Nocturnal 
He’s styled Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian, but now Chris Appleton is the one in the spotlight, taking his first steps around the Strictly Come Dancing floor.
The 43-year-old hairstylist was announced as the fourth celebrity contestant for the show’s 2026 series and has been partnered with professional dancer Amy Dowden. The pairing has sent “Amy Dowden” trending among UK searches as fans try to work out exactly who her new celebrity partner is.
Appleton and Dowden opened their Strictly journey with a Tango to “No Roots” by Alice Merton, finishing 12th out of 15 couples with 16 points, leaving them towards the bottom of the leaderboard after week one.
From a Leicester bedroom to Hollywood’s A-list
Appleton grew up in Leicester and has said he first got into hairdressing by doing his mum’s hair as a child. He’s since built one of the most recognisable client books in Hollywood, working with Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Sofía Vergara, Katy Perry and Ariana Grande, for whom he’s credited with creating her now-iconic high ponytail.
He’s also the long-term stylist and close friend of Kim Kardashian, appearing regularly on The Kardashians. Appleton has teased that Kim could turn up to cheer him on at Strictly, telling reporters: “Kim’s so sweet, I mean, she’s been such an amazing person throughout my whole career,” adding that she’d commented on his post and told him to “break a leg”.
Away from hairdressing, Appleton published the book Your Roots Don’t Define You, which became a New York Times bestseller. He’s spoken openly about growing up with dyslexia and has urged others to “never take no as an answer”.
Appleton has also discussed his mental health struggles and his personal life. He came out as gay at 26 to his former partner, Katie Katon, whom he’d met as a teenager. The pair have two children together, Billy, born in 2002, and Kitty-Blu, born in 2004.
In April 2023, Appleton married You and The White Lotus actor Lukas Gage. Accounts of the wedding vary slightly: some reports describe a small ceremony attended by Kim Kardashian and Shania Twain, while others place it in Las Vegas with Kardashian officiating, with the marriage filmed for an episode of The Kardashians. Appleton said at the time he was “very much in love” with Gage, but by November 2023 he had filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.
Why it matters
Appleton’s appearance is part of a Strictly shake-up for 2026, with Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe taking over presenting duties and five new professional dancers joining the line-up alongside judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke. His fellow contestants this series include Dani Dyer, Graeme Hall, Melanie Walters and Bethany Antonia.
On signing up, Appleton said he was “thrilled” to be “coming home to the UK for this incredible experience”, adding: “I may know my way around a salon floor, but the dance floor is a whole different story – and I can’t wait to get started.”
For now, Appleton and Dowden sit mid-table after a shaky start, with the couple needing to find some extra sparkle in the weeks ahead if they want to avoid an early trip to the dreaded dance-off.
