My money’s on this Strictly star – and it’s not an obvious choice

For me, he captured everything Strictly Come Dancing is about (Picture: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire) I don’t know what I was expecting, but the Strictly Come Dancing class of 2026 surprised me as they took to the dance floor for the very first time on Saturday night. Several stars came out of nowhere with incredible opening performances that suggest this could be one of the greatest line-ups we’ve ever seen. Bashful Lacey Turner played down her phenomenal talent, proving she can be as good a dancer as she is an actor – and that is saying something. Bethany Antonia and her partner Nancy Xu were by far the best same-sex female couple we’ve ever seen; football content creator John Nellis topped the leaderboard and moved the nation to tears; and Graeme ‘The Dogfather’ Hall could well be the next Bill Bailey. Nancy Xu and Bethany Antonia were amazing (Picture: Ray Burmiston/BBC/PA Wire) Get personalised updates on Strictly Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro’s TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we’ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. Australian popstar Delta Goodrem has been performing hits on stage for over 25 years, but who knew she was such a sensational dancer? Dani Dyer finally got to show us all what we’d been missing after being forced to drop out of Strictly due to injury last year. She came back raring to go with a high-energy and incredibly skillful samba. But there is one contestant who may not have been the best dancer – and subsequently found himself uncomfortably perched at the bottom end of the leaderboard – who I think could well be the dark horse of the contest. Big Brother host Will Best. For me, he captured everything Strictly Come Dancing is about. He’s got a genuine enthusiasm, soaking up every moment on that dancefloor, and giving that 90-second performance everything he had, even without the God-given talent. Will was given the daunting honour of opening the show last night, which is hard enough for any celeb, let alone it being the first dance of Strictly’s new chapter with Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe. He strode onto the stage in leather trousers, a black vest and impressive biceps, to Robbie Williams’ best dancefloor bop Rock DJ. With clunky feet but hips to make Shakira proud, his excitement and love for the show shone through. Despite the several remarkable first dances that followed, it was Will Best and Dianne Buswell’s performance that moved me the most. Will, who struggled to get his big break, is one of the best presenters out there. I first came across him on T4 – the platform that launched the careers of Nick Grimshaw, Vernon Kay, Jameela Jamil – but it took more than a decade before he earned the same primetime status when ITV relaunched the Big Brother in 2023. Sure, he has more work cut out for him than many other celebs to truly become an incredible dancer (Picture: BBC/Ray Burmiston/BBC Creative) He was arguably in his mid-thirties when he genuinely became ‘famous,’ something I believe is a blessing in disguise. Being able to live your adult years as a fairly regular person, like the rest of us, brings a humble warmth. I love that he doesn’t take himself too seriously, and that is partly why Will was one of my favourites last night – if not the one I’ll be picking up the phone to vote for each week. Sure, he has more work cut out for him than many other celebs to truly become an incredible dancer, but the long trajectory of his career shows he never gives up – a determination that has made him one of television’s brightest presenters. There’s something so refreshing about a man who has the charisma, charm and ability to throw himself into something out of his comfort zone with nothing but genuine zeal. Like Pete, Will wasn’t up to the calibre of anyone at the top of the leaderboard (Picture: BBC/Guy Levy) He reminded me of former Towie star Pete Wicks, who, against all odds -and with a much less polished brand than Will going into the show – made it all the way to the semi-finals in 2024. Like Pete, Will wasn’t up to the calibre of anyone at the top of the leaderboard, but his passion to be there captures what I love about Strictly. He presents the healthiest form of masculinity: a gentle, soft lad without a shred of ego who is seizing the opportunity with everything he has and a sincere want to learn. And Will genuinely had glimmers of real promise too: he had rhythm, drama and a natural energy that I believe really could get him so much further in the competition. His position at 11th on the leaderboard was a totally fair assessment based on talent alone but I don’t see him staying there for long. Deals of the Day I tried L'Oréal Paris's new PDRN serum and my skin looked glossier after one use This new Cricut gadget turns your favourite photos into stickers in minutes From kitchen hatches to burgundy walls – the biggest home trends for 2027 Oodie’s cosy blanket sale has arrived just in time for Christmas shopping Save over £700 on Simba's top-rated mattresses in this limited-time sale I really believe that despite a relatively low score and mediocre dancing ability, he could go all the way through sheer warmth, grace and a likeability that money – or dancing talent alone – can’t buy. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk. Share your views in the comments below. 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