Gemma Atkinson, who is married to Gorka Marquez, has responded to the wave of departures with a notably upbeat message.
Over the last few weeks, there have been ongoing rumours that many of the popular professional dancers were being axed from the series.
The latest to confirm their departurea are Karen Hauer, Luba Mushtuk and Nadiya Bychkova.
Ms Bychkova issued a statement via Instagram, which read: “After 9 wonderful years, this part of my journey with Strictly Come Dancing is evolving.
“Strictly has allowed me to discover new sides of myself, develop new skills, and evolve as an artist in ways I will always be grateful for.
“This isn’t the end… I look forward to being part of the Strictly world for many years to come in ways I am beginning to explore. Thank you for all the love and support along the way.”
Ms Atkinson made her feelings clear towards the ongoing cull of professionals as she commented underneath Ms Bychkova’s post.
The actress wrote: “Every finish line is the beginning of new race. Exciting times!”
Her optimistic perspective resonated with fans, with one replying: “What a lovely outlook to have xxx,” while another simply stated: “I love that!”
Mr Marquez has not yet publicly confirmed his own departure from the programme, after not being assigned a partner for the 2025 series.
His most recent pairing was with Dr Punam Krishnan during the 2024 series and he has previously partnered celebrities including Maisie Smith, Alexandra Burke and Helen Skelton.
Mr Marquez first joined Strictly a decade ago when he was paired with EastEnders actress Tameka Empson in 2016.
The couple first met during Ms Atkinson’s year on Strictly
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The BBC’s decision to reshape its professional dancer roster stems from a desire to attract younger audiences and capitalise on social media engagement.
Producers are reportedly seeking more “TikTok-friendly” performers to lead the programme, though this has not been officially confirmed by the broadcaster.
A source explained the thinking to The Sun: “The way producers look at it is a bit like running a football team.
“Even after Man City win the league, they still tweak the squad and bring in fresh blood to stay at the top of their game.”
The couple share two children together, Mia and Thiago
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The emphasis on digital appeal is also reflected in contestant selection, with more social media-savvy celebrities being approached, such as last year’s runner-up George Clarke.
The shake-up follows the earlier announcement that presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman would not be returning for the upcoming series.
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