Strictly Come Dancing pros ‘face axe’ as bosses want ‘fresh start’ - after show is hit by scandals
BBC bosses are reportedly planning a major shake-up of the Strictly Come Dancing professional line-up, with up to five long-standing dancers facing the axe. The move comes after a disastrous series, marred by controversy and poor performances from some of the show's veterans.
Nadiya Bychkova, Neil Jones, Karen Hauer, Gorka Marquez, and Katya Jones are all said to be at risk of being dropped, having failed to impress with their celebrity partners. Most of them were quickly voted off this series. Only Katya survived, but she angered bosses by being at the centre of the “gropegate” backfiring gag with singer Wynne Jones. In contrast, newcomers Jowita Przystal and Vito Coppola have stolen the show with their impressive routines, paving the way for a fresh wave of talent to join the series.
A source told them: “The review of the line-up has always been about making a fresh start, and that was always going to be affected by which dancers performed well this series. The feeling is that the Strictly troupe is made up of some fading stars, while others are rising stars. And in many cases there are certain characters whose shoes can easily be filled with younger, up-and-coming counterparts.
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“It’s harsh but it’s just part of the traditional turnover of showbusiness. Of the five names in the mix almost all of them went out in the first half of the series, which is very much seen as a landmark point for Strictly. It couldn’t have come at a worse time for them, because Strictly bosses feel they need to make some major changes, even if that means big names leaving.”
When OK! contacted the BBC, they declined to comment. Meanwhile, one star who is determined to remain on the show for the foreseeable is head judge Shirley Ballas, who has declared she'll stick with the show until she "pops" her "clogs." The 64 year old TV personality and dance pro is passionate about her role on the BBC favourite, telling the Daily Star Sunday: "I've been on the show for eight years and I'll stay on it until I pop my clogs." Shirley, who shares the judging table with Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood, and Anton Du Beke, has been a fixture since 2016.
She explained her enthusiasm for returning each year: "Every year, when I'm asked to come back, I have a little think and then I say, 'Yes, thank you'. The only other reason I'd go is if they don't want me anymore." Her love for the series is fueled by the fresh faces she encounters every season, saying: "Every year, the show is something new and I get to meet new people. It's family show that everybody in the country really enjoys. It sends positive messages and that's what I love about it."
