The EastEnders stars who've appeared on Strictly — one of them won the whole thing
EastEnders has sent more actors to the Strictly ballroom than any other programme on television, and three of them have lifted the Glitterball Trophy. The soap is basically a feeder league for the dancefloor at this point.
Here's the full rundown — who went on, how far they got, and who danced their way to victory.
The three winners
- Jill Halfpenny (Kate Mitchell) — Won Series 2 in 2004 with partner Darren Bennett. Still holds the record for the highest-scoring Jive in Strictly history, having earned a perfect 40 from the judges. She was in EastEnders at the time, playing Phil Mitchell's wife, an undercover copper turned love interest.
- Kara Tointon (Dawn Swann) — Won Series 8 in 2010 with Artem Chigvintsev. Tointon had left EastEnders the year before and her victory cemented the idea that Walford alumni had a genuine knack for the ballroom.
- Rose Ayling-Ellis (Frankie Lewis) — Won Series 19 in 2021 with Giovanni Pernice. The first deaf contestant in the show's history, and arguably its most celebrated winner. Her silent-dance Couple's Choice became one of Strictly's defining moments.
The near-misses
Bobby Brazier (Freddie Slater) came closest to adding a fourth trophy, finishing as runner-up in Series 21 in 2023. Emma Barton (Honey Mitchell) reached the final in 2019 but placed third. Maisie Smith (Tiffany Butcher) made the 2020 final as well — she was just 19 at the time.
Kellie Bright (Linda Carter) reached the semi-finals in 2015. Balvinder Sopal (Suki Panesar) did the same in 2025, surviving a record six dance-offs — winning five before being eliminated in the semi.
The full list
The Strictly Come Dancing Wiki lists 49 names under its EastEnders category, though that includes actors with brief or tangential connections to the soap. Sticking to the ones best known for their Walford roles:
- Christopher Parker (Spencer Moon) — Series 1, 2004. The very first EastEnders contestant on Strictly.
- Patsy Palmer (Bianca Jackson) — Series 3, 2005. Early exit.
- Louisa Lytton (Ruby Allen) — Series 4, 2006. She was 17.
- Letitia Dean (Sharon Watts) — Series 5, 2007.
- Natalie Cassidy (Sonia Fowler) — Series 7, 2009.
- Scott Maslen (Jack Branning) — Series 8, 2010.
- Jake Wood (Max Branning) — Series 12, 2014. Surprisingly good.
- Davood Ghadami (Kush Kazemi) — Series 15, 2017. Quarter-finalist.
- James Bye (Martin Fowler) — Series 20, 2022.
- Nigel Harman (Dennis Rickman) — Series 21, 2023.
- Jamie Borthwick (Jay Brown) — Series 22, 2024.
That's without counting Jessie Wallace (Kat Slater) in a 2007 Christmas special, or the likes of Sid Owen, Tameka Empson, and Ricky Groves, who all had their turns.
Why does EastEnders keep sending people?
The simplest explanation: Strictly and EastEnders are both flagship BBC programmes, and the scheduling works. Actors often sign up shortly after leaving the soap or during a break, when their public profile is at its peak. It doesn't hurt that playing a Slater or a Mitchell for years apparently builds the kind of stamina the ballroom demands.
As of June 2026, Lacey Turner (Stacey Slater) is rumoured for the next series. If she signs up, she'll be following in the footsteps of three Glitterball winners and more than 20 fellow cast members. No pressure.