Strictly star Jaime Winstone reveals Taylor Swift persuaded her to sign up for the show after admiring her 'raver' dance moves at a celeb party

Jaime Winstone has revealed she received 'a very clear sign' that she should say yes to Strictly Come Dancing, from Taylor Swift.

The actress is one of 15 celebs signed up for the 2026 series of the BBC show, and has admitted after previously turning it down, she finally feels ready to share her 'raver' moves with the nation.

Speaking ahead of the show's return on September 19, Jaime, 41, admitted it took Taylor admiring her dance floor antics at a celeb party to convince her this year was her year.  

'I have been asked before and I've always been working and busy or just being full-on mum, but I turned 40 last year and I've really got to just lean into this moment,' she gushed.

'A lot of people in my life know how much I love dancing – music and dance is such a big part of who I am. There were some clear signs that this should be my Strictly year.'

She explained that 'one very clear sign came when I went to my friend Poppy Delevingne's birthday party a few months back, and Taylor Swift was there!'

Jaime Winstone has revealed she received 'a very clear sign' that she should say yes to Strictly Come Dancing, from Taylor Swift

She explained that 'one very clear sign came when I went to my friend Poppy Delevingne's birthday party a few months back, and Taylor Swift was there!' (Taylor pictured arriving at the party with her husband Travis Kelce)

'I was just dancing as I do, and she came up to me out of nowhere and just said, "Oh my lord, how do you dance so freely?". When someone of her calibre and status says that, it's a very clear sign!'

Jaime admitted another light bulb moment came when she listened to Madonna's new album and heard the lyric 'everybody get up and dance'. 

'I took that as a personal sign as I'm such a huge Madonna fan – there's not a room in my house without a disco ball!' she confessed.

Jaime's signature dance moves also come straight from the 68-year-old pop megastar as she confessed 'I do a lot of stuff with my hands. I am quite up into the voguing scene.'

'I've always said the three things that describe me are; I'm a mother, I'm an actor, and I'm a raver.'

'I'm not a controlled dancer, I've never done a dance lesson in my life and I've never done a routine, so I'm quite excited to see how I get on with that.'

Embracing the sequins and sparkle, the daughter of screen hardman Ray Winstone pointed out 'I've done every sort of gritty drama you possibly could do, and I usually play people quite a lot older than me, and I just thought: this is the time to step into a realm that I don't know, which is the ballroom, and give it a real good go.'  

Jaime joins actresses Lacey Turner and Delta Goodrem, reality stars Dani Dyer and Cach Mercer, Big Brother host Will Best, Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey, Gavin & Stacey actress Melanie Walters, celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton, House Of The Dragon's Bethany Antonia, footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips, presenter Graeme 'The Dogfather' Hall, Emmerdale's Lawrence Robb, YouTuber John Nellis and Olympian Tabby Stoecker. 

'I was just dancing as I do, and she came up to me out of nowhere and just said, "Oh my lord, how do you dance so freely?" Jamie revealed (pictured at the party)

Jaime began her acting career in 2004 and has since established herself as one of Britain’s most recognisable screen talents, starring in a string of acclaimed and iconic films including Made in Dagenham, Bullet Boy, Tomb Raider and Wild Bill, among many others. 

Alongside her impressive film career, she has built an extensive television resume with roles in Dead Set, Torvill & Dean, Poirot, Mad Dogs, Count Abdulla and the BBC drama Four Lives.

Jaime received widespread acclaim for her portrayal of the legendary Barbara Windsor in the BBC biopic Babs. 

She later stepped into Windsor’s famous role of Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders appearing in flashback specials, most recently during the soap’s 40th anniversary celebrations last year. 

The episode went on to win the British Soap Award for Best Single Episode.

Away from the screen, Jaime has enjoyed a successful modelling career, and starred in the West End production of 2:22 A Ghost Story.  

Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC iPlayer and BBC One at 7:25pm on Saturday September 19