It is the end of an era for one Strictly Come Dancing star as professional Luba Mushtuk has danced her last dance as part of the show after a decade on the series.
The Russian-born performer, 36, joined the cast of professional dancers on the BBC show in 2018 following two years as an assistant choreographer. However, on Sunday (31 May), her 'unforgettable' Strictly journey concluded during the final performance of the annual tour, which takes place months before the series airs.
Mushtuk is one of five dancers leaving the show ahead of the 2026 series, and she grew tearful when addressing her departure, telling the crowd of Strictly fans: 'What I have been saying is that the dance we love has to sometimes come to an end, but that does not mean the music stops.'
'It means there are new dances waiting to be discovered, new steps to learn and new stories to tell,' she continued in a video shared on TikTok.
'Yes, this dance has come to an end, and this tour has come to an end, but it has been absolutely unforgettable, and I would really like to thank 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 do not see, because without them none of this would be possible.'
The dancer revealed she was leaving the show in March as part of a cast cull, which also led to the exits of Karen Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova, Michelle Tsiakkis and Gorka Marquez. Marquez's decision to leave was his own, but it is believed the other four were axed in a shake-up following Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman's departure as hosts. They will be replaced by a trio: Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and former professional Johannes Radebe.
Mushtuk said of her exit: 'With a heart full of gratitude, the time has come for me to step away from Strictly Come Dancing. Now it is time for me to follow my dreams beyond the show, and I am excited for what the future holds.'
Mushtuk first partnered with Olympian James Cracknell in 2019, with the pair becoming the first to be eliminated from that series. She was later matched with American footballer Jason Bell, Emmerdale star Adam Thomas, and finally DIY SOS presenter Nick Knowles in 2024. The furthest Mushtuk ever made it was week seven with Thomas. For the last two years, she has not been given a celebrity partner.
Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One in September.
