Jaime Winstone for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 / © BBC/Ray Burmiston/Artwork - BBC Creative
Jaime Winstone has revealed that she decided to take part in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing after being complimented on her dancing skills by Taylor Swift.
The 41-year-old actress is one of 15 celebs taking part in this year’s series, which begins later this month on BBC One.
Asked why she agreed to take part, the EastEnders and Donkey Punch star replied: “It just felt right! I have been asked before and I’ve always been working and busy or just being a full-on mum, but I turned 40 last year and I’ve really got to just lean into this moment. A lot of people in my life know how much I love dancing – music and dance is such a big part of who I am.
“There were some clear signs that this should be my Strictly year – one of them being Madonna’s new album and its track with the lyrics ‘everybody get up and dance’. I took that as a personal sign as I’m such a huge Madonna fan – there’s not a room in my house without a disco ball!
“Another very clear sign came when I went to my friend Poppy Delevingne’s birthday party a few months back, and Taylor Swift was there! I was just dancing as I do, and she came up to me out of nowhere and just said, ‘Oh my lord, how do you dance so freely?’. When someone of her calibre and status says that, it’s a very clear sign!”
Strictly Come Dancing returns Saturday, September 19 on BBC One and iPlayer.
