Melanie Walters has received a hilarious reaction from Ruth Jones after joining the Strictly Come Dancing 2026 lineup.
Walters, who plays Gwen West in Gavin and Stacey, will take to the dance floor when the new series begins next month. The 64-year-old actress became the final celebrity announced for this year’s competition. Her casting quickly sparked excitement among fans of the long-running BBC comedy.
Jones, who plays Nessa Jenkins and co-created the sitcom, celebrated the announcement with a message written in Nessa’s distinctive style. She shared the reaction on social media and told Walters that she had received some important advice from Nessa.
The playful message immediately captured the attention of Gavin and Stacey fans. Jones also brought Strictly judges Shirley Ballas and Craig Revel Horwood into the joke. Craig responded to the post by using one of Nessa’s famous catchphrases. His response added another layer of humour to the exchange.
Fans quickly praised the casting and Ruth Jones’ response. Several viewers even called for Jones to appear in the Strictly audience as Nessa. Joanna Page, who played Stacey’s sister-in-law on Gavin and Stacey, also celebrated the announcement. She shared Strictly’s announcement and expressed her excitement about Walters competing.
Meanwhile, Melanie Walters said she felt thrilled about joining the famous dance competition. She revealed that she normally watches Strictly while performing in pantomime. This year, she plans to swap her theatrical role for sequinned costumes and ballroom performances. Walters joked that she hoped she would avoid leaving a shoe behind on the dance floor.
The actress also described Strictly as an iconic programme. She said she could not wait to begin the experience in September. Melanie Walters has enjoyed a long career across television, film, theatre and radio. However, audiences know her best as Gwen West in Gavin and Stacey.
She first appeared as the character when the comedy launched in 2007. Gwen quickly became a fan favourite through her gentle personality and memorable obsession with omelettes. Walters returned as Gwen for the hugely popular Gavin and Stacey Christmas special in 2024. The special brought several familiar characters back together.
More recently, viewers have seen Walters in the BBC drama Death Valley. She has also built an extensive acting career across several decades. Her television credits include appearances in Coronation Street, Beyond Paradise, Being Human and Hollyoaks. She has also appeared in Doc Martin and Biff and Chip.
Her film work includes Submarine, Resistance, High Tide and Save the Cinema. On stage, she has performed in several acclaimed theatrical productions. Those productions include The Importance of Being Earnest, Blood Brothers and Twelfth Night. She has also appeared in Educating Rita and What’s New Pussycat?
Melanie Walters now faces a completely different challenge with Strictly Come Dancing. She will need to learn demanding routines while performing under the pressure of live television. The upcoming series features a wide range of celebrities from entertainment, sport and broadcasting. Walters joins Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer and Delta Goodrem among others.
The lineup also includes Chris Appleton, Will Best, Dame Sarah Storey and Jaime Winstone. Other contestants include Bethany Antonia, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Graeme Hall. Lawrence Robb, Tabby Stoecker and John Nellis will also compete this year. The complete lineup has already generated plenty of discussion among viewers.
Some fans have criticised the selection and described the celebrity lineup as weaker than previous years. However, Walters’ arrival has received a notably enthusiastic response. One fan described the casting as something to get “ridiculously excited” about. Another welcomed the decision to bring Gwen into the competition.
Melanie Walters now heads into Strictly with strong support from her Gavin and Stacey family. Her former co-stars have already shown they will be cheering her on. With the competition starting in September, viewers will soon discover whether Gwen’s famous calmness translates into dance-floor confidence.
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