Strictly Come Dancing star Luba Mushtuk was overcome with emotion on the last night of the show's professional tour amid a rumoured 'bloodbath' at the BBC programme. The professional dancer is leaving the sequin-strewn series along with several other stars.
Emotional Farewell
It was previously confirmed that Karen Hauer, Michelle Tsiakkas, Luba Mushtuk, Nadiya Bychkova and Spanish champion Gorka Marquez would all be leaving Strictly, leaving many fans heartbroken. On the final night of the Strictly The Professionals tour, an emotional Luba, who was paired with Nick Knowles on the programme in 2024, addressed the audience as she hugged Gorka on stage before admitting that 'the show must go on'.
Fighting back tears, she said: "So I've been saying... concentrate now! What I've been saying is that the dance we love has to sometimes come to an end, but that doesn't mean the music stops. It means there are new dances waiting to be discovered, new steps to learn and new stories to tell. Yes this dance has come to an end, and this tour has come to an end, but it has been absolutely unforgettable, and I want to thank, I would really really like to thank, a part of each one of you at this stage, but I would also like to thank every single person who works behind the scenes, the people you don't see, because without them none of this would be possible."
As Gorka wiped away tears, Luba added: "Wow, this is… wow! I want to leave you with this, no matter where life takes you, the music will go on, and so we must keep dancing."
Fan Reaction
Fans were in bits watching the speech on TikTok, with many lamenting the 'end of an era'. With former hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman now replaced by Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe, it's all change at Strictly. Taking to the comments section on TikTok, one fan said: "Bless Gorka, he was trying so hard to keep a straight face… going to miss him and Luba." Meanwhile, another admitted: "Bookmarking for when I'm emotionally ready."
Behind the Scenes
Russian-British dancer Luba was said to have been "in hiding" after getting the chop from the primetime programme. "Luba is absolutely devastated. Strictly has been her life for years and she genuinely believed she would be back," a source told the Express. "She's basically in hiding right now. She's not answering calls, not replying to messages – she just wants to process it privately. This wasn't about wrongdoing or performance. It's a brutal reality of TV – producers refresh the cast and sometimes people who've done nothing wrong get cut."
Earlier this year, she took to Instagram to announce her departure from Strictly. She said: "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."
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and iPlayer later this year.
