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Strictly shake-up as Gorka Marquez and two other stars 'won't return' to BBC show

Three professional dancers including Gorka Marquez are reportedly leaving the BBC show just months after Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced they were stepping down as hosts

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Gorka might not return to the Strictly ballroom(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Ray Burmiston)

Everything you need to know: Strictly shake-up as three dancers face the axe

• Three Strictly Come Dancing stars are reportedly getting the boot as the BBC plans a massive shake-up ahead of the new series.
• Long-standing pro dancers Gorka Marquez, 35, and Luba Mushtuk, 36, are said to be facing the axe alongside newcomer Michelle Tsiakkas, 30. The dramatic changes come just months after hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced they were stepping down.
• According to reports, producers are desperate for a "fresh start" following years of scandal. A source revealed: "Bosses want a fresh start and to bring in new faces after all the drama in recent years and create a new era."
• Gorka, who met wife Gemma Atkinson on the show in 2017, has been a fan favourite for ten years and reached three finals. Russian dancer Luba has eight years under her belt but hasn't been given a celebrity partner in recent seasons.
• Michelle was paired with EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick in 2024, though he sparked controversy with an alleged ableist slur backstage in Blackpool. The BBC said: "Plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be confirmed in due course."
• The shake-up comes after a string of scandals hit the family show. In 2023, Giovanni Pernice was axed following bullying allegations, while drug use investigations and the infamous Seann Walsh kissing scandal have also rocked the programme.
• The massive overhaul signals a new era for Britain's favourite dance show as bosses desperately try to clean up its tarnished reputation.
• READ THE FULL STORY: BBC 'axe' three Strictly stars with Claudia and Tess' replacement teased

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