Strictly Come Dancing fans are speculating that one professional dancer could leave the BBC show after the current series, with Amy Dowden the most frequently named.
This year's line-up features 19 professional dancers after the departures of Karen Hauer, Luba Mushtuk, Nadiya Bychkova, Gorka Márquez and Michelle Tsiakkas. Five new professionals have joined, while 14 familiar faces have returned for another series.
Returning dancers include Amy Dowden and reigning champion Carlos Gu, as well as Dianne Buswell, Kai Widdrington, Katya Jones, Lauren Oakley, Nikita Kuzmin, Vito Coppola, Nancy Xu and Aljaž Škorjanec.
New Professionals and Debut Pairings
New recruits Maddie Ingoldsby and Mark Karmalita have each been paired with a celebrity for their debut series. Fellow newcomers Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori and Lethabo Monamets are appearing in group performances and special routines.
On a Strictly Reddit forum, one fan asked whether any professionals might leave after this series, noting that many have had long tenures and that several new pros joined this year. The fan added: "I hope no one goes as I think they're all incredible!"
Amy Dowden's Challenging Years
Numerous fans believe Amy could depart after a difficult period. In May 2023, after discovering a lump the day before her honeymoon, she was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. She underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy, forcing her to miss the entire 2023 series.
She later disclosed that the physical and emotional strain pushed her to the edge of abandoning dancing entirely, though her husband, Ben Jones, and closest friend, fellow professional Carlos Gu, urged her to continue. After announcing there was no evidence of disease and overcoming a cancer scare before the autumn launch, Amy made an emotional comeback in 2024, partnered with JLS singer JB Gill.
The duo were serious contenders, but Amy sustained a foot injury mid-series that compelled her to pull out once more, something she confessed left her "heartbroken" after dedicating 20 months working towards her return. In 2025, she returned with businessman Thomas Skinner, though they were the first couple eliminated.
Late in 2025, following discussions with her medical team, she also had a second mastectomy, not because of a fresh cancer diagnosis, though she has spoken openly about the continuing anxiety of recurrence and maintains monthly oncology treatments. In 2026, she and partner Chris Appleton were the first pair sent home in Week 2.
One viewer remarked: "I can see Amy leaving," while another commented: "She really has had a hard time lately, right?" A third suggested: "I hope she does one more season because I'd hate to see her go out after going home first two years in a row." A fourth noted: "Amy or Dianne, after 10 seasons feel their time is coming to an end."
Neil Jones and Maddie Ingoldsby Speculation
Some viewers also speculated that dancer Neil Jones may depart. The 44-year-old has not been paired with a celebrity partner since 2024, when he danced with singer and actress Toyah Willcox. The duo became the second couple eliminated, finishing in 14th place. He has only been assigned two other partners during his time on the programme: Nina Wadia in 2021 and Alex Scott in 2019.
Certain fans even suspect newcomer Maddie, 21, could exit after just a single series, or may miss out on being assigned a partner the following year. She has encountered considerable backlash during her debut season alongside celebrity partner Cach Mercer. Both viewers and judges, including Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse, have repeatedly criticised her routines for falling short on traditional technique, proper footwork, and sufficient time "in hold". Numerous fans on social media have accused her of "letting Cach down" by disregarding the judges' weekly feedback in favour of flashy, contemporary routines.
Strictly Come Dancing airs Sunday November 15 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 7:15 pm.
