LACEY TURNER CONFIRMED AS FIRST STRICTLY COME DANCING CONTESTANT

Lacey Turner has been confirmed as the first contestant for the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing. The BBC made the announcement, marking the opening of the line-up reveal for the show. Turner is an actress best known for her role as Stacey Slater in the BBC One soap EastEnders. She joins a list of contestants that is expected to grow as further announcements follow.

Turner first joined EastEnders in 2004, where her character Stacey Slater became one of the soap's most recognisable figures. Her casting in Strictly Come Dancing represents a return to high-profile BBC programming. EastEnders has aired on BBC One for decades and remains one of British television's longest-running soaps. Turner's association with the role of Stacey Slater has kept her among the most familiar faces in British television.

Strictly Come Dancing is a flagship BBC One entertainment programme that pairs celebrity contestants with professional dancers in a weekly competition. Turner's confirmation as the first named contestant signals the formal beginning of the series' cast announcements. Further names are expected to be revealed in the period ahead. The full line-up will determine the field of competitors when the series gets under way.