Strictly Come Dancing professional Jowita Przystał, who avoided the mass cull that saw five long-standing dancers removed from the BBC show, has broken her silence on the brutal shake-up. The 31-year-old dancer, who joined Strictly in 2021, told The Sun on Sunday that she believes 'changes are needed' and described the revamp as 'exciting', comparing it to a 'new show'.
Five Pros Axed in Brutal Cull
The five professionals axed from Strictly Come Dancing are Karen Hauer, Gorka Márquez, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, and Michelle Tsiakkas. They were asked to leave as part of a major overhaul by BBC bosses. Additionally, long-time hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman departed at the end of the last season, with Johannes Radebe, Emma Willis, and Josh Widdecombe taking over. Jowita, who was paired with Ross King in 2025, will return for the upcoming season.
Jowita admitted she is not against the shake-up, saying: 'I’m looking forward to it. I hope the viewers will feel the same way and I hope that we can deliver, like we deliver every year. All we want to do is entertain and give people the best show ever.'
'Brutal' Treatment of Axed Dancers
Despite the positive spin, insiders have described the way the cull was handled as 'truly brutal'. According to reports, the sacked dancers received very little warning about the major life change. A source told The Sun: 'It's brutal. Once they're axed, there is very little in the way of duty of care and they are left to lick their wounds alone. Some of the dancers have been told their fate in a 15-minute phone call, even when they'd been on the show for years. Many of them feel like the BBC has pulled the rug from under them, with no warning.'
Former Pro Says Cull Should Have Gone Further
Former Strictly pro James Jordan, who appeared on the show between 2006 and 2013, said the cull should have gone further. The former Big Brother star and experienced choreographer branded some cast members 'deadwood', telling PA: 'When you join Strictly, you're taking someone's job, OK? And people forget that because they're on the show, but then when they're asked to leave, and then they're replaced, they're only worried about that. But they forget at some point, they took someone's job.'
He added: 'It's just showbiz, that's what it is. Enjoy it for what it is – it is a juggernaut of a show, and it was an honour for all of us to be part of it for so many years.' Jordan also noted that stars should remember 'it will come to an end at some point', adding that bosses were right to 'bring someone younger in'. He concluded: 'I believed the cuts could have gone further and they could have got rid of some of the judges as well.'
