Strictly fans say "women are going to dominate" 2026 season as they predict winner already

Strictly Come Dancing may have only returned last night (19 September), but fans are already making their predictions for the 24th season. With 15 new couples heading to the dance floor, who do they think will be lifting the Glitterball Trophy in December?

The long-running BBC series returned on Saturday as Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe made their debuts as hosts, with the trio unveiling the partnerships for the upcoming season.

While they will all need to impress the four judges - Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke - as well as the home-viewing audience, the couples will first have to get to grips with their routines.

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Despite the final not coming for a few months, fans of the series have already been keen to submit their predictions, with EastEnders star Lacey Turner being singled out for praise early on after she was partnered with Vito Coppola.

"Lacey and Vito are already my favourites please and thank you x," wrote one fan on X, while another added: "I know who all my votes are going to! Lacey and Dani [Dyer] LETS GET TO THE FINALS PLEASE"

"I'm calling it now, Lacey and Vito have a very good chance of winning. And I'm not just saying that cos Vito is my husband," quipped another fan, while a fourth noted: "Lacey Turner & Vito Coppola, my 2026 winners."

Lacey wasn't the only celebrity to get some attention, with Dani Dyer and Delta Goodrem - who are paired with Nikita Kuzmin and Kai Widdrington respectively - also being singled out for praise.

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"The women are going to dominate this series and the pairings have just reinforced it (Delta & Kai, Lacey & Vito, Dani & Nikita). It could even be close to being an all-female semi final" opined one viewer.

Former Love Island star Dani is raring to go after she was forced to withdraw from last year's season due to an injury, and several fans expressed their excitement that she was reunited with Nikita.

Strictly Come Dancing airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media.  His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.