Luba Mushtuk, a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing, has bid an emotional farewell to the show after a decade-long tenure. The Russian-British dancer, who joined the BBC programme in 2018, was seen fighting back tears during the final performance of the Strictly tour.
In a heartfelt speech to the audience, Mushtuk expressed gratitude to her colleagues and the behind-the-scenes team. 'Yes this dance has come to an end, and this tour has come to an end, but it has been absolutely unforgettable,' she said. '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.'
Fellow professional Gorka Marquez, who is also leaving the show, was visibly emotional as Mushtuk concluded: 'No matter where life takes you, the music will go on, and so we must keep dancing.' The duo's farewell was captured on video and shared on TikTok, moving viewers to tears.
Mushtuk announced her departure earlier this year on Instagram, stating: '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.' She is among several professionals leaving, including Karen Hauer, Michelle Tsiakkas, Nadiya Bychkova, and Gorka Marquez.
Strictly Come Dancing is also undergoing major changes behind the scenes, with three new presenters replacing Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly. The show returns to BBC One and iPlayer later this year.
