Strictly Come Dancing Pros Navigate Speculation Amidst Major Shake-Up
The glitz and glamour of Strictly Come Dancing are once again being overshadowed by significant speculation surrounding the show’s professional dancer lineup. Amidst reports of a mass sacking ahead of the 2026 season, two of the show’s beloved professionals, Amy Dowden and Carlos Gu, have addressed the swirling rumours, choosing a diplomatic stance when appearing on BBC Breakfast.
The bombshell news broke earlier this week, revealing that five professional dancers are reportedly being axed by BBC bosses. The names making headlines include Gorka Márquez, Luba Mushtuk, Michelle Tsiakkas, Nadiya Bychkova, and Karen Hauer. This development has sent ripples of concern through the show’s dedicated fanbase, many of whom have grown attached to these familiar faces over the years.
Amy Dowden, a fixture on the BBC programme since 2017, and Carlos Gu, who joined the Strictly family in 2022, were guests on the red sofa to discuss their upcoming live tour, “Amy and Carlos: Reborn.” While the focus of their appearance was the tour, hosts Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty couldn’t resist probing about the significant changes within the Strictly camp.
Charlie Stayt broached the subject delicately, acknowledging the annual cycle of speculation. “You will both be aware, I’m sure, it’s that time of year where there’s a lot of speculation about which dancers are going to be on Strictly Come Dancing, as in, on TV,” he stated. “There’s a lot of it knocking around at the moment, are you able to say anything about that?”
Amy Dowden responded with measured optimism and a clear directive to await official confirmation. “You know, obviously, we’re getting asked this all the time,” she explained. “Nothing has come from the BBC officially, yet. So we’re really hoping to be back dancing with our gorgeous Strictly family later this year, but wait until any official announcements are made. There is so much speculation, but nothing has come from the BBC.”
Charlie Stayt further elaborated on the unique position of the professional dancers, highlighting that what might appear as mere gossip to viewers is, in fact, their livelihood. “I think in a way, it’s work for you, sometimes people get caught up in the glamour, they are excited about the show,” he commented. “This is a job for you, so it’s like speculating whether or not you’ve got a job or not, and that’s quite tricky in a way, isn’t it, it’s work?”
Amy echoed this sentiment, emphasising the deep personal investment she and her colleagues have in the show. “It is, but we put our heart and soul into it, we love it,” she affirmed.
Carlos Gu passionately added to this, underscoring the profound significance of Strictly in their lives. “It’s our life!” he exclaimed. “It’s not only work. For us, as a dancer, I think it’s the best platform you can ever be on and to give you an opportunity to really shine through your talent. As a dancer and as an artist, both we are, we live our life and give everything that we have. We put our heart and soul into it, so, beyond that, actually, it’s more than just a job, just work, it’s our life.”
The reports of significant changes stem from a source speaking to The Sun, who indicated that “major changes” are underway, with dancers engaging in contract discussions. The source suggested that “Bosses want a fresh start and to bring in new faces after all the drama in recent years and create a new era.”
The dancers reportedly facing the axe have all made significant contributions to the show:
- Gorka Márquez: A decade-long veteran of the series, Gorka has reached three finales and famously met his partner, Gemma Atkinson, on the show in 2017.
- Luba Mushtuk: Joining eight years ago, Luba has been a consistent presence, though she hasn’t been paired with a celebrity partner in recent seasons.
- Michelle Tsiakkas: A more recent addition, Michelle joined in 2022. She secured her first celebrity partner, Jamie Borthwick, in 2024, with their journey concluding in week 10.
- Nadiya Bychkova: Having been part of Strictly Come Dancing for eight years, Nadiya has partnered with notable celebrities including TV presenter Dan Walker, singer Matt Goss, and actor Davood Ghadami.
- Karen Hauer: The longest-serving female professional dancer on the show, Karen has been a part of Strictly since 2012.
The future of these talented individuals remains uncertain until official announcements are made by the BBC. In the meantime, fans will be eagerly awaiting news, hoping that their favourite professional dancers will return to grace the Strictly ballroom once more. BBC Breakfast airs daily on BBC One from 6am and is available to stream on iPlayer.
