Strictly Come Dancing pros flooded with support as they make joint announcement
Devotees of the popular BBC One dance programme will be aware that Kai Widdrington and Lauren Oakley are set to return as professional dancers for the upcoming series this autumn.
They'll be gracing the ballroom floor once again when the contest kicks off in just a few weeks, joining fellow pros Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, and Neil Jones.
This year's professional lineup also includes Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Aljaž Škorjanec, Michelle Tsiakkas, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, and Vito Coppola.
Additionally, it has been confirmed that two new professional dancers are joining the fray, with So You Think You Can Dance winner Alexis Warr and Australia's Dancing With The Stars' Julian Caillon being the fresh faces, reports the Manchester Evening News.
(Image: Donaheys Instagram)
However, beyond the televised competition, Lauren and Kai have shared some of their plans for dancing together next year. Donaheys posted a video on Instagram featuring the duo making a 'double announcement' that they will be participating in a series of weekend events in 2026.
Accompanying the post was a message stating: "DOUBLE ANNOUNCEMENT! We're absolutely delighted to share that the dynamic duo Kai Widdrington and Lauren Oakley will be joining us for TWO of our 2026 Donaheys Dancing with the Stars weekends!
"Get ready for phenomenal dance workshops, dance showcases, and fascinating Q&A sessions where you can dive deep into their incredible careers!"
(Image: Donaheys Instagram)
The post concluded: "These two bring their infectious friendship wherever they go - expect lots of laughs with this pair! Their playful energy and stunning technique make every moment unforgettable. If you've been to our DWTS weekends before, you know we create pure magic - and with Kai and Lauren, we're taking it to the next level!"
Fans rushed to the comment section to express their support, with one writing, "This would be the best weekend."
"Both my favourites," another said, while another added, "Very nice, Lauren."
Meanwhile, Strictly's cheerful stars have been spotted returning to rehearsals for week two, as they gear up to pre-record the group numbers that will feature throughout the forthcoming series.
This follows a busy week of rehearsing the upcoming group numbers, after which the team took a weekend break. They are now back for another week, ahead of the pre-recording of the group numbers scheduled for the end of August.
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