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Former England football star Shaun Wright-Phillips was the tenth celebrity announced for Strictly Come Dancing on Thursday.
The sportsman, 44, whose father is retired footballer Ian Wright, said the show is 'completely out of his comfort zone', but that he was 'looking forward to the challenge.
The news was announced on Thursday 30th July via @bbcstrictly’s official social channels on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.
Shaun is a former footballer with 36 caps for England, across a professional career that also saw him play for Manchester City, Chelsea, Queens Park Rangers, and the USA’s New York Red Bulls and Phoenix Rising FC.
Now a football pundit and broadcaster, Shaun has worked with the likes of the BBC, Sky Sports, ITV, and the Premier League and he has been a Manchester City club Ambassador since 2020.
Shaun Wright-Phillips was the tenth celebrity to be announced for Strictly Come Dancing on Thursday as the ex England football star said the show is 'completely out of his comfort zone'
Shaun said: 'Dancing is in my blood—but mainly at family events! Strictly is definitely outside my comfort zone, but I’m super excited to get started and really looking forward to the challenge!'
In a very shared on his Instagram Stories that morning, Shaun said: 'I am really excited to chuck some shapes and make everybody proud.
He will be joining Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton, Cach Mercer, Will Best, Dame Sarah Storey, Jaime Winstone and Bethany Antonia in the Strictly line-up.
Further news will be revealed throughout the summer ahead of the brand-new series getting underway on BBC One and BBC iPlayer this September.
EastEnders star Lacey was the first contestant announced as she is currently on an extended break from playing her iconic character Stacey Slater in the soap and is keen to use her time to train for the BBC competition, which will start in September.
In a video shared to Instagram, Lacey admitted she is 'terrified' to be taking part in the BBC show, which will return to screens in September, and can't wait to 'learn a new skill'.
She said: 'Hello it's Lacey Turner I can't quite believe that I'm actually saying this but I want to let you in on a little secret.
'This September I will be taking my little toes onto the dancefloor to do Strictly Come Dancing.
Shaun said: 'Dancing is in my blood—but mainly at family events! Strictly is definitely outside my comfort zone, but I’m super excited to get started and really looking forward to the challenge!'
Shaun Wright-Phillips (left) and Ian Wright (right) became the first further and son duo to appear as pundits on Match of the Day back in 2023
Former forward Wright-Phillips playing in October 2005
'I can't believe it. I'm so excited and terrified at the same time but I've had so many friends do Strictly and I thought it was about time that I plucked up the courage and made my way onto that dance floor. So, there you go the secret is out, see you there in September.'
It comes after it was revealed Dani is also making her Strictly comeback.
The TV star has been confirmed as the second celeb to take part in the 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing one year after she was forced to quit the 2025 run after fracturing her ankle during rehearsals.
Dani said: 'I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September!'
'I just cannot wait to get my dancing shoes back on and hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one! I'm just over the moon and cannot wait to find out who else is doing it!'
Upon her exit last year, BBC bosses confirmed the door would be left open for 'heartbroken' Dani to return for the 2026 series as they said they 'hope to welcome her back to the ballroom in the future'.
Elsewhere, on Monday the returning Strictly professional dancers shared a glimpse inside day one of rehearsals for the 2026 series on Instagram.
Amy Dowden, Dianne Buswell and Jowita Przystal are among the stars returning to the dancefloor this year after the BBC show underwent a major shake-up.
The stars were also joined by returning pro Carlos Gu, 33, who scooped the coveted Glitterball Trophy with footballer Karen Carney.
As well as Katya Jones, Kai Widdrington, Aljaž Škorjanec, Lauren Oakley, Nancy Xu, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Alexis Warr, Julian Caillon and Vito Coppola.
Five new faces were recently announced to the pro line-up, months after the Strictly axe ‘bloodbath’ saw bosses ditch stars Michelle Tsiakkas, Karen Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk and Gorka Marquez.
Making their Strictly dancer debut this Autumn will be Ukrainian Aleksandra Isaeva, Italian hunk Cristian Priori, South African latin champion Lethabo Monametsi as well as Canadian dancer Mark Karmalita and UK National Ballroom Champion Maddie Ingoldsby.