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Who is Cach Mercer? Meet Strictly Come Dancing 2026 contestant and dancer

Cach isn't the only Love Island winner in this year's line-up.

Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby stood one in front of the other in the middle of a dance routine.

BBC/Guy Levy

Published: Friday, 30 October 2026 at 12:30 pm

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Cach Mercer will be hoping to get back on form on Strictly Come Dancing this weekend, after a challenging night in the ballroom saw him slip down the leaderboard.

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He, alongside newcomer Maddie Ingoldsby, made a strong start to the competition and has found himself at the top of the leaderboard.

But last weekend's Cha Cha earned the pair 24 points as the competition ramped up.

This spooky weekend, Cach will be taking on an Argentine Tango, hoping to secure a spot in next weekend's competition.

So, just who is Cach Mercer? Read on to find out more about the Strictly Come Dancing 2026 contestant.

Who is Cach Mercer?

Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby on Strictly, dancing in formal ballroom attire

Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby on Strictly BBC

Age: 25

Job: Dancer

Instagram: @cacherel_

Partner: Maddie Ingoldsby

Cach Mercer is a dancer who rose to fame on Love Island 2025, which he won alongside ex-girlfriend Toni Laites.

He joined Love Island as a Casa Amor bombshell and formed a strong connection with Toni. Upon winning the show, Cach said: "It feels amazing. I was 100 per cent authentically myself and luckily the public liked it, so I'm buzzing. I appreciate every moment on the show, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity and I wouldn't have done it any other way."

Cach has since earned a strong social media following, with almost 50 million likes on TikTok alone, and works as a model, DJ and ambassador for the young persons' mental health charity YoungMinds.

Since winning Love Island, he has dedicated to use his platform to create safe spaces for young men to open up about their feelings and mental health.

He also previously appeared on MTV's Are You the One? back in 2022.

Cach Mercer's Strictly journey so far

Scoreboard

Week 1: Quickstep (3 + 6 + 5 + 6 = 20)

Week 2: Samba (7 + 7 + 7 + 8 = 29)

Week 3: Couple's Choice (7 + 8 + 8 + 8 = 31)

Week 4: Foxtrot (8 + 9 +8 + 9 = 34)

Week 5: Cha Cha (5 + 7 + 5 + 7 = 24)

What has Cach Mercer said about Strictly Come Dancing?

Cach Mercer posing with one hand pointing forwards with a smile.

Cach Mercer. BBC/Ray Burmiston/BBC Creative

Ahead of the launch show, Cach said: "I'm very excited, I cannot wait to get stuck in to the Strictly experience and start learning all of the different styles."

Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday 31 October at 6:30pm on BBC One and iPlayer.

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Authors

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of Katelyn Mensah, smiling against a lime green background.

Katelyn MensahSenior Entertainment Writer

Katelyn Mensah is the Senior Entertainment Writer for Radio Times, covering all major entertainment programmes, reality TV shows and the latest hard-hitting documentaries. She previously worked at The Tab, with a focus on reality TV and showbiz news and has obtained a BA (Hons) in Journalism.

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