Melanie Walters, best known as Gwen West from Gavin and Stacey, spoke to fans from her Strictly dressing room – ahead of the launch show
Gavin and Stacey’s Melanie Walters is set to perform on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/BBC Studios)
Gavin and Stacey star Melanie Walters has given fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse of her Strictly Come Dancing experience as she prepares to take to the dancefloor.
The Swansea-based actress, best known for playing the much-loved Gwen West in the hit BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey, has offered viewers a sneak peek inside her Strictly dressing room ahead of the show’s return.
Taking to Instagram, Melanie spoke directly to fans from behind the scenes, while carefully keeping her costume under wraps.
“Hello everybody! Here I am in my Strictly dressing room – being careful not to show you my dress. All secret,” she told viewers.
The actress went on to reveal that preparations were already well underway, explaining that she had completed her first camera rehearsal in the Strictly studio.
“We’ve just had our first camera rehearsal so we were in the studio which is very exciting, standing at the top of the stairs and waving and walking down the stairs without tripping and falling over,” Melanie said.
And with the launch show now just days away, it appears the reality of competing on the dance show is beginning to sink in. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter
“So it’s – gosh, it’s all getting a bit real now… see you soon,” she added.
Melanie has enjoyed an impressive career spanning television, film, radio and theatre. Alongside her iconic role as Gwen in Gavin & Stacey, her television credits include appearances in Death Valley, Coronation Street, Beyond Paradise, Being Human, Hollyoaks, Biff and Chip and Doc Martin.
Her film work has also seen her appear in productions including Submarine, Resistance, High Tide and Save the Cinema.
However, it is undoubtedly her portrayal of Stacey’s mother Gwen that has made Melanie a household name, with Gavin and Stacey becoming one of the UK’s most beloved sitcoms. Now, she is swapping the familiar world of Barry for the glitter, sequins and ballroom floor of Strictly Come Dancing.
Strictly’s new series will officially return to screens at 7.25pm on Saturday, September 19, with the annual launch episode set to introduce this year’s celebrity contestants and professional dancers.
This year’s launch promises a fresh twist, with the show reportedly set to feature more dancing than ever before.
In an unprecedented move, the 2026 celebrity contestants will discover the identities of their professional dance partners in front of the Strictly studio audience.
The pairings will be revealed through three specially choreographed group performances, adding an extra element of excitement to the eagerly anticipated launch.
Melanie will face some stiff competition as she takes to the dancefloor.
Joining her in the Strictly 2026 line-up are 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.
