Three Strictly Come Dancing professional dancers have reportedly been axed ahead of the 2026 series of the show.
Producers are said to be wanting a ‘fresh start’ for the BBC series ahead of Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly’s presenting replacements being announced.
According to The Sun, the professional dancers leaving the show are Gorka Márquez, 35, Luba Mushtuk, 36, and newcomer Michelle Tsiakkas, 30.
A source told the publication: ‘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.’
Get personalised updates on Strictly
Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro’s TV Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we’ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.
Gorka’s exit from the show will no doubt come as a shock, after being a much-loved professional for nearly a decade.
(Credits: BBC/Ray Burmiston)
The Spanish dancer, who has been in three finals, also met his wife-to-be Gemma Atkinson on the show.
Luba is also a long-standing professional, having joined the show eight years ago. However, she has not been given a celebrity dance partner in recent years.
Michelle joined the series in 2022 alongside fellow professionals including Vito Coppola, Carlos Gu and Lauren Oakley.
She got her first celebrity partner in 2024 when she was paired with EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick, though they were eliminated in week 10.
The departure of the three professionals will come in a shakeup ahead of the 2026 series of the show.
Tess and Claudia shocked fans after announcing they were stepping down from hosting after 14 years last October, saying they had been discussing it for a year and wanted to leave together.
The search has been on for new presenters ever since, who are likely to be announced in early summer.
Tess has been at the helm since the glitzy dance competition began in 2004, presenting alongside Sir Bruce Forsyth before Claudia made the move from It Takes Two in 2014, making them primetime’s first-ever female presenting duo.
Metro has contacted Strictly Come Dancing for comment.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.