Rob Rinder, the barrister and television presenter, has been spotted enjoying a dance class with axed Strictly Come Dancing star Luba Mushtuk, marking her first public appearance since confirming her exit from the popular BBC series. The encounter comes amid a significant shake-up that has seen several top professionals leave the show.
Instagram Reveal of Dance Session
Taking to his Instagram Story on Saturday, Rob Rinder, 47, shared a selfie of himself and Luba Mushtuk dressed in workout gear within a dance studio. He captioned the image with "Day dancing with @lubamushtuk," accompanied by a dance emoji, highlighting their training session together. This activity underscores that despite her departure from Strictly, Luba remains actively engaged in dancing and professional collaborations.
Luba Mushtuk's Emotional Departure Announcement
Luba Mushtuk confirmed her exit from Strictly Come Dancing on Friday, expressing deep gratitude for her decade-long involvement with the programme. In an Instagram statement, the 36-year-old dancer penned, "With a heart full of gratitude, the time has come for me to step away from Strictly Come Dancing. I am deeply grateful for the past 10 years on this beautiful show! Thank you for the amazing opportunity and the unforgettable memories. It has truly meant the world to me."
She added, "Now it's time for me to follow my dreams beyond the show, and I'm excited for what the future holds. I can't wait to see you all on the Pro Tour and I'm really looking forward to it for one last time. With all my love, Luba."
BBC's Tribute to Luba Mushtuk
The BBC responded with a heartfelt tribute on the Strictly Instagram account, acknowledging Luba's contributions since joining as an assistant choreographer in 2016 and becoming a professional dancer in 2018. The statement praised her for "bringing professionalism, creativity, and her quality expertise year after year," noting her "remarkable talent and signature elegance" that captivated audiences. It concluded by wishing her success in the future, emphasising that she will always be a "much-loved member of the Strictly family."
Background and Career Highlights
Luba Mushtuk, a Russian dancer who moved to Italy at age 12 for training, is a four-time Italian Dance Champion and Italian Open Latin Show Dance champion. After joining Strictly in 2018, she won that year's Children In Need special with Boyzone's Shane Lynch. Her Strictly journey includes competing in four Christmas specials with partners such as Jake Wood in 2018, Jay Blades in 2021, Rickie Haywood-Williams in 2022, and Nicholas Bailey in 2025.
On the main show, her celebrity partners included Olympic rower James Cracknell in 2019, with whom she was the first couple eliminated; former NFL player Jason Bell in 2020, eliminated second; actor Adam Thomas in 2023, eliminated sixth; and TV presenter Nick Knowles in 2024, eliminated third. She spent two years in the dance troupe between partnerships.
Wider Context of Strictly Exits
Luba's departure is part of a broader trend of talent exits from Strictly Come Dancing. Earlier this month, it was reported that Luba, along with Nadiya Bychkova, 36, Karen Hauer, 43, Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, and Gorka Marquez, 35, had all been "axed" from the show. Nadiya Bychkova recently released a statement describing her role as "evolving" after nine years, while Karen Hauer labelled her own exit as "stressful and emotional" days prior. This wave of changes signals a significant reshuffle within the programme's professional lineup.
