Introduction
Lauren Oakley: Professional Dancer’s Ascent Continues with Major Tour Announcement Amidst New Series Challenge By [BBC News Reporter Name – Placeholder] Professional dancer Lauren Oakley is consolidating her position as one of the BBC's most recognised ballroom talents, balancing a demanding role in the current series of Strictly Come Dancing with the announcement of a significant new venture: her first participation in the annual Strictly The Professionals UK Tour in 2026. This latest career milestone follows a breakthrough 2024 season where she stepped in mid-competition to guide her celebrity partner to the Grand Final, cementing her reputation for resilience and technical excellence in the intensely watched competition. Now partnered with former international footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Ms Oakley is navigating the rigours of the weekly live show while preparing for a major stage commitment that signals her growing stature in the UK’s dance community. Ms Oakley, 34, a native of Birmingham, joined the Strictly professional line-up in 2022. Her career on the show has been characterised by a swift ascent from group dancer to front-line competitor. While the 2025 series is currently underway, her partnership with Mr Hasselbaink has drawn considerable public interest. The pair, dubbed ‘Team Hake’ by some fans, have faced the typical challenges of early-series dances, including a Quickstep and a Cha Cha Cha. Speaking shortly after the pairings were revealed, Mr Hasselbaink expressed his enthusiasm, telling reporters that Ms Oakley was his family's 'favourite' professional going into the competition. Their initial performances have been met with mixed but encouraging feedback from the judging panel, who have praised Ms Oakley’s patient and inventive choreography in adapting to her partner’s powerful but often rigid footballing footwork.
Main Content
The scores, while solid, indicate a promising journey of improvement, which analysts believe is a key ingredient for sustained viewer engagement. The Defining Challenge of the 2024 Series Ms Oakley's profile received a major boost during the previous series (2024) when she assumed a critical role mid-season. After fan favourite Amy Dowden was unfortunately forced to withdraw from the competition due to a foot injury, Ms Oakley stepped in as the partner for JLS singer JB Gill. This unexpected mid-series replacement placed her under immediate pressure, requiring her to master complex choreography and build rapport with a celebrity partner in a fraction of the usual time. The partnership proved highly successful, with the duo delivering memorable routines, including a standout Couples Choice that earned them high marks and secured their place in the Grand Final, ultimately finishing as runners-up. This performance demonstrated not only her technical skill but also a strong ability to manage partnership dynamics under challenging circumstances. The experience, which saw her partner a celebrity deep into the final stages for the first time, is widely regarded as the moment she established herself as a permanent fixture in the show’s competitive ensemble. “It was a silver lining in a difficult moment for the show,” commented one long-time BBC producer familiar with the casting process. “Lauren stepping up and taking JB all the way to the final showcased her ability to connect with the audience and deliver high-calibre results when the pressure was most intense.
That kind of adaptability is invaluable in a live broadcast environment. ” Defence of Dance Backgrounds In addition to her competitive work, Ms Oakley has recently contributed to a broader public debate surrounding the casting of celebrities with prior dance experience. As the BBC series frequently faces criticism that some contestants have an unfair advantage, Ms Oakley has offered a measured defence, arguing for the show’s inherent spirit of inclusivity. “Strictly is about inclusivity, and inclusivity doesn't stop at ability,” she told a publication, stressing that the show offers a wide spectrum of journeys for viewers to follow. She elaborated that while some celebrities may have training in one discipline, such as ballet, they must often "unlearn a lot of things" to master the specific techniques of Latin or Ballroom dance required on the programme. “I think it’s a spectrum, and I think everybody is on their own path,” she explained, promoting a view that the audience appreciates variety, including both underdogs and those who display exceptional ability from the outset. This perspective aligns with the BBC’s stated aim for the show to offer entertainment and education about dance to a wide, diverse viewership. Looking Ahead: The Professional Tour Perhaps the most definitive sign of her elevated status is the announcement that Ms Oakley will join the line-up for the official Strictly The Professionals UK Tour in 2026. The tour, which traditionally features the most established and successful dancers from the TV series, will be Ms Oakley’s first participation, marking a personal and professional 'first' for the Birmingham-born star.
She will be performing alongside several prominent co-stars, including Vito Coppola and Gorka Marquez, across thirty dates spanning the country. Confirming the news on social media, Ms Oakley shared her excitement: “Well this is exciting! First ever Pro Tour!! Tickets on sale tomorrow at 10am. See you there?” The tour offers professional dancers a major platform to showcase their craft without the restrictions of teaching a novice celebrity, allowing for highly complex, world-class choreography. For Ms Oakley, whose competitive success included winning the Under 21 British National Champion title, the tour represents a return to purely competitive-calibre performance. As the current series of Strictly Come Dancing moves into its crucial middle phase, Lauren Oakley embodies the successful transition from an acclaimed competitor in the world of professional Ballroom and Latin dance to a television personality and touring star. Her recent partnership and her willingness to engage in the debate over fairness on the programme demonstrate a figure who is not only a gifted performer but also a confident voice within the UK dance scene. With a major national tour on the horizon and a celebrity partnership still aiming for the final, Ms Oakley’s journey appears to be accelerating both on and off the BBC ballroom floor. You can watch an example of the professional dancer's training in this short clip: Lauren Oakley Made Me Dance.
Conclusion
This comprehensive guide about lauren oakley provides valuable insights and information. Stay tuned for more updates and related content.
