MADDIE Ingoldsby is one of five new professional dancers joining Strictly Come Dancing for 2026.
She already boasts an impressive CV, with a string of world ballroom titles, movie roles and West End credits to her name.
Maddie Ingoldsby is the second-youngest pro dancer in Strictly Come Dancing history Credit: Instagram
She is one of five new Strictly pro dancers: (left to right) Maddie, Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi, and Mark Karmalita Credit: PA
Who is Maddie Ingoldsby?
Maddie Ingoldsby is a British ballroom dancer who has been performing since she was six years old.
She turned 21 in February 2026, making her the second-youngest pro dancer in Strictly history – only Chloe Hewitt was younger when she joined the show back in 2016.
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Performing runs in Maddie’s family, with her mum Jane Vaughan also a dancer.
Maddie attended Redroofs Theatre School in Maidenhead, and she has pursued acting and singing alongside her dancing career.
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She previously said: “I really enjoy being a ‘triple threat’ rather than doing just the one thing. I don’t want to narrow anything down.”
As a child, Maddie played Annie in the West End.
She later appeared in the 2019 festive film Last Christmas as the younger version of Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke’s lead character Kate.
Maddie also boasts a huge social media following, with over 364k TikTok followers and more than 50k on Instagram as of September 2026.
What dance titles has Maddie Ingoldsby won?
Maddie has enjoyed huge success as a competitive ballroom dancer.
She is a UK National Ballroom Champion and eight-time Amateur 10-Dance World Champion.
She has also been crowned World Rising Star and Under-21 World Ballroom Champion.
Maddie achieved many of her biggest successes alongside her former dance partner, Mark Chilcote.
Maddie and Mark announced they were ending their long-term dance partnership in July Credit: instagram
The pair were crowned World Under-21 Ballroom champions in Rust, Germany, on February 15, 2024.
They won the World Amateur 10 Dance Championship in Taiwan in August 2023, retained the title there in December 2024, and then made it three in a row in Budapest in November 2025.
In July 2026, ahead of joining Strictly, Maddie announced she and Mark had ended their dance partnership after seven years together.
In a joint post, they wrote on Instagram: “After the most extraordinary seven years of our lives, we have made the incredibly difficult decision to bring our partnership to an end.
“Some endings don’t arrive because our passion has faded, they arrive because life asks us to grow in new directions.”
Maddie is now taking the next step in her career after being unveiled as one of Strictly’s five new pro dancers alongside Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi, and Mark Karmalita.
Announcing the news, she said: “Joining Strictly as a professional dancer is truly a dream come true.
“My heart is so full of gratitude, excitement, and anticipation as I begin this incredible new chapter.
“Dance has always been where I feel most myself, and to now share my heart, my creativity, and my love for it on a show that has inspired millions is an honour beyond words.”
Has Maddie Ingoldsby been on Strictly before?
Maddie already has a long-standing connection to Strictly.
She first appeared on Strictly: It Takes Two aged 10, before returning to the main show a year later to perform with the troupe.
Speaking at the time, she said: “I loved seeing all the pros and celebrities.
“I met Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman and all the judges.
“My favourites were dancers AJ Pritchard and Chloe Hewitt.”
A decade later, Maddie is returning as a fully-fledged professional when Strictly Come Dancing 2026 kicks off on BBC One and iPlayer on Saturday, September 19.
