Strictly Come Dancing's Carlos Gu reacts to professional dancer brutal cull
Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Carlos Gu has reacted to multiple pros who have been axed as part of a big shake-up of the BBC Latin and Ballroom dance show.
Strictly Come Dancing's Carlos Gu thinks his fellow professional dancers who fell victim to the brutal cull can now focus on their individual careers.
Karen Hauer and Nancy Xu, both 34, Gorka Marquez, 35, Nadiya Bychkova and Luba Mushtuk, both 36, and 30-year-old Michelle Tsiakkas were all axed as part of a big shake-up of the BBC Latin and Ballroom dance show.
And Carlos - who has survived the chop - has no doubt they will continue to shine in their future projects.
The 33-year-old star told the new issue of Heat magazine: "I love Karen - she's embraced herself as a cool, strong, independent woman.
"But I believe people who leave the show are ready to do something for themselves. Strictly's not about us, we're not there to be the star, so I understand why people decide to leave."
Strictly Come Dancing bosses are also hunting for a new set of co-hosts to replace Tess Daly, 57, and Claudia Winkleman, 54, who departed the programme at the end of the 2025 series in December.
On Monday (20.04.26), The Sun reported that presenter auditions are being held this week, involving nine celebrities.
It is claimed that former BBC Radio 2 star Zoe Ball, 55, ex-Big Brother host Emma Willis, 50, and This Morning star Alison Hammond, 51, will attend.
They are believed to be joined by Celebrity Gogglebox alum Rylan Clark, 37, The One Show presenter Alex Jones, 49, and 65-year-old The Chase presenter Bradley Walsh.
As well as comedian Tom Allen, 42, RuPaul's Drag Race UK alum La Voix, 46, and 42-year-old The Apprentice: Unfinished Business host Angela Scanlon.
And Carlos thinks the latter - whom he danced with on the 2023 series of Strictly Come Dancing - would be a good signing to co-front the dance competition.
Carlos explained: "She has so much to give. She's witty and quick, and so interesting."
On April 15, former Strictly Come Dancing pro Janette Manrara says the show's stars are on "standby" amid brutal culls to the cast
The Sun recently reported that she and 38-year-old Fleur East's hosting positions on the weekday companion show, It Takes Two, "could be at risk", but the BBC said in a statement that "it is incorrect to claim that either has been axed".
Janette - who was a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing from 2013 until 2020 - appeared on BBC Breakfast on April 15 and said she "doesn’t know" about her future on It Takes Two after five years in the position.
The 42-year-old star added: "We’ll have to wait and find out.
"I think everyone at the moment is on standby, so we’ll see what happens… That’s showbiz!"
A Strictly spokeswoman said: "Plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be confirmed in due course."
