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When Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced that they were leaving Strictly Come Dancing, fans were prepared for the show to undergo a bit of a shake-up.
What they couldn’t have predicted was that along with the hosts, a number of the show’s longest standing professional dancers beloved by fans would also be saying goodbye to the show.
Earlier this month, it was reported that five of the show’s pros – including the longest serving female dancer – would not be returning.
Strictly is saying goodbye to a number of fan-favourite dancers (BBC/Guy Levy)
Four of the dancers, all of them female, have since confirmed their exits. Another, Spanish pro Gorka Márquez has also reportedly been given the axe, although he is yet to comment on this.
Here are all the dancers saying goodbye to the Strictly ballroom so far…
Karen Hauer
Hauer with Harry Aikines-Aryeetey in the 2025 series (CREDIT LINE:BBC/Guy Levy)
The first dancer to announce her Strictly departure was Karen Hauer, who had been the show’s longest standing remaining female pro after 14 years on the dance competition. The dancer was known for her spicy Latin routines, reaching the final with Mark Wright in 2014 and Jamie Laing in 2020. She also performed in one of the show’s same-sex partnerships, when she danced with Jayde Adams in 2022.
In a video posted to Instagram, Hauer, 43, broke down in tears while saying that it was the “right time” for her to leave the show and “take on new projects in other areas that I’m passionate about”.
The Venezuelan-American dancer, who was previously married to former Strictly pro Kevin Clifton, also singled out the show’s welfare staff for “taking such good care” of the Strictly pros.
In a heartfelt statement, the BBC said: “As the longest-serving female professional dancer in the history of the show, Karen has given so much of herself and her time to the programme, and we are extremely grateful for the passion, creativity and dedication she has brought to every single performance.”
Nadiya Bychkova
Bychkova dancing with her final partner, Chris Robshaw (BBC/Guy Levy)
The next exit confirmed by the BBC was that of Ukrainian dancer Nadiya Bychkova, who joined the show in 2017 and had a celebrity partner in seven of her nine years on Strictly.
The tallest female pro, Nadiya, 36, was often paired with the taller male celebrities such as Dan Walker (who she reached quarter-final with), Bros’s Matt Goss, and most recently Chris Robshaw.
Confirming rumours of her departure on Wednesday (25 March), Bychkova wrote: “After nine wonderful years, this part of my journey with Strictly Come Dancing is evolving… This isn’t the end. I look forward to being part of the Strictly world for many years to come in ways I am beginning to explore.”
The BBC released their own statement praising the mother-of-one, saying: “Nadiya has brought elegance, artistry and unwavering dedication to the ballroom, and she will always remain a cherished member of the Strictly family.”
Luba Mushtuk
Mushtuk dancing with Nicholas Bailey in the ‘Strictly’ Christmas special (BBC/Guy Levy)
On Friday (27 March), Russian pro Luba Mushtuk shared that she, too, was leaving Strictly. Mushtuk had a dance partner in four of her eight years as a dancer on the show; her most successful pairing was with Adam Thomas in 2023, where the pair finished in ninth.
The 36-year-old wrote on Instagram that she would be leaving with “a heart full of gratitude”, adding: “The time has come for me to step away from Strictly Come Dancing.”
The BBC quickly paid tribute to Mushtuk, who first competed on the show in the 2018 Children in Need special. “Since joining in 2016 as an assistant choreographer and stepping into the professional dancer line-up two years later, Luba has been a valued member of the team – bringing professionalism, creativity, and her quality expertise year after year,” the post on the show’s social media account read.
While she will not return to the show for its 2026 series, Mushtuk is still competing on the upcoming Strictly: The Professionals UK tour, which kicks off at the end of April. Márquez, the Spanish dancer also rumoured to be leaving the show, is also taking part in the tour.
Michelle Tsiakkas
Tsiakkas danced with Brian McFadden in the 2025 Christmas special, having not received a partner in the main series (BBC/Guy Levy)
Strictly confirmed Michelle Tsiakkas’ departure from the show on Tuesday (31 March).
The Cypriot dancer, 30, joined the show in 2022, but only competed in 2024, when she was paired with Jamie Borthwick.
In aa statement, the BBC said: “Thank you to Michelle Tsiakkas for everything she has brought to Strictly Come Dancing over the past four series,” it read.
“During her time on the show, Michelle has delivered some excellent performances, whether in the series’ group routines, alongside guest music artists, or with celebrity partners across the main series and the Christmas special whom she has always taught with professionalism, respect and kindness.”
In her first interview following the reports, Tsiakkas said that her exit from the show had been conveyed to her over Zoom and had come “out of the blue”.
“It felt like my world was falling apart, my dream was shattered. I gave my everything to the show for the four years – it was my whole life,” she said.