BBC Strictly Come Dancing to 'axe' five professionals in 'purge' after controversial year

Five Strictly Come Dancing stars are reportedly set to be "axed" from the BBC show. The producers are said to have bombshell plans as they aim to replace veteran professional dancers with some new faces in a "fresh start" after a controversial year.

Nadiya Bychkova, Neil Jones, Karen Hauer, Gorka Marquez and Katya Jones are the five names that will reportedly have to call it quits and hang up their dancing shoes. A show source allegedly told the press that a shake up of the line up depended on who performed well this series.

Most of the names at risk were quickly voted off this series along with their celeb partners, with just Katya surviving the eliminations. However, she is said to have angered BBC bosses by being at the centre of "gropegate" after an inside joke with opera singer Wynne Jones dramatically backfired.

The insider reportedly said: “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.

“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."

Express.co.uk contacted BBC but they declined to comment. Dancers' representatives have also been approached.

The change up comes in the wake of the scandal surrounding Giovanni Pernice and Graziano di Prima. According to reports, execs believe the misconduct being alleged could be fuelled by popular, veteran stars feeling they are “entitled and untouchable.”

When the 2024 series kicked off the pros posed for a picture together as a show source told the press: "There’s the fear that being on the show leaves them more open to feeling entitled and untouchable. So for many of the pros turning up for rehearsals this week, it may be their last time."

The source went on to suggest it is not a "done deal" and does not mean the longest-serving stars would be affected, but "would be a carefully considered process".

Elsewhere, much-loved Strictly professional Johannes Radebe is said to be calling it quits on the BBC show but it was reportedly a decision that he made himself.

It comes as the star is set to perform in Kinky Boots The Musical for the first seven months of 2025 as well as turning his life story into a movie. He will perform over 200 shows in 25 different cities across the UK and Ireland, stretching from Dublin to Plymouth and Brighton to Edinburgh.

The decision to leave the BBC show comes as Johannes is said to be "overwhelmed" with his ever-growing workload.

Johannes' representatives and the BBC were approached for comment by Express.co.uk.