation against his own tariffs last year — noting Canadian imports of American alcohol and cars started to fall last spring.

Is Canada retaliating?

Canada’s Carney quickly promised to match the new levies “dollar for dollar” — later announcing retaliation would begin Sept. 8. He noted Canada’s tariff increases would target steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper and electronics.

The prime minister said Canada was willing to drop remaining retaliatory tariffs on steel, aluminum and autos if the U.S. substantially lowered its own, and to encourage provinces to restore U.S. alcohol sales. But eventually, he said Washington’s final demands went too far.

Carney accused Washington of using “economic integration as a weapon,” and that Canada had been “attacked” by the latest U.S. tariffs. He said his country had the reserves and resilience to respond.

Trump’s top trade negotiator, Jamieson Greer, pledged additional measures to respond to Canada’s retaliation — without immediately specifying what that would look like. In a Saturday interview with “Fox & Friends Weekend,” Greer also claimed the administration offered to cut tariffs on steel, autos and lumber, but Canada “didn’t want” the deal.

The 50% tariffs come on top of previously-imposed levies, including a 10% rate Trump slapped on Canada just last month ostensibly for failing to do enough to prevent imports produced by forced labor and separate sectoral levies impacting trading partners globally.

The growing trade sanctions on Canada underscore Trump’s willingness to risk breaking established alliances. And Canada’s reluctance to accept a deal may reflect recent experience.

Trump has repeatedly targeted Canada, even after instances where it made concessions following his demands. Some tolls on the newly opened Gordie Howe Bridge will be shared for 15 years, despite the fact that Canadians paid for the span linking Detroit and Windsor. Canada also withdrew a digital services tax last year. All the while, Trump has threatened more tariffs over everything from a TV ad criticizing his trade policies (later pulled by Ontario’s government ) to wildfires that blackened skies across North America.

Steeper tariffs have already contributed to higher inflation — but appeared to level off some in recent months, per researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, notably after the Supreme Court in February struck down some of Trump’s most sweeping levies.

Still, Saturday’s taxes against Canada mark the latest instance of Trump turning to other laws to impose tariffs. And more recently, Washington’s war with Iran has driven prices even higher. With the cost of living at the center of many voters’ minds in a midterm election year, political ramifications could mount for the Republican president in the coming months.

_____

AP Writers Paul Wiseman in Washington and Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed.

A firefighter and his family have been with little more than the clothes on their back, following a heartbreaking fire at their home

A Welsh firefighter who has spent his career rushing to help people on the worst days of their lives has now found himself facing that same nightmare after a devastating fire tore through his family home.

Brecon fire station has issued a statement detailing what happened in a serious domestic blaze on Wednesday (August 19) night, where their own Group Manager, Phil Morris, and his family lived.

According to the fire station, the blaze has robbed the family of almost everything, with their home and possessions devastated. They are now facing the daunting task of rebuilding their lives with little more than the clothes they had with them.

In a statement issued to social media, Brecon Fire Station said it was a call “none of us ever expected to receive”.

“As firefighters, we’re used to being the ones who turn up when somebody is having one of the worst days of their life,” the organisation said. “We go in, do everything we can to help and try to make a terrible situation that little bit better.

“But when that call is for one of your own, it really hits home.”

Brecon Fire Station further highlighted how Mr Morris has devoted much of his life and career to the Fire and Rescue Service, helping others in moments of crisis, adding that he has been an “inspiration to so many” and an “incredible fire officer, colleague and friend”.

Now, the firefighters who have stood alongside him throughout his career are determined to stand alongside him and his family. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter

A JustGiving fundraiser has been launched by the community to help ease some of the immediate pressure facing the family. It is hoped that the money raised will help provide essential items and support as they begin the difficult process of finding their feet again and rebuilding what has been lost. So far, the page has already raised over £22,000.

The page reads: “For a family, a home is so much more than four walls. It’s where children grow, birthdays and holidays are celebrated, meals are shared, and precious family memories are made. To suddenly lose that sense of home, comfort, and security is something no family should have to face alone.

“As they begin the overwhelming process of putting their lives back together, we would love to show them just how much their community cares. We are raising money to help with clothing, food, temporary accommodation, everyday essentials, and the many unexpected costs they will face in the weeks and months ahead.

“No donation is too small. Every pound raised will help this family find their feet again and begin rebuilding a safe and loving home.”

Brecon Fire Station further added: “When someone has spent their life helping others, hopefully we can now come together and return some of that kindness.”

A link to the donation page can be found here.

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Police are still at the scene of a serious crash in Harbour Way. A spokesperson from South Wales Police confirmed that officers were called to the incident at 2.15pm this afternoon (August 22). While no further detail is available at this time, a spokesperson from the force said: “The road is expected to remain closed for a long period of time, so we are asking motorists to avoid the area.”

Every day on Criminal Record we will be bringing you a round-up of the biggest crime stories of the day.

If you love to read about crime in Scotland – this is the place to be every day.

Here’s what has been making the news across the country on Saturday.

Gangland drugs enforcer petrol-bombed home with children inside

A gangland drugs enforcer has been jailed for more than three years after petrol-bombing a home where a grandmother was looking after several children.

Dean Ritchie, 29, drove accomplice Liam Rice, 21, to the Dundee property in November 2024 before Rice hurled a petrol bomb at the front door. Ring doorbell footage showed the Molotov cocktail explode and flames blaze at the entrance.

Sheriff George Way told Ritchie he had shown a “propensity for violence” and had put lives at risk, adding that the fire only failed to take hold “no thanks to you”. Ritchie was jailed for 38 months and placed on a 12-month supervised release order.

Rice, who was carrying out the attack to pay off a £1,500 drug debt, had previously been placed on a seven-month curfew and 18 months of social work supervision. He also admitted a second petrol bombing in Dundee.

Read more: Gangland enforcer jailed for sending thug to petrol bomb home full of kids

Daniel brothers targeted in long-running gang feud

Robert Daniel, 51, and Ronnie Daniel, 41, were separately targeted in unsuccessful machete attacks at their Glasgow homes by suspected associates of the rival Lyons crime family.

Robert is a senior figure in the Daniel family and has a long history of being targeted during the bitter feud, which is believed to date back more than 25 years. He was previously shot and seriously injured outside his Stepps home in 2017, while his property was set on fire in April last year as he slept inside.

Just weeks later, two men working at an accident repair centre owned by Daniel in East Kilbride were seriously injured in a machete attack. Police believe Daniel was the intended target.

Ronnie is less well known but has also been linked to the feud. He was reportedly threatened with a shotgun by a Lyons associate in Possilpark in 2021 and is believed to have attended the funeral of Daniel family enforcer Kevin “Gerbil” Carroll, who was shot dead outside an Asda supermarket in Robroyston in 2010.

Read more: Who are Robert and Ronnie Daniel? What we know about machete attack targets

Lyons gang orders machete attacks on Daniel family

The Lyons crime clan is understood to have ordered a series of brutal machete attacks against members of the rival Daniel family in an escalation of a long-running Glasgow gang war.

Senior Lyons figures are believed to have instructed footsoldiers from Ross McGill’s Tamo Junto gang to carry out the revenge attacks following the murders of Eddie Lyons Jnr and Ross Monaghan in the Costa del Sol last year.

The first attack took place on Curzon Street in Glasgow in the early hours of Friday, where balaclava-clad men armed with machetes allegedly smashed their way into a property while searching for Ronnie Daniel, 41. The gang reportedly ransacked the house before fleeing.

The group then travelled to Honeywell Drive in Stepps, where they are understood to have targeted Ronnie’s relative Robert Daniel, 51. Robert managed to escape after allegedly being chased near his home.

Read more: Lyons gang order brutal attacks on senior Daniel hoods as war re-ignites

Car crashes into home as Glasgow gang war fears grow

A car has smashed into a home near Glasgow just a day after a series of brutal attacks reignited fears of a gangland war in the city.

Emergency services were called to Low Borland Way in Eaglesham, East Renfrewshire, at around 1.20pm on Friday, August 21, after a vehicle crashed into a property before driving away. A large police cordon was put in place and the house has since been fenced off.

The Record understands detectives are not ruling out a possible link to Operation Portaledge, Police Scotland’s investigation into gangland activity across the central belt. The incident came just hours after two members of the Daniel family were targeted in separate alleged machete attacks.

The Lyons crime clan is understood to have ordered the attacks through Ross McGill’s Tamo Junto gang as part of a revenge campaign following the killings of Eddie Lyons Jnr and Ross Monaghan in Spain last year. Detectives are now examining whether the latest incident is connected to the escalating feud.

Read more: Car smashes into home near Glasgow day after gang war reignites in city

Woman charged after mystery substance found on Edinburgh lamppost

A woman has been arrested and charged after an unknown substance was discovered on a lamppost in Edinburgh, sparking a response from police and firefighters.

Officers were called after reports of “items being placed on a lamppost” on Morningside Road on Thursday evening, August 20. A section of the road was closed while emergency services attended and the substance was removed.

A cordon was erected around the lamppost and public transport was disrupted as officers and firefighters dealt with the incident. Tests were carried out on the substance and it was found to pose no threat to the public.

A 30-year-old woman has now been arrested and charged in connection with culpable and reckless conduct.

Read more: Woman charged after ‘unknown substance’ found on Edinburgh lamppost

Pateley Bridge is packed with cute shops and traditional Yorkshire streets while also being surrounded by “stunning scenery.”

Pateley Bridge is not only a charming town to visit, but it is also home to the oldest sweet shop in England.

If you have a sweet tooth or need some fuel for a long hike, you might want to stop at Pateley Bridge for some old-fashioned sweets.

What is Pateley Bridge like?

Pateley Bridge has been described as “charming” and a place where “you can experience all the charms of rural life.”

The town is known for its historic buildings and history that dates back centuries.

For those who love shopping, Pateley Bridge has an award-winning high street packed with independent shops.

The Oldest Sweet Shop is a must-visit in the town and has shelves lined with old sweets to choose from, including boiled sweets, toffee, and luxury chocolates.

If you love flowers, you can stop off at the Sticks ‘N’ Stones Florist where you can pick up a bouquet or a hand-crafted gift to take home.

There is also the Paper People Books and Games where you can find your next read and the Fewston Farm Shop and Café for any locally produced food.

The town is also home to the “unique” Nidderdale Museum where you can see what rural life was like over the past 200 years.

The museum features different rooms such as a Victorian Parlour, General Store, and School Room with lots of old objects to see.

Reviewers on Tripadvisor say the museum is “definitely worth visiting” and is “crammed with objects.”

The museum is also popular with visitors. (Image: Tripadvisor)

For food, you can visit the Crown Inn, which offers a classic pub menu with dishes such as scampi and seabass to steak and ale pie.

The pub also offers a Sunday roast and has rooms for you to stay in if you would like to extend your stay in the area.

You might prefer The Willow where you can enjoy breakfast, a relaxing afternoon tea or a special evening meal.

You could also stop off at Cocoa Joe’s where you can find some of the best hot chocolate in England.

Have you ever been to Pateley Bridge before? Let us know in the comments.

Belfast Live has looked at the three major supermarkets, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Tesco, to see which one offers the best value for money on a selection of items that are commonly found in pack lunches.

The new school term is fast approaching, and families across Northern Ireland will be preparing for the start of September and making sure they have everything they need.

Packed lunches are something that many families will have to budget for throughout the course of the school year, as they have to make sure their children have something to eat throughout the day.

As many households continue to struggle with the cost of living and high prices in the shops, finding a good deal on what your children will be taking to school is very important.

Belfast Live has looked at the three major supermarkets, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Tesco, to see which one offers the best value for money on a selection of items that are commonly found in packed lunches.

Tesco

Tesco Wholemeal Medium Sliced Bread 800g: 75p

Tesco Wafer Thin Cooked Ham 400g: £1.89

Packet of cheese Tesco Mild White Cheddar Slices 200g: £2.85/ two for £4.50 with Clubcard

Tesco Tuna Chunks In Spring Water 4 X 145G: £2.45

Dromona Spreadeasy Butter 500G: £2.95

Dairylea Lunchers Ham n Cheese 65g: £1.60

Tesco Gala Apples: £1.80/ 99p with Clubcard

Tesco Oranges 5 Pk: £1.50

Tesco Seedless Grape Selection Pack 500G: £2

Tesco Small Bananas 6 Pack: 75p

Tesco Carrot Batons Snack Pack 80g: 39p

Tesco Seedless Raisins 500G: £2.30

Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Cereal Milk Bars Multipack 4x20g: £1.35

Cheestrings Original 8Pk Cheese Snacks 160G: £2.45/£2.20 with Clubcard

Skips Prawn Cocktail Multipack Crisps 6×13.1g: £1.60

Wagon Wheel Jammie 6 Pack: £1.50

McVitie’s Penguin Original Biscuit Bar 7 pack x 24.6g: £2/ £1.25 with Clubcard

Capri-Sun Zero Orange 8 x 200ml Kids’ Juice Drink: £3/ £2 with Clubcard

Fruit Shoot Orange Kids Juice Drink 8x200ml: £3.50/ £2,75 with Clubcard

Asda

The BAKERY at ASDA The Bakery Wholemeal Medium Sliced 800g: 75p

ASDA Wafer Thin Cooked Ham 400g: £2

ASDA 10 British Mild Cheddar Slices 250g: £2.45

ASDA Tuna Steak in a Little Spring Water 3 x 110g (330g): £3.15

Dromona Spreadeasy Spread 500g: £2.80

Dairylea Lunchers Ham N’ Cheese 65 g: £1.50

JUST ESSENTIALS by ASDA Apples: 99p

ASDA Garden Gang Oranges Super Easy Peelers 500g: £1.07

ASDA Seedless Mixed Grapes 500g: £1.94

ASDA 6 Bananas: 94p

ASDA Carrot Sticks with a Houmous Dip 100g: £1.30

ASDA Seedless Raisins 500g: £1.80

Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Breakfast Cereal Bars 4x20g: £1.24

Strings & Things Cheestrings 80g (4x20g): £1.50

Skips Prawn Cocktail Multipack Crisps 6 Pack: £1.57

Wagon Wheels 6 Jammie: £1.47

McVitie’s Penguin Original Chocolate Flavour Cream Filled Biscuit Bars 7 x 24.6g: £1.25

Capri-Sun Orange 8 x 200ml Kids’ Juice Drink: £2.97

Fruit Shoot Fruit Shoot Orange Kids Juice Drink 8 x 200ml: £2.75

Sainsburys

Sainsbury’s Medium Sliced Wholemeal Bread 800g: 75p

Sainsbury’s British Wafer Thin Cooked Ham Slices 150g: £1.45

Sainsbury’s British Mild Cheddar Cheese Slices 240g: £2.75

Sainsbury’s Tuna Chunks in Spring Water 4x145g: £2.49

Dromona Spreadeasy Tub 500g: £2.95

Dairylea Lunchers 65g Ham ‘N’ Cheese Snack: £1.60

Sainsbury’s Royal Gala Apples x6: £1.80

Sainsbury’s Easy Peelers Oranges 600g: £1.50

Sainsbury’s Red & White Seedless Grapes 500g: £2

Sainsbury’s Fairtrade Bananas x5: 78p

Sainsbury’s Carrot Batons 400g: £1.10

Sainsbury’s Raisins, Seedless 500g: £2.30

Kellogg’s Rice Krispies 4 x 20g Breakfast Cereal Milk Multipack Snack Bars: £1.35

Strings & Things Cheestrings Cheese Snack x4 80g: £1.85

Skips Prawn Cocktail 6×13.1g: £1.60

Wagon Wheels 6 Jammie Biscuits: £1.50

McVitie’s Penguin Original Biscuit Bar Multipack 7 x 24.6g: £2

Capri-Sun Orange 8 x 200ml: £3

Fruit Shoot Orange Kids Juice Drink 8x200ml: £3.75

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

The duke, who stepped down from the working monarchy six years ago, has levelled a barrage of accusations at the King, his stepmother the Queen, brother the Prince of Wales and sister-in-law the Princess of Wales in his Oprah interview, Netflix documentary, interviews and his autobiography Spare after moving to California.

By CONNIE RUSK, ASSOCIATE SHOWBUSINESS EDITOR

Published: 19:11 BST, 22 August 2026 | Updated: 21:14 BST, 22 August 2026

Strictly Come Dancing is bringing back celebrities meeting their professional dance partner for the first time on the dancefloor. 

In recent years, the pairings have been filmed in introductory video tapes around the country. 

But the show will now revert back to what was done pre-Covid. 

TV dog trainer Graeme Hall, 59, who is starring in this year’s series, revealed the change on Radio Northampton this week. 

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He said: ‘This year, they’re doing it slightly differently. We don’t find out until the launch show.  You have no say in it, the pros have no say in it.’

The first show of the new series will air on September 19 when the celebrity and professional pairings are revealed. 

Strictly Come Dancing is bringing back celebrities meeting their professional dance partner for the first time on the dancefloor (pictured Dani Dyer will make her return after injury) 

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In recent years, the pairings have been filmed in introductory video tapes around the country. But the show will now revert back to what was done pre-Covid (pictured pro dancer Nikita) 

The first episode is pre-recorded and the following week will mark the return of the live shows, where the new batch of stars will compete for the first time.

But there’s no elimination that week as the first couple is normally eliminated after the following weekend’s performances and public vote, on October 4.

It has been confirmed that the final for this year’s series will take place just days before Christmas Day on December 19. 

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Graeme also talked about the reaction to the line-up – with some fans of the show branding the cast ‘the worst to date’.

Some of the best known of the line-up are Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Jaime Winstone, Will Best and Gavin & Stacey actress Melanie Walters, however many of the stars have been deemed unrecognisable to viewers. 

Stars such as Kim Kardashian’s hair stylist Chris Appleton might not be a household name, but he does boast a huge social media following with four million fans on Instagram. 

TV dog trainer Graeme Hall, 59, who is starring in this year’s series. said: ‘This year, they’re doing it slightly differently. We don’t find out until the launch show’

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John Nellis has an even bigger fanbase, with 15.7 million YouTube subscribers.

Indeed, while bosses may be keen to attract Gen Z (14 to 29 years old), the majority of Strictly viewers are currently Gen X (46 to 61 years old) and Baby Boomers (62 to 80 years old). 

He said: ‘I think you get it every year, it’s this “oh I don’t recognise a single one of them. They’re not celebs”. But do you know what? I was watching it last year and I thought George was great, I didn’t know him from Adam when he was on.’

Of starring in the show, he added: ‘It’s a dream come true There are not a lot of people in the world that have had the chance to do this. So I’m just going to love every minute, enjoy it for what it is and hope it keeps going as long as possible.’

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STRICTLY COME DANCING 2026: MEET THE CONTESTANTS

LACEY TURNER 

AGE: 38

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BEST KNOWN FOR?: Playing Stacey Slater on BBC’s EastEnders 

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘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 plunked up the courage and made my way onto that dance floor.’

DELTA GOODREM

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AGE: 41

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Played Nina Tucker in Neighbours and has released eight music albums

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I’ve been incredibly honoured to perform on many different stages throughout my career – from tv, theatre, film sets, to touring my own shows around the world, there is however one stage I’ve never stepped onto and that is the ballroom floor!’

CACH MERCER

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AGE: 25

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Won Love Island 2025 and is a TikTok influencer

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I have grown up watching the show with my family and am so excited to now be part of the cast. Dancing is a huge passion of mine and I can’t wait to learn Ballroom and do the Foxtrot for the first time!’

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DAME SARAH STOREY

AGE: 48

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Britain’s most successful Paralympian 

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WHY STRICTLY?: ‘Embarking on a new challenge so soon after stepping down as an athlete is hugely exciting.’

BETHANY ANTONIA 

AGE: 28

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BEST KNOWN FOR?: Plays Lady Baela Targaryen in House of the Dragon

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I have grown up watching Strictly, and I am so excited to take the challenge on and (hopefully!) learn a new skill.’

GRAEME ‘THE DOGFATHER’ HALL

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AGE: 59

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Hosts Channel 5 series Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I have watched the show for years, so to be a part of it feels like a very exciting challenge, albeit more than a bit nerve-wracking!’

TABBY STOECKER 

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AGE: 25

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Olympic champion skeleton racer

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I’ve had the wildest year of my life so far, so to be rounding it off with a childhood dream of dancing in the Strictly ballroom is surreal and I can’t wait to get stuck in!’

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MELANIE WALTERS 

AGE: 64

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Playing Gwen West in BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey

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WHY STRICTLY?: ‘Performing in Pantomime for the last 15 years, my Strictly ‘fix’ has always been watching in a dressing room rather than my front room.’

DANI DYER

AGE: 30

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BEST KNOWN FOR?: Winning Love Island and being the daughter of actor Danny Dyer

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘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!’

CHRIS APPLETON

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AGE: 43

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Hairdresser to the stars – including Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I’m thrilled to be joining Strictly 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.’

WILL BEST

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AGE: 41

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Hosts Big Brother and previously TV

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I’ve been lucky to do lots of live telly before, but absolutely nothing like this. And I cannot wait!’

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JAIME WINSTONE

AGE: 41

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Starring in films such as Kidulthood and Tomb Raider

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WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I am no stranger to a dance floor, but the ballroom is a whole new world for me.’

SHAUN WRIGHT-PHILLIPS 

AGE: 44

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BEST KNOWN FOR?: Footballer who played for the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘Strictly is definitely outside my comfort zone, but I’m super excited to get started and really looking forward to the challenge!’

LAWRENCE ROBB

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AGE: 34

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Plays Mackenzie Boyd on ITV’s Emmerdale

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘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!’

JOHN NELLIS 

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AGE: 33

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Face of a popular football-focused YouTube channel

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I can’t wait to meet everyone, learn a new skill and, hopefully, be much better at family parties by the end of it!’

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