The 16th series of the NTA and Bafta award-winning entertainment show produced by BBC Studios will return in the autumn on BBC One putting the sparkle back into Saturday and Sunday nights.

Stacey says: “It’s happening! I'm taking part in Strictly Come Dancing this year and my mother is going to explode. 2018 has already been such an incredible year for me, I’ve done some amazing things and I’m excited to add ‘becoming a dancing GENIUS’ to the list! Typically, work for me is very serious and can be quite hard core so I'm going to soak up the escapism and bathe in the sequins. See you on the dancefloor!”

Stacey Dooley is one of Britain's most celebrated documentary presenters who earlier this year was awarded an MBE for her services to broadcasting. Stacey has been making television programmes for nine years after life took an unexpected turn when, whilst working as a shop assistant, she took part in a BBC Three series travelling to India to explore the fashion industry making clothes for the UK high street. Since then she has embarked on presenting a series of hard-hitting shows with Stacey Dooley Investigates. In 2016 she travelled to Syria and presented the critically acclaimed BBC Three documentary, Stacey Dooley on The Frontline: Gun Girls and ISIS. She won the One World Media Award for her face-to-face interview with an ISIS solider, and last year she released her debut book On the Front Line with the Women Who Fight Back, which made it on to The Sunday Times Bestsellers List.

The news was revealed this afternoon on Strictly Come Dancing's social media channels.

The remaining celebrity contestants joining the new series will be announced in due course.