Strictly Come Dancing<\/a> has announced that celebrity hair stylist Chris Appleton is the fourth contestant to take on the BBC show\u2019s 2026 series. <\/p>\n Appleton, 43, is used to working behind-the-scenes on the biggest stars\u2019 barnets, with the Brit styling the likes of Britney Spears<\/a>, Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Ariana Grande and others. He recently make the New York Times Best Seller list with his memoir, Your Roots Don\u2019t Define You. <\/p>\n Announcing his forthcoming stint on the BBC show, Appleton said: \u201cI\u2019m thrilled to be joining Strictly Come Dancing and coming home to the UK for this incredible experience.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve 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 \u2013 and I can\u2019t wait to get started.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, on Instagram, Appleton wrote: \u201cExcited to get started,\u201d before various celebrities piled into the comments with congratulatory messages. I\u2019m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! star Dean McCullough wrote, \u201cCan\u2019t wait to see Britney in the audience,\u201d while 2024 Strictly star Tasha Ghouri commented: \u201cNo way!!! Epic.\u201d <\/p>\n Although traditional Strictly fans may not be familiar with Appleton, the hair stylist is a popular name in the US and boasts four million followers on Instagram. He got married to The White Lotus star Lucas Gage in April 2023, with Kardashian on officiating duties \u2013 however, the pair split just seven months later. <\/a><\/p>\n The Leicester-born celebrity shares two children, Billy, 21, and Kitty-Blu, 20, with former partner, Katie Katon, and has previously opened up about coming out as gay to Katon<\/a> at the age of 27, after nine years together. \u201c[There was] the shame of, \u2018Well, I\u2019m going to hurt all these people I\u2019ve created this life with,\u2019\u201d he told Jay Shetty podcast On Purpose in August. \u201cSo I kept pulling back, and I had to let go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat was a process. I also had to respect that she needed to go through her own grief. Because I loved her. I really loved her. I didn\u2019t want to be gay. I didn\u2019t want to be different.\u201d<\/p>\n He went on to forge an impressive career as a celebrity hair stylist, becoming close with the biggest stars on the planet. Speaking about Appleton ahead of his memoir\u2019s release, Kardashian said: \u201cIt\u2019s not often that someone comes into your life and changes it in such a major, special way… and Chris Appleton is just that for me. Chris takes you out of your comfort zone and just makes you feel special. This man changed my life.\u201d <\/p>\n The latest Strictly star will be joining names from the worlds of music, acting and reality TV \u2013 with Love Island winner Dani Dyer, EastEnders\u2019 Lacey Turner and singer Delta Goodrem joining the cast earlier this month. <\/p>\n Turner was the first to be announced last week<\/a>, admitting that she\u2019s a \u201chuge fan\u201d and \u201ccan\u2019t quite believe\u201d she\u2019s taking part. Dyer was second<\/a>, with the BBC confirming that she would be returning to the dance floor after being forced to pull out last year. The 29-year-old, who is the daughter of actor Danny Dyer, left Strictly shortly after the launch show due to an ankle injury. <\/p>\n![\"Chris](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2266782248...jpeg\")
Chris Appleton will be swapping the hair dressing chair for the Cha Cha Cha (Getty)<\/p>\n![\"Chris](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1695998222...jpeg\")
Chris Appleton with ex-husband, ‘The White Lotus’ star Lukas Gage (Getty)<\/p>\n