Former Strictly Star Demands Show Take Year-Long Hiatus During Major Cast Shake-Up
Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Kristina Rihanoff has made a significant call for the BBC's flagship dance competition to be temporarily taken off air for an entire year. This demand comes amid substantial behind-the-scenes changes currently affecting the show's cast and production team.
Major Cast Overhaul Sparks Controversy
The celebrity dance program is undergoing what industry insiders describe as a substantial transformation following the unexpected departure of long-serving hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman earlier this year. Recent reports have confirmed that five established professional dancers will not be returning for the upcoming season.
Michelle Tsiakkas, Gorka Márquez, Luba Mushtuk, Nadiya Bychkova, and Karen Hauer have all reportedly been dropped from the show's lineup. This represents one of the most significant cast changes in the program's history, with Hauer having been part of Strictly for thirteen consecutive years.
Rihanoff's Radical Proposal for Revitalisation
Speaking exclusively to The Independent, Rihanoff proposed that producers should implement a complete hiatus for the 2026 season. "If I were a producer, I would give it a rest for a year, regroup and think about what we can do differently," the Russian-born dancer explained.
She elaborated on her vision for the show's potential revival: "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, who joined Strictly in 2008 before departing eight years later, reminisced about the program's earlier format: "When I came onto the show, it was about ballroom and Latin dancing. It was minimum props, all the group dances were live. The professionals were choreographing it and the celebrities had to learn proper ballroom and Latin dancing."
The 'Horrendous' Reality of Contract Uncertainty
The former professional dancer revealed the challenging working conditions faced by Strictly's dance troupe, describing the annual contract renewal process as particularly difficult. "There's always been that jeopardy of the dancers not being called back, so it's not a new thing," she acknowledged.
Rihanoff detailed the personal impact of this uncertainty: "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. Then to think, 'Everything is going to change again, what do I do next?' It's very hard. We put heart and soul into this."
She emphasised the mental health implications for performers: "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 Losing Experienced Professionals
Rihanoff expressed particular concern about the reported departure of Karen Hauer, who has become the show's longest-serving professional dancer. "Letting go of someone like Karen would be a really stupid thing for them to do," she stated bluntly.
"She has been on the show many years, she's the longest-running pro and she's a fantastic dancer and choreographer," Rihanoff continued. "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."
Call for Greater Teaching Experience Among Professionals
The former Strictly star highlighted what she believes should be essential criteria for selecting professional dancers for the program. "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," she explained.
Rihanoff proposed specific hiring standards: "If I were a producer, I would look into hiring pros who are professionals in their own backgrounds and those who have an extensive teaching background." She noted that those with formal dance training typically undergo rigorous examination processes and develop proper teaching methodologies.
Legacy and Memorial Efforts
Since leaving Strictly Come Dancing, Rihanoff has established a special award at the Northants Open Championships in memory of her former colleague Robin Windsor, who died in 2024. The Robin Windsor Contribution to Dance Award recognises individuals who significantly contribute to shaping the future of dance.
"It's always going to be a difficult subject to talk about," Rihanoff acknowledged regarding Windsor's passing. "I kept thinking, 'How can I keep that legacy going and do something for the fact that he was so passionate about spreading the love for dancing among youngsters?'"
She revealed future ambitions for the memorial initiative: "My goal is to set up a scholarship fund for talented kids who can't compete because there is a lack of finances. 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."
A BBC representative has stated that plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be confirmed in due course, while The Independent has approached the corporation for further comment regarding Rihanoff's proposals and the ongoing cast changes.
