Strictly Come Dancing star Michelle Tsiakkas has seemingly confirmed she’s been axed from the show after four years.
The professional dancer from Cyprus joined the long-running BBC series in 2022, alongside Dianne Buswell, Graziano Di Prima, Johannes Radebe and Jowita Przystal.
However earlier this month it was revealed that a string of dancers were on the chopping block, with Michelle said to have been cut from Strictly alongside Nadiya Bychkova, Gorka Marquez and Luba Mushtuk.
Soon after the show’s longest-serving female dancer Karen Hauer confirmed her exit, saying it ‘felt like the right time to close this chapter’.
The other dancers are yet to comment publicly on whether they are in fact leaving the show, however Michelle has now spoken about her fate.
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This week Michelle, 30, was filmed leaving a class she’d taught at former Strictly pro Oti Mabuse’s dance studio in London.
After being greeted by photographers, one hugged Michelle before saying: ‘Gutted for you, gutted. It’s shocking, heartbreaking.’
The dancer replied: ‘It is what it is.’ She then added: ‘Thanks for the support.’
Soon after learning her contract on the show would not be renewed, Michelle quit the professionals live tour.
Last week an official post from the Strictly live tour Instagram wrote: ‘Michelle Tsiakkas has decided not to take part in Strictly the Professionals 2026 Tour.
‘We are naturally disappointed but respect her decision and wish her every success for the future.’
Confirming the remaining lineup, they concluded: ‘We look forward to starting the tour rehearsals early next month with Julian, Vito, Neil, Gorka, Lauren, Jowita, Luba, Alexis, Kai and Nancy.’
Guy Levy/ BBC/ PA Wire)
The tour is set to kick off on April 29 and travel throughout the country, ending at Blackpool Opera House on May 30.
However, soon after it was claimed that that Michelle has opted out to ‘processes’ recent changes.
‘Michelle feels like she’s got a lot to process at the moment,’ a friend told The Sun.
‘She’s made a lot of personal sacrifices for the show and was in it for the long term.
‘I think she feels like she was promised one thing but has been given something totally different.’
Since joining Strictly in 2022, Michelle has only been given a celebrity partner once. In 2024 she was paired with EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick – they were eliminated in week 10.
She was also paired with Westlife’s Brian McFadden on last year’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special.
But after not receiving a partner during last season, she expressed her disappointment.
‘To those of you asking how I am, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t gutted but I think that’s a normal feeling to have,’ she wrote on Instagram.
‘Last year was my first year with a partner and it made me realise how much I enjoy the process. I think it’s the most beautiful and rewarding part of the show.’
Aside from the pros rumoured to have been axed, Neil Jones and Nancy Xu are also believed to be going without a celebrity partner this year.
Before directly being asked this week about her apparent axe, Michelle hadn’t spoken about her future on the show.
But on March 8 she posted a photo from her childhood alongside a poignant caption to her younger self to mark International Women’s Day.
‘There were moments that shaped her, challenged her and quietly changed her. But somehow, through it all, she never lost her sparkle,’ she wrote.
‘Because strength isn’t about never breaking…it’s about finding the light again, even after the storm.’
A source previously told The Sun of the cuts: ‘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.’
Another insider claimed the shelved professionals learnt their fates in ‘brutal’ 15-minute phone calls with stars like Nadiya said to be ‘distraught’ at the development.
Some have also said returning pros include Aljaž Škorjanec, Carlos Gu and Johannes Radebe.
Metro understands that official plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be announced by the BBC in due course. The official line-up tends to be announced every April.
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