Professional dancers Luba Mushtuk and Gorka Marquez were seen in tears as they bid an emotional farewell to Strictly Come Dancing during the tour finale. The pair, who are among several dancers leaving the show, shared a poignant moment on stage as Luba delivered a heartfelt speech.
In her address, Luba thanked the audience and the behind-the-scenes team, saying: '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.'
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.' Fans were moved by the clip, with one commenting: 'Bless Gorka, he was trying so hard to keep a straight face… going to miss him and Luba.'
Luba, who joined Strictly in 2018 and partnered with celebrities including Adam Thomas and Nick Knowles, announced her departure earlier this year on Instagram. 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.'
The departures come amid a major shake-up for the BBC programme, with three new hosts replacing Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, and several professional dancers leaving. Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and iPlayer later this year.
