- September 16, 2026 7:28 am
Television presenter Will Best, one of the stars set to compete in the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing, has revealed his pre-show ritual will feel “very weird” on the programme. The 41-year-old London-born host also shared his openness to being paired with a male professional dancer, despite a potential hurdle related to height.
Best will join 14 other celebrities when the BBC series returns on 19 September at 7:25 PM on BBC1. He will be judged by the returning panel of Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke. The launch of such high-profile entertainment events adds to London’s dynamic cultural calendar, which also includes hosting major occasions like the Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Before every live Big Brother show, which Best co-hosts with AJ Odudu, he follows a specific ritual: one small beer, a cola, and a water, consumed separately. Big Brother’s latest series kicks off on 13 September at 9 PM on ITV2 and ITVX.
However, Best expects this routine to feel “very unusual” for Strictly. He stated he “probably shouldn’t have the cola just before dancing, because I don’t want to be, you know, gassy if I am very close to somebody else’s face.” The most significant change, he noted, will be the absence of AJ Odudu’s pre-show hug. “It’s going to be so weird getting all spruced up in my Cuban heels and my low-cut shirts and not having AJ there to wave me off onto the stage!” he explained.
Best admits to early nerves, particularly concerning remembering routines. He shared, “It’s the fear of getting lost on the dancefloor and not knowing what my legs are supposed to do next.” He also joked about his difficulty with TikTok dances, saying, “They take me about a week to learn!” Best’s journey highlights the personal challenges and public expectations faced by celebrities. As with many other figures in the spotlight, from Mr T commenting on a Netflix documentary to athletes and actors, managing a public persona while pursuing new ventures is a constant.
Best has spoken about his family’s curiosity regarding a potential same-sex pairing on Strictly. Speaking to Attitude, he confirmed he’d be “very happy with a male partner.” The main challenge, he noted, is that the male professional dancers are “all too tall for me.”
This height difference might limit lifts in his routines, though he added, “on the plus side, I’d probably be able to actually get lifted, which would arguably be more fun anyway.” Should Best, who is straight, be paired with a male professional, he would be the first straight celebrity to have a same-sex partner on the show. Previous same-sex pairings have included Olympic boxer Nicola Adams, celebrity baker John Whaite, comedian Jayde Adams, and actor Layton Williams, all of whom were publicly LGBTQ+.
Best will compete alongside other notable names, including former Love Island star Dani Dyer, EastEnders actress Lacey Turner, ex-footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips, Australian singer Delta Goodrem, celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton, and actress Bethany Antonia.
Best describes his feelings about joining Strictly as a “mixture of delirious excitement, and terror.” Despite admitting he has “zero dancing skills” and typically “wings it,” he is most looking forward to the training and hopes to learn at least “a tenth of the moves” seen on the show.
He is doing Strictly primarily for himself and his children, aiming to “show them that you can do anything if you’re brave and you work hard.” His daughter has even requested he dance to ‘Ordinary’ by Alex Warren, while his son hopes for a Minions song for Movie Week.
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