Strictly Come Dancing’s strategy for brutal axings ‘revealed’ as bloodbath of top talent continues

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Sources say that the producers of Strictly Come Dancing used data from TikTok to help decide which professional dancers to let go in a recent round of cuts.

Many viewers were surprised to see several popular professional dancers – including Karen Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova, Michelle Tsiakkas, Luba Mushtuk, and Gorka Márquez – recently leave the show.

Some people are saying that contestants with large social media followings were favored over more talented dancers who aren’t as popular on TikTok, as the show attempts to appeal to a younger demographic.

It seems Naidya, who has 19,000 followers, has been removed from the show, while Dianne Buswell, also 36 and with a much larger following of 966,000, remains a contestant.

Karen, who has been a dancer on Strictly for many years, has 9,122 followers. In contrast, new contestant Alexis Warr, 25, already has a large following of 190,000.

Naidya’s situation is comparable; she has 19,000 followers. However, Dianne Buswell, age 36, remains in the competition with a much larger following of 966,000.

According to a source, ‘Strictly’ is constantly trying to grow its viewership, both by reaching more people overall and by appealing to a younger audience.

According to sources, social media is key to reaching a wider audience, and TikTok is an ideal platform for a show centered around music and dance.

Okay, so they’d never kick someone out just because they’re not huge on TikTok, I mean, that would be crazy! But honestly? Getting with the times on social media might be exactly what they need to stay relevant and avoid getting… well, you know… replaced. It’s like, they’re good, really good, but they need to adapt, and TikTok could be their lifeline! I’m just saying, it could make all the difference.

Daily Mail have contacted BBC for comment. 

It comes after dancer Karen branded her axing from the show ‘stressful and emotional’.

She and her dog, Marley, went to a dog social event hosted by LitPet on Sunday. The event was held at the elegant 180 House on London’s Strand. Marley is one of her four rescue dogs, and she often posts about them on social media.

She described her recent career change as a very difficult and emotional experience, but said her four dogs provided much-needed support. She acknowledged that setbacks are a normal part of life and come with their own challenges.

Karen explained that her dogs are sensitive to her feelings and have been a great source of support during a difficult time. She said they clearly pick up on her stress and have helped her cope.

News reports suggest that Fleur East and Janette Manrara have also been removed from It Takes Two, the Strictly Come Dancing spin-off show.

Sources close to the show reveal that BBC2’s weeknight program is facing a significant overhaul following recent controversies.

Janette, a former professional dancer on Strictly, became a host in 2021 after eight years as a performer. Pop singer Fleur joined the show in 2023, following a successful run to the final in 2022.

But now both stars are said to be in the firing line as executives push for a bold new direction.

According to an insider, viewers will be shocked to see the show’s dramatic cuts continuing, but those in charge are committed to making significant changes.

People are feeling uneasy, and there’s a strong push to start a new chapter after everything that’s happened.

The main goal is to start fresh by September and move the show away from the problems it’s faced recently.

A source at the BBC said the recent changes don’t necessarily mean Janette and Fleur won’t be involved in future projects, and they could potentially appear in different roles on other shows.

Daily Mail has contacted representatives of Fleur, Janette and the BBC for comment.

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2026-03-24 03:19