Strictly’s Michelle Tsiakkas confirms she’s been axed from the show in cast bloodbath after bosses’ brutal strategy to cull the lineup was revealed

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Strictly Come Dancing professional Michelle Tsiakkas has revealed she won’t be returning to the show, following a recent series of cuts to the professional dancer lineup.

Viewers are surprised and disappointed to see several popular professional dancers – including Karen Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova, Michelle, Luba Mushtuk, and Gorka Marquez – eliminated recently.

According to reports, company leaders are prioritizing talent with large social media followings, hoping to attract a younger audience.

Michelle discussed the incident for the first time while being filmed after leaving a dance class at Oti Mabuse’s studio.

Photographers swarmed her as she arrived at the London location, and one of them hugged her, saying, “I’m so sorry, this is awful and heartbreaking.”

Michelle replied: ‘It is what it is,’ before adding: ‘Thanks for the support.’

I was so bummed to hear they weren’t renewing Michelle’s contract on the show! It makes total sense she decided to step away from the live tour after that – I can only imagine how disappointing that news must have been. It was a tough call, but I respect her decision.

Reports suggest that producers of Strictly Come Dancing are considering dancers’ TikTok follower counts when deciding who to eliminate from the show.

Many fans are shocked by the recent departures of popular professional dancers Karen Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova, Michelle Tsiakkas, Luba Mushtuk, and Gorka Marquez.

As a longtime fan, it’s really disappointing to hear that the show seems to be prioritizing contestants with large social media followings over genuinely talented dancers. It feels like they’re bending over backwards to appeal to a younger audience, and it’s hurting the integrity of the competition. It’s frustrating to see dancers who may not be as ‘TikTok famous’ get overlooked.

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

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been watching the social media buzz around ‘Strictly’ and it’s fascinating! It’s interesting to see how established pros like Karen, who’s been with the show for a long time, have a dedicated following of around 9,000. But then you have newcomers like Alexis Warr, who’s quickly gained a massive 190,000 followers – it just shows how quickly things can change in the digital world!

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.

A source explained to The Sun that social media is key to reaching a wider audience, and TikTok is an ideal platform for a show focused on music and dance.

Being popular on TikTok isn’t essential for staying on the team, but it could be what helps someone keep their place.

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

She and her dog Marley, one of her four rescued pups, went to a dog-friendly event called LitPet’s Sunday Social at the stylish 180 House in London. She often posts about her rescue dogs online.

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.

Oh my gosh, Karen totally gets it! She was saying how her dogs immediately know when she’s feeling down or stressed, and honestly, it’s so sweet! She said they’ve been a huge support, like they’ve really helped her cope with everything. It’s just…they’re so in tune with her feelings, it’s amazing! I knew it, they’re the most empathetic pups ever!

Reports suggest 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, a former professional dancer on Strictly, began hosting the show in 2021 after eight years as a performer. Pop singer Fleur joined the cast 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 a source, viewers will be shocked to see the show’s dramatic eliminations continuing, but those in charge are committed to making big changes.

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 issues it’s faced recently.

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

As a lifestyle expert, I’m hearing that the show’s leadership is really looking to turn a new leaf. After a lot of recent criticism and issues with the professional dancers, they’re aiming for a complete reset and a fresh start – it’s all about rebuilding and moving forward.

Both Neil Jones, 43, and Nancy Xu, 34, will be paired with non-celebrity partners this season, continuing a trend for both professionals who haven’t often been matched with stars.

It’s believed they may still appear in the big group dance numbers.

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2026-03-24 15:04