Strictly Come Dancing unveils Gavin & Stacey actress Melanie Walters as final celebrity contestant after fans criticised 'weak' line-up of social media stars

Gavin & Stacey star Melanie Walters is the final name announced for the celebrity cast of Strictly Come Dancing 2026.Swansea-born Melanie Walters, 64, has enjoyed a celebrated career across film, radio, television and theatre, amassing an impressive range of credits over several decades. Her television work includes roles in Coronation Street, Beyond Paradise, Being Human, Hollyoaks, Biff and Chip, and Doc Martin, while her film credits include Submarine, Resistance, High Tide and Save the Cinema. On stage, she has appeared in productions such as The Importance of Being Earnest, Blood Brothers, Twelfth Night, Educating Rita and What's New Pussycat?Since 2007, Melanie has been best known for her beloved portrayal of the mild-mannered, omelette-obsessed Gwen West in the acclaimed BBC comedy Gavin & Stacey, a role she reprised for the smash-hit 2024 Christmas special. Most recently, viewers have seen Melanie in two series of the BBC's hit Death Valley. Gavin & Stacey star Melanie Walters is the final name announced for the celebrity cast of Strictly Come Dancing 2026Melanie gushed: 'Performing in Pantomime for the last 15 years, my Strictly 'fix' has always been watching in a dressing room rather than my front room'.'This year I am completely thrilled and happy to swap my fairy wand for sequinned dance shoes.''I just hope I don't follow Cinderella and leave one on the Ballroom stairs. I cannot wait to take part in this absolutely iconic show, it's so exciting. See you in September!'Melanie completes this year's celebrity lineup alongside Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton, Cach Mercer, Will Best, Dame Sarah Storey, Jaime Winstone, Bethany Antonia, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Graeme Hall, Lawrence Robb, Tabby Stoecker and John Nellis.The cast for the upcoming 2026 series is complete but disappointed fans of the BBC's flagship show have criticised the 'weak' line-up, with fans claiming there aren't enough 'household names'.Fans were delighted to see Melanie on the lineup after Wednesday's announcement with one writing: 'Ridiculously excited for this casting.' 'Oh what’s occurring.. it’s Gwen. What a brilliant casting. Excited for this one.' Since 2007, Melanie has been best known for her beloved portrayal of the mild mannered, omelette-obsessed Gwen West in the acclaimed BBC comedy Gavin & Stacey'Finally an actual celebrity!' agreed another. An insider has revealed the BBC has a casting strategy as part of its major overhaul of the show, which has been running for 22 years.This year the series has been deliberate in its targeting of celebrities with big social media followings in a ploy to attract younger viewers to the show.It has been suggested this is to follow a similar, hugely successful social media strategy employed by its US counterpart Dancing With The Stars. 'Although your traditional Strictly audience might not know who some of the signings are, that's not as important as bringing in new viewers who are more than familiar with them,' the source revealed.'Their followers are vast in numbers, enthusiastic and, by sharing content on Strictly, raise the profile of the show massively.'And, in time, the viewers who don't know these people get to know them. If anything they end up going on much more of a "Strictly Journey" than the stars you'd describe as "household names,"' the source added to The Sun.Celebrities such as Kim Kardashian's hair stylist Chris Appleton might not be a household name, but he does boast a huge social media following with 4million fans on Instagram. Melanie will no doubt be supported by her Gavin & Stacey pals when she takes to the Strictly dance floor (pictured with ) Alison Steadman and Ruth Jones in 2024)Dancing With The Stars has used their celebrity contestants' followings to their advantage, introducing a TikTok Night last year – an episode which saw the contestants perform viral dance routines, sparking an uptick in interaction from younger viewers.The Dancing With The Stars TikTok account now has more than 5million followers, in comparison to Strictly's 670,000.The insider has explained that the BBC struggles to attract big-name celebrities these days, because the landscape has changed.The source continued: 'Crucially the pipeline that used to feed these big shows has changed.'Boyband and girlband stars aren't as prevalent any more and, once upon a time, getting someone from a soap or a big drama was a massive deal, but now even that has diminished somewhat.'Now, though, social media is continuing to boom and big stars from the world of TikTok, YouTube and Instagram are known to a vast section of society.'