Strictly Come Dancing 2026 star ends seven-year partnership
Strictly Come Dancing 2026 professional Maddie Ingoldsby has split from dance partner Mark Chilcote after seven years together, announcing the end of their partnership in an emotional joint Instagram statement. The 21-year-old UK National Ballroom Champion joins the BBC show's new pro lineup as she pauses competitive dancing.
Key Takeaways
- Maddie Ingoldsby and Mark Chilcote have ended their seven-year dance partnership.
- Ingoldsby, 21, is among five new Strictly Come Dancing 2026 professionals.
- The pair celebrated eight world titles and major championship wins in their farewell post.
- Chilcote is seeking a new partner; Ingoldsby is pausing competitive dancing.
Who is Maddie Ingoldsby and what did she announce?
British dancer Maddie Ingoldsby, 21, and her Latin and ballroom partner Mark Chilcote, 26, shared a joint Instagram post confirming they have parted ways after seven extraordinary years.
The caption, soundtracked to Harry Styles' "Sign of the Times," called the decision "incredibly difficult," noting some endings arrive "because life asks us to grow in new directions."
They wrote that their partnership was "our greatest teacher and our greatest treasure," and that they had performed across twenty countries. Their farewell also highlighted eight world championship titles plus Internationals, UK Open, and British Open wins.
The pair stressed they "never danced to simply win" but to tell their story, hoping it became "a small part" of fans' stories too.
How does this fit Strictly Come Dancing 2026?
Ingoldsby's split lands as she prepares for her BBC debut. The Independent confirmed she is one of five new professionals for Strictly Come Dancing 2026, alongside Aleksandra Isaeva, Mark Karmalita, Lethabo Monametsi, and Cristian Priori.
They replace outgoing pros Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, and Michelle Tsiakkas. Ingoldsby called joining Strictly a "dream come true," and BBC Studios executive producer Sarah James praised the new intake as "outstanding world class dancers."
Reports say she would be the second-youngest Strictly pro in the show's history, after Chloe Hewitt, who was 20 when the series premiered in 2004. She previously appeared on the Strictly stage aged 11 with the troupe.
What happens next for Ingoldsby and Chilcote?
Their statement said Mark is searching for a new dance partnership, while Maddie is putting a pause on competitive dancing as she steps into the Strictly ballroom this autumn.
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and iPlayer in September, with the celebrity cast already taking shape. For more celebrity headlines, visit our celebrity breaking news hub.