Two more Strictly Come Dancing professionals are facing the axe as the BBC prepares its most significant reshuffling of the professional dancers to date. Reports suggest that four dancers — Nadiya Bychkova, 36, Gorka Marquez, 35, Luba Mushtuk, 36 and Michelle Tsiakkas, 30 — are potentially facing elimination from the line-up. Beloved ballroom favourites Katya Jones and Karen Hauer may also be vulnerable.
The programme faces a period of wholesale transformation, with Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman also departing after revealing their decision to leave the BBC last year. An insider told The Sun: "It's been some time since there was a 'churn' in the pro line-up, but they do happen every few years and there hasn't been a big one in some time. The way producers look at it is a little like running a football team: even after Man City win the league they still change their team around and bring in fresh blood constantly, to stay at the top of their game."
This follows claims from a source that several dancers, including Nadiya Bychkova, would not be returning. An insider suggested the approach was "out with the old, in with the new" and indicated her age of 36 was a contributing factor. "Her axing smacks of ageism," the source claimed. "They're clearing all the old crew out to make way for new dancers."
Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk and Michelle Tsiakkas are also understood to have been dropped from the line-up. Gorka was absent from last year's series as a partnered professional owing to his filming commitments on the Spanish version of the programme, Bailando Con Las Estrellas, whilst both Luba and Michelle remained unpartnered throughout.
In a joint statement confirming their departure, presenters Tess and Claudia described hosting the programme as an "absolute dream". They said: "We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream. We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time."
