Love Island winner signs up for Strictly Come Dancing

[Dominique Farrell]

Love Island winner Cach Mercer has been revealed as the latest contestant to sign up for the new season of Strictly Come Dancing.

The reigning champion of the ITV dating series is the fifth celebrity to be announced for the upcoming season of the BBC One dance contest.

He said:

 

"I have grown up watching the show with my family and am so excited to now be part of the cast.

"Dancing is a huge passion of mine and I can't wait to learn Ballroom and do the Foxtrot for the first time!"

 

He rose to fame on last year's series of Love Island, winning the public vote to be crowned the 2025 male champion.

He won the show alongside Toni Laites, with the couple splitting the £50,000 prize pot.

They have since broken up.

With almost 50 million likes on TikTok alone, he has earned a legion of social media followers for his posts showcasing his Afrobeat, hip-hop, and street dance moves.

He also works as a model and DJ and is an ambassador for a young persons' mental health charity.

In 2022, he appeared on the dating show Are You the One? UK, which aired on MTV.

 

Cach Mercer joins Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, and Chris Appleton in the 2026 Strictly Come Dancing line-up.

The news of his casting comes after broadcaster Emma Willis, professional dancer Johannes Radebe, and comedian Josh Widdicombe were announced as the new hosts for the upcoming series.

They are replacing Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who announced they were leaving the show late last year.

 

Strictly Come Dancing returns to screens in the Autumn.

 

RTÉ Television.