Well done to everyone who sparkled, stepped and supported Strictly Air Ambulance 2026.
The show was a glittering success as the dance floor came alive at the Brentwood Centre, Essex. Well done to all six couples who wowed the audience and congratulations to Sara and Martin who cha cha cha’ed their way to the top, winning the Glitterball Trophy. Hosting the evening once again was our charity ambassador Lisa Snowdon and ITV presenter David Whiteley, who kept the show buzzing with humour, energy, and excitement. Our esteemed judging panel featured former Strictly Come Dancing star, Vincent Simone and his professional partner, the incredible Victoria Martin. Joining them was television personality and influencer, Dani Dyer, renowned Latin dancer Ben Milan-Vega and our legendary head judge, Phil Meacham from Chelmsford Dance Centre.
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Well Done to all Our 2026 contestants
Mike Flood & Jody De-Ath
Mike is a compliance officer who lives in Brentwood with his wife and two children. His job is all about rules, regulations and processes – which should equip him well when it comes to remembering steps and technique, plus he says he’s watched enough dance to know what it should all look like. He was ‘talked into’ taking part in Strictly Air Ambulance by his daughter, who takes dance lessons from Jody (his SAA partner), although he also has his own personal reasons for wanting to raise funds for Essex & Herts Air Ambulance. When it comes to dancing, he describes himself as “an enthusiastic beginner” but says having coped with the pressure of the trading floor in the past, he’s confident he can cope with the pressure of the dancefloor in the future.
Returning for a third year as a Strictly Air Ambulance pro, Jody balances her role as a full-time Business Development Director for a large facilities management company with her passion for dance. In her free time, she competes in Ballroom and Latin dance competitions across the country and teaches a children’s street dance class on weekends. Jody says, “I love getting involved in charity events and frequently participate in fundraising activities and being able to support the Air Ambulance through my passion for dance is something I truly enjoy and look forward to each year.”
Dean Vale & Elise Meacham
Dean lives in Chelmsford with his wife Allison and is a fun-loving grandfather of three. As a self-employed designer and marketer, he has run marketing agency DV8 Creative Solutions for 16 years. In his spare time, he loves to travel and experience new food and cultures, dine out and cook. He is also a big fan of football, live music and theatre, and enjoys getting out for a walk in the mornings. Having visited the EHAAT base earlier in the year, Dean was so impressed with the charity and said “When the chance to help fundraise for EHAAT presented itself as an opportunity to challenge myself, learn to dance and improve my fitness, I knew it was for me. I’ve always admired the dances on Strictly, so the chance to give it a try and raise vital funds for this amazing charity was too good to miss”.
Elise has been surrounded by dance from the moment she was born, with her parents owning a successful Ballroom and Latin studio in Chelmsford. She won her first competition at the age of four, and went on to compete at a national level. After taking a break from competing to earn her BA in Music at Cardiff University, Elise returned to the floor and recently became a UKA National Champion. At 22, Elise is competing in Strictly Air Ambulance for the first time: “I feel so lucky to be part of such an amazing event and can’t wait to share my love of dance while supporting an incredible charity.”
Sara Tupper & Martin Adkins
Sara lives in Maldon with her husband, two daughters, and their two much-loved dogs. As the Chief Executive of Chelmsford For You, the city’s destination marketing organisation, she is passionate about community, connection, and helping people discover what makes Chelmsford such a vibrant and welcoming place. Sara is taking part in this year’s Strictly Air Ambulance event to raise funds for EHAAT because she deeply admires the incredible, life-saving work they do every day. Knowing that EHAAT relies solely on donations, Sara wanted to do her part to support a cause that serves people right across the region, often in their most critical moments. Although she admits to being a little nervous about performing, Sara is excited for the challenge ahead and the opportunity to step out of her comfort zone. She’s looking forward to learning something new, having fun along the way, and most importantly, raising awareness and funds for such an amazing charity.
Inspired by John Travolta at age 11, Martin’s dance journey began in 1977 and took him across the UK and Europe, specialising in ballroom and Latin American styles. After a break to focus on family, Martin returned to the dance floor with his wife, Dawn, by his side. Now a teaching assistant, he’s passionate about training beginners and sparking joy through Samba. He’s thrilled to partner at the Strictly Air Ambulance event, sharing his love of dance to support Essex & Herts Air Ambulance.
Bradley Collyer & Terri Bodell
Bradley is a proud husband, father, fitness coach, and personal trainer. As a men’s physique competitor, and someone who’s even taken to the stage twice “Magic Mike–style” for charitable causes, he’s no stranger to performing under the spotlight. Inspired by his wife Lindsey, a dance teacher who competed in this event last year, Bradley decided to give her passion a try. He’s taking part to make his wife and their beautiful daughter proud, while supporting the incredible work of Essex & Herts Air Ambulance, a charity that truly makes a difference when every second counts.
Terri is a qualified IDTA Associate teacher in Ballroom and Line Dance, an Alixa Flexibility instructor, and a member of One Dance UK, EMD UK, and BWDA. Her love for dance began at age 10 and led her to study dance and drama at the Corona Theatre School in London. In her early 20s, Terri’s career took an unexpected turn when she became a CBT psychotherapist – deepening her understanding of the mental health benefits that dance can provide. Despite her professional shift, Terri never lost her love for dance. She is the Principal of Nicks Dance School in Potters Bar, passionately sharing the joy of dance with her students. Terri is thrilled to be supporting Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust again through Strictly Air Ambulance, saying “Dancing for EHAAT feels extra special—every spin, step, and sequin helps keep their lifesaving work in motion. I might not be able to fly a helicopter, but I can certainly dance to keep one flying! So, if I can help a fantastic cause while dancing in sequins—count me in!”
Anna Staunton & Hayden Wise
Originally from Colchester where she has worked as a primary school teacher for the last 20 years, Anna now lives near Ipswich with her husband and two daughters – both keen dancers themselves. After spending countless hours cheering them on from the sidelines, Anna figured it was time to see what all the fuss was about. So, when Strictly Air Ambulance came along, she jumped at the opportunity to swap the spectator’s seat for the dance floor! A complete beginner to dancing (and still working out her left foot from her right!), Anna is throwing herself into the challenge with her usual mix of energy, determination and laughter. After a difficult few years following the sudden loss of both parents, she’s eager to do something positive: raising money for EHAAT and the amazing work they do to help save lives across the region. When she’s not teaching or practising her dance steps, Anna loves running, swimming, family adventures, and trips to the theatre and cinema.
Returning for a third year, Hayden is hoping to reclaim his trophy from Strictly Air Ambulance 2024. He began dancing at age 4 and started competing at 6, developing a deep love and passion for dance over the past 15 years. Currently, Hayden competes as an amateur on the open circuit, which gives him the chance to compete against dancers from around the world. “Being part of Strictly Air Ambulance allows me to share my love for dance in a truly meaningful way while supporting a charity that does incredible work.”
Amelia Storey & Caleb Arslan
By day, Amelia works in finance, but outside of work, given half a chance she would be singing, dancing and acting as much as possible! Although she hasn’t danced for a while, she tells us “I used to love dancing… I danced in a community club up until around 13 years old”, so there’s something to work with there at least. She lives in Colchester but loves to travel. Having recently explored Italy, she has her sights set on Norway next. She describes herself as “bubbly, confident and kind” and is she’s looking forward to dancing something “emotional”.
At just 17, Caleb is already making waves on the national and international dance scene, competing in ballroom and Latin. Recently, he earned a spot in the UK Amateur 10-Dance Final, a huge accomplishment for someone new to the amateur category. Known for his friendly confidence and love for dance, Caleb is passionate about sharing the beauty of dance with others. Thrilled to support EHAAT, he’s excited to pass on his skills and help his partner shine.
