From A-List Hairstylist to Ballroom Star? Chris Appleton Joins Strictly Come Dancing 2026!
From A-List Hairstylist to Ballroom Star? Chris Appleton Joins Strictly Come Dancing 2026!
Get ready to see celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton, known for styling Britney Spears and Kim Kardashian, trade the salon for the ballroom! Find out more about the latest Strictly Come Dancing 2026 contestant.
Strictly Come Dancing is already setting the stage for 2026, and they've just announced a dazzling new contestant: celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton. The 43-year-old, famed for his work with global superstars like Britney Spears, Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, and Ariana Grande, will be swapping scissors for sequins on the BBC show.
Appleton, who recently made the New York Times Best Seller list with his memoir "Your Roots Don’t Define You," expressed his excitement about this new challenge. “I’m thrilled to be joining Strictly Come Dancing and coming home to the UK for this incredible experience,” he stated. “I’ve always believed that the best things happen when you take a chance and try something new. I may know my way around a salon floor, but the dance floor is a whole different story – and I can’t wait to get started.”
While traditional Strictly fans might be getting to know Appleton, he's a massive name in the US, boasting four million followers on Instagram. His announcement quickly drew congratulatory messages from various celebrities. “Can’t wait to see Britney in the audience,” joked "I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!" star Dean McCullough, while 2024 Strictly contestant Tasha Ghouri simply exclaimed, “No way!!! Epic.”
Beyond his professional life, the Leicester-born stylist has also been in the public eye for his personal journey. He shares two children, Billy, 21, and Kitty-Blu, 20, with former partner Katie Katon. Appleton has openly discussed coming out as gay to Katon at the age of 27 after nine years together, a story he shared on Jay Shetty's podcast "On Purpose." He was also briefly married to "The White Lotus" star Lukas Gage in April 2023, a ceremony officiated by Kim Kardashian, before the couple split seven months later.
Appleton joins an exciting 2026 lineup that already includes Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, and Lacey Turner. Fans are undoubtedly eager to see if his knack for transforming hair translates into stunning ballroom moves.
