Strictly Come Dancing, the BBC’s flagship dance competition, is set for one of its most dramatic overhauls in years, as reports confirm that five professional dancers—including the show’s longest-serving female pro, Karen Hauer—are being axed ahead of the 2026 series. The news, which broke between March 8 and March 11, 2026, has sent shockwaves through the show’s devoted fanbase and left many questioning the future direction of the beloved program.
Karen Hauer, 43, who first graced the Strictly ballroom in 2012, was reportedly informed in early March that her contract would not be renewed. According to the Daily Mail, a source close to production revealed, “Karen is the latest professional dancer to be told her contract will not be renewed this year. It’s very much a case of out with the old and in with the new. As the longest-serving female dancer, Karen found out last week that her time on Strictly is over.”
Hauer’s departure is part of a larger shakeup that also sees the exit of Nadiya Bychkova (36, on the show since 2017), Gorka Marquez (35, joined in 2016), Luba Mushtuk (36, professional since 2018), and Michelle Tsiakkas (30, joined in 2022). The move comes on the heels of another seismic change for the show: the departure of longtime hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who announced their exit at the end of last season. In a heartfelt joint statement, Daly and Winkleman said, “We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream. We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time. We will cry when we say the last ‘keep dancing’ but we will continue to say it to each other. Just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza.”
The BBC has remained tight-lipped about the specifics of the shakeup, issuing only a brief statement to Cosmopolitan UK and HELLO! on March 8 and March 10: “Plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be confirmed in due course.” For now, the official line-up for the upcoming season remains unannounced, leaving fans and industry insiders to speculate on who will step into the spotlight next autumn.
For Karen Hauer, the end of her Strictly journey marks the conclusion of a remarkable era. Over her 14-year tenure, she partnered with a wide range of celebrities—from Mark Wright and Jamie Laing (with whom she reached the final) to Nicky Byrne, Dave Myers, Jeremy Vine, Will Young, Simon Rimmer, Charles Venn, Chris Ramsey, Greg Wise, Jayde Adams, Eddie Kadi, Paul Merson, and most recently, Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey. Hauer also broke new ground as a choreographer, performing in a same-sex pairing with Jayde Adams in 2022, following in the footsteps of Katya Jones, who was the first female pro to do so.
Despite the blow, Hauer has not made a public statement about her axing. Instead, she returned to social media to share low-key snapshots of herself relaxing with her dogs, captioning one post, “Joey & Marley working the camera. Too early for Phoebe and I to be bothered.” Fans quickly flooded her feed with messages of support and outrage at the producers’ decision. One wrote, “So sorry Karen, loved seeing you on Strictly over the years.” Another lamented, “That’s it. No more Strictly for me without you. Cannot possibly understand why they’re letting you go.” The public reaction has been overwhelmingly sympathetic, with many calling Hauer their favorite dancer and criticizing the BBC’s approach.
Sources close to Hauer say she is “very upset” but remains determined to look forward. As reported by the Daily Mail, “She works as a choreographer and knows she can focus more on that, as well as her work in the fitness industry.” The mood among the other departing pros is similarly somber. Nadiya Bychkova, who partnered with Chris Robshaw in the most recent series and finished in 13th place, was said to be “distraught” and “devastated” by the news. A source quoted by The Sun said, “The news came as such a huge shock as Nadiya’s life was Strictly and to find out she’s not been invited back as full time pro has really broken her heart.”
The rationale behind the mass departures appears to be a desire for renewal. As one insider explained to The Sun, “The way producers look at it is a little like running a football team: even after Man City win the league they still change their team around and bring in fresh blood constantly, to stay at the top of their game.” However, this strategy has not gone unchallenged. Some have accused the show of ageism, particularly in the case of Nadiya Bychkova, with a source claiming, “Her axing smacks of ageism. They’re clearing all the old crew out to make way for new dancers.” The sentiment is echoed by fans who see the departing pros as integral to the show’s charm and success.
Among the other pros leaving, Gorka Marquez was notably absent from the 2025 series as he took on judging duties for the Spanish edition of Strictly, Bailando Con Las Estrellas. Luba Mushtuk, who started as an assistant choreographer before becoming a full pro in 2018, did not have a celebrity partner last season but continued to appear in group dances. Michelle Tsiakkas, the youngest of the group at 30, joined in 2022 and was paired with Jamie Borthwick in 2024, but did not have a partner in the most recent series.
While the departing dancers have stayed largely silent about their exits, some did mark International Women’s Day on March 8 with celebratory posts. Nadiya shared a video captioned, “Celebrating women today and every day. The strength, the joy, the resilience and the beautiful way we lift each other up. And sometimes… a little dance along the way.” Gorka posted a tribute to the women in his life, and Michelle reshared fan posts and videos from recent dance events.
Looking ahead, it seems that Carlos Gu and Johannes Radebe have been confirmed to stay, while the fate of Aljaž Škorjanec remains uncertain. As Strictly Come Dancing prepares to enter a new era—one without several of its most recognizable faces—viewers are left to wonder what changes the BBC has in store and whether the show can maintain its magic with a fresh line-up.
For now, the ballroom’s future is uncertain, but one thing is clear: the departure of Karen Hauer and her fellow pros marks the end of a significant chapter in Strictly’s storied history, and fans will be watching closely to see who steps into their dancing shoes.