Strictly Come Dancing drops three professional dancers in shake-up
Strictly Come Dancing bosses have reportedly axed at least three professional dancers from the show ahead of the upcoming series.
Strictly Come Dancing bosses have reportedly axed at least three professional dancers from the show.
Gorka Marquez -who has made it to the final of the show three times in his decade of appearances - Luba Mushtuk, and relative newcomer Michelle Tsiakkas will all be absent from the ballroom when the show returns to the BBC later this year as part of producers' plans for a "fresh start".
A source told The Sun on Sunday newspaper: “There are major changes taking place with dancers having meetings about their contracts over the next few weeks.
“Bosses want a fresh start and to bring in new faces after all the drama in recent years and create a new era.”
Gorka met wife Gemma Atkinson on the show in 2017 and has been a fan favourite, and although Luba joined eight years ago, she has only had four celebrity partners on the main programme, James Cracknell, Jason Bell, Adam Thomas, and, most recently, Nick Knowles in 2024.
Michelle joined the show in 2022 and was partnered with Jamie Borthwick in 2024, as well as Brian McFadden on last year's Christmas special.
The BBC didn't confirm the news.
A spokesperson said: “Plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be confirmed in due course.”
Meanwhile, presenters for the new series have still not been announced following the departures of Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly.
Sara Cox is the latest name to have been linked with the high-profile job.
A source told The Sun: "Fans of Sara's Radio 2 drivetime show know she has that off-the-cuff patter down to a tee and has a brilliant reputation as an honest, hardworking pro.
"Execs have mentioned her name as someone who would be a good fit for the job."
But it was previously claimed Emma Willis and Zoe Ball were involved in a "straight shoot-out" to host Strictly Come Dancing alongside a "female stand-up comedian".
A source told The Sun on Sunday newspaper: "It’s a straight shoot-out between Zoe, who is the front-runner, and Emma. Only one will get it, not both.
"The senior execs want a traditional presenter working alongside a more left-field person, a female stand-up comedian.
"It’s felt the humour Claudia brought to the show, particularly in her 'Claudatorium', needs to carry on."
Zoe quit her BBC Radio 2 Saturday show in December 2025, which caused speculation that she could be hosting Strictly Come Dancing later this year.
The star - who replaced Claudia in fronting the Strictly Come Dancing spin-off show It Takes Two from 2011 until 2021, and also hosted the live tour in 2011 and 2015 - recently admitted she would "love" to take Tess or Claudia's job.
