When "Let's Dance" returns for a new season on Friday, there will be no shortage of Norwegians on the show. Petter Northug is one of them, and the ski star himself thinks he's in deep water:
"This is one of the biggest challenges I've ever faced, actually. But that's also why I said yes. I'm not a dancer, but I'm a competitive person," he says.
Now Northug hopes that viewers will appreciate him on screen:
I know I have a lot to work on, but I think people back home want to recognize themselves in a guy who has no dance experience, he says.
Loose rivalry
Taking part in the Swedish "Let's Dance" instead of the Norwegian equivalent "Skal vi danse" felt natural for Northug.
"I think it's great to come here. Sweden has meant a lot to my career, despite the arch-rivalry between the countries that existed during my time. So there's a history there, but it feels like it's starting to loosen up a bit," he says.
Martinus Gunnarsen, one half of the brother duo Marcus and Martinus, agrees:
It's a positive change. My friends actually wanted me to be on "Shall We Dance" so they could see me on TV more easily, but they have promised to come here and watch," he says.
Even for Martinus, "Let's dance" means something new and unknown, despite his artistic background.
I thought it would be completely calm, but as soon as we started training I wondered what the hell I had gotten myself into. It's like playing football and all of a sudden the coach says we're going to play handball instead. Same thing, but completely different!
Old and new
The new host duo for this year are Edvin Törnblom and “Let's Dance” veteran David Hellenius. The latter returns to celebrate the program's 20th anniversary, and Hellenius notes that the 2026 version of the program is something different from what it has been before:
Now you can follow the contestants much more on social media. We get to be there more 24/7 and see all the fights and hopefully the laughter, but also the difficulties. Previously it was “just” a TV show, now it’s more like a reality show, he says.
But viewers will also recognize the program:
"Let's dance" is "Let's dance", and that's how it should be. But it shouldn't feel too old, we have to attract new viewers too. You have to be honest there: "Let's dance" we have to lift, says Hellenius.
Lisa Borg (dancing with Nik Alexander)
Martinus Gunnarsen (Paulina Rosenkvist)
Little Al-Fadji (Filippa Strand)
Bianca Salming (Hugo Gustafsson)
Ludwig Blomqvist (Ida Sund)
Petter Northug (Jasmine Takács)
Julia Franzén (Catalin Mihu)
Lovisa "Laki" Karlsson (Axel Jehrlander)
Christer Fuglesang (Ines-Maria Stefanescu)
Hosts: Edvin Törnblom and David Hellenius.
Jury: Tony Irving, Eric Saade, Taya Shawki and Malin Watson.
