Former Strictly Star Demands Show Take Year-Long Break Amid Cast Overhaul
Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Kristina Rihanoff has called for the BBC to take the flagship dance competition off-air for a full year. This dramatic suggestion comes amid one of the show's most significant behind-the-scenes shake-ups in recent memory, with five professional dancers reportedly facing contract non-renewals.
Major Cast Changes and New Presenters
The competition is undergoing substantial changes as it prepares for its 2026 season. According to reports, professional dancers Luba Mushtuk, Michelle Tsiakkas, Gorka Márquez, and Nadiya Bychkova have all been informed that their contracts will not be renewed. Most notably, Karen Hauer – the show's longest-serving professional dancer with thirteen years of service – is also believed to be departing.
This major cast cull coincides with another significant change: Strictly will welcome two new hosts this year following the unexpected departure of longtime presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman in October. The identities of these new hosts remain unannounced, adding to the atmosphere of transition surrounding the program.
Rihanoff's Call for a Return to Basics
In light of these sweeping changes, Rihanoff has advocated for a complete pause in production. "If I were a producer, I would give it a rest for a year, regroup and think about what we can do differently," she told The Independent. The Russian-born professional, who appeared on the show from 2008 to 2016, emphasized the need to refocus on the show's original essence.
"There's something to say about going back to basics and back to its roots – the roots of the show were pure ballroom and Latin dancing without the razzmatazz of 101 props and 3D projections," Rihanoff explained. She recalled her early days on the program, noting that it featured minimal props, live group dances, and professionals choreographing routines that required celebrities to learn proper ballroom and Latin techniques.
The "Horrendous" Experience of Contract Uncertainty
Rihanoff also shed light on the challenging working conditions faced by professional dancers on the show. She revealed that all professionals are contracted on a yearly basis, creating constant uncertainty about their future employment. Waiting to hear whether your contract was renewed every twelve months was described as a "horrendous" experience by the former star.
"There's always been that jeopardy of the dancers not being called back so it's not a new thing," she said. Rihanoff highlighted how this instability particularly affects international dancers who have relocated to the UK for the opportunity. "I moved myself to the UK, not knowing a single person and it was a big leap of faith that it's all gonna work out. It's not just me, pretty much all of the dancers are not from the UK."
The professional emphasized the mental health toll this uncertainty takes on performers who invest their heart and soul into the competition. "You never know who is in jeopardy or if they're going to renew your contract. It's not a very nice feeling and obviously, on a lot of dancers, it has a big mental health effect."
Concerns About Professional Standards
Rihanoff expressed particular concern about the potential departure of Karen Hauer, describing any decision to let her go as "a really stupid thing for them to do." She praised Hauer's extensive professional background and teaching experience, contrasting it with some current professionals who lack formal dance competition credentials.
"She's quite old school in the sense that when she joined the show, she had already been a professional dancer and established pro in our dance world," Rihanoff noted. "Some of the pros on Strictly are not all professional dancers and don't even compete. They just do dance shows like Burn the Floor."
The former professional argued that teaching ability should be essential for Strictly professionals, as their primary role involves developing celebrity partners. "The predominant thing of the show is to see the journey of the celebrities developing and I think you can really only develop someone if you have learnt to teach and know how to deliver information to a complete beginner."
Legacy and Future Plans
Since leaving Strictly Come Dancing, Rihanoff has established the Robin Windsor Contribution to Dance Award at the Northants Open Championships. This award honors her former co-star and professional dancer Robin Windsor, who died by suicide in 2024. The award recognizes individuals who help shape the future of dance, with British DanceSport Association Operations Director Peter Nash becoming its first recipient earlier in March.
Rihanoff expressed her commitment to continuing Windsor's legacy, stating her goal to establish a scholarship fund for talented young dancers who face financial barriers to competition. "It's something I know Robin would be on board with because we often talked about how we spent our childhoods dreaming of becoming world champions. We loved our sport for what it is, not the fame or the money."
A BBC representative stated that plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 would be confirmed in due course, while The Independent has approached the corporation for further comment on Rihanoff's remarks and the reported cast changes.
