Two professional dancers from Strictly Come Dancing were left in tears as they bid an emotional farewell to the show during the tour finale. Luba Mushtuk and Gorka Marquez, who are among several dancers leaving the programme, were visibly emotional as Luba delivered a heartfelt speech to the audience.
Luba told the crowd: "Yes this dance has come to an end, and this tour has come to an end, but it has been absolutely unforgettable. I want to thank every single person who works behind the scenes, the people who you don't see, because without them none of this would be possible, so thank you so much." As Gorka wiped away tears, she 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."
The BBC programme is undergoing a major shake-up, with three presenters replacing Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly as hosts, while several professional dancers have left the show. It was previously confirmed that Karen Hauer, Michelle Tsiakkas, Luba Mushtuk, Nadiya Bychkova and Gorka Marquez would all be departing, leaving fans devastated amid a rumoured 'bloodbath'.
Fans were moved by the farewell clip shared on TikTok, with one writing: "Bless Gorka, he was trying so hard to keep a straight face… going to miss him and Luba." Another said: "Will miss you and Gorka so much," as a third added: "I had JUST stopped crying pls don't."
Earlier this year, Luba took to Instagram to announce her departure from Strictly. She wrote: "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! Now it's time for me to follow my dreams beyond the show, and I'm excited for what the future holds." The Russian-British dancer, who joined in 2018 and partnered with Adam Thomas and Nick Knowles, signed off: "I can't wait to see you all on the Pro Tour for one last time."
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and iPlayer later this year.
