Jeremy Vine reveals he is ‘gutted’ for Strictly partner Karen Hauer as she’s axed from the show and he says BBC are ‘missing out’ after major professional dancer shake up

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Jeremy Vine was very upset to learn that his former Strictly Come Dancing partner, Karen Hauer, had been let go from the show.

The 60-year-old TV personality, who competed on the show in 2015 and 2017, believes the BBC is making a mistake after recently changing its lineup of professional dancers.

As a huge fan, I’m really disappointed to hear that some of my favorite pros won’t be dancing this season! Michelle Tsiakkas, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, and Gorka Marquez have all confirmed they’ve been dropped from the lineup, and honestly, it’s a big loss for the show.

Before she was unexpectedly fired, Karen had been a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing longer than any other woman. Her colleague, Jeremy, praised her dedication, saying she was ‘extremely loyal’ to the show.

They were eliminated in week 8 of the 2015 season, placing ninth, but then made a comeback for the 2017 holiday special.

He expressed his sadness for her, saying he cares for her deeply. He also noted her professionalism, adding that she hasn’t let on if she’s upset about the situation.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Jeremy expressed his disappointment that Karen wasn’t being reconsidered, stating, ‘They’re really missing out – she was a professional for so long. I hope they’ll change their minds.’

As a huge Strictly fan, I’ve been hearing some pretty shocking things! Apparently, the show’s bosses aren’t just looking at dance skills when they decide who gets eliminated. They’re actually checking how many followers the professional dancers have on TikTok! It seems like popularity on social media is now a factor in who stays and who goes, which honestly feels a bit unfair to those amazing dancers who might not be as active online.

Okay, so I’ve heard the rumors, and it’s totally obvious what’s going on! The people in charge are clearly prioritizing players who are already popular online – the ones with tons of followers. It’s a blatant attempt to get a younger audience watching, and honestly, it feels a little… calculated. They’re chasing views, plain and simple, and it’s frustrating because it feels like actual skill isn’t the only thing that matters anymore. I’m just saying, I wish they’d focus on the game itself instead of social media numbers!

Some people are saying that dancers with larger social media followings were favored over those who aren’t as popular on TikTok.

Nadiya Bychkova, with 19,000 followers, seems to have been removed from the show, while Dianne Buswell, who has a much larger following of 966,000, remains a participant.

Karen, a veteran dancer on Strictly, has around 9,000 followers, while newcomer Alexis already boasts an impressive 190,000. This highlights a big difference in their social media presence.

Karen branded her axing from the show ‘stressful and emotional’.

She described the recent changes in her career as a very difficult and emotional experience, but said her four dogs were a huge source of support. She acknowledged that setbacks are a normal part of life and come with their own challenges.

Sources say that Fleur East and Janette Manrara have also been let go from It Takes Two, the Strictly Come Dancing companion show.

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

Janette, age 42, became the host of the show in 2021, following eight years as a professional dancer. Singer Fleur, 38, joined the show in 2023 after making it 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.

As a long-time viewer, I’m honestly shocked to see the show still making such drastic cuts, but apparently the people in charge are committed to completely changing things up. It’s a big shake-up, and I’m both worried and curious to see where they’re taking it.

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

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

According to a source, BBC executives haven’t ruled out Janette and Fleur completely, and they might be considered for different positions within the organization.

Leaders are reportedly planning a complete reset after years of complaints and issues with the professional dancers.

Neil Jones, 43, and Nancy Xu, 34, will both be without celebrity partners this season, continuing a pattern for Jones who hasn’t often been paired with a celebrity. However, they are expected to participate in the show’s large group dances.

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2026-04-18 18:21