THE real reason some of the Strictly Come Dancing pros were axed has been revealed.

BBC bosses initiated an axing bloodbath in a brutal cast shake-up to the flagship show and seven of the show’s professional dancers won’t be returning.

Karen Hauer smiling in a gold, sequined, and fringed dress.
Strictly Come Dancing has axed seven pro dancers including, Karen HauerCredit: Rex
 

Gorka Marquez from Strictly Come Dancing 2025 smiling and wearing a sheer blue patterned shirt with black trousers, with confetti falling around him.
It has now been revealed some dancer were dumped after BBC did market research on themCredit: BBC
 

Michelle Tsiakkas wearing a shimmering gold, orange, and red dress with a feathered skirt, dancing against a pink and orange background.
Michelle Tsiakkas was another dancer who will not be returning next yearCredit: BBC
Gorka Márquez, 35, Nadiya Bychkova, 36, Neil Jones, 43, Nancy Xu, 34, Karen Hauer, 43, Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, and  Luba Mushtuk, 36 will not be returning next year.

But it turns out the decision five pros were given marching orders because of a so-called “popularity contest.”

According to a report in the Mail, the BBC had conducted “meticulous” market research to learn which dancers were still a hit with viewers.

“It was basically a popularity contest,” an unnamed source told the outlet.

“Those who have had the bullet simply were not liked by the fans. It’s harsh, but it’s true.”

The source added: “Most watching at home are female. Women tend not to like the female pros, but they love the men.”

“It’s hardly a surprise that Luba and Michelle have gone. They are the least high profile.”

Meanwhile, the Strictly audience had supposedly not “warmed” to Nadiya, but Karen’s axing was the biggest shock.

“She is a grafter and has been loyal to Strictly but the viewers have grown tired of her. It’s a terrible shame,” the source said.

The dancers’ exit comes amid a dramatic behind-the-scenes shake-up, including show bosses getting closer to finding new hosts.

Nadiya Bychkova in a turquoise and silver fringed dance costume, posing with one leg crossed in front of the other, on a pink background with falling confetti.
Strictly fans reportedly did not ‘warm’ to NadiyaCredit: BBC
Rumours have circulated that bosses are keen to make a fresh start to coincide with new presenters being brought in to replace Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, who quit the long-running contest last series after 11 years’ co-hosting.

Execs also want to put distance between Strictly and the string of scandals that have rocked the programme in recent years.

They include dancer Giovanni Pernice being accused of bullying his 2023 dance partner, actress Amanda Abbington, which led to a probe that exonerated him of the more serious complaints.

Also, Graziano Di Prima was sacked by the BBC after he kicked Love Island’s Zara McDermott during their rehearsals on the show in 2023.

The ballroom dancer sensationally stepped down from the Strictly: The Professionals shows just days after it was revealed she had been axed from the flagship show in a brutal cast shake-up.

Michelle, who joined the hit series as a professional dancer in 2022, had been expected to perform alongside the rest of the cast on the upcoming live tour later this year.

But after the shock decision to drop her from the programme, Michelle, 30, has now also walked away from the touring production.

Luba Mushtuk on the red carpet at the "Strictly Come Dancing" launch show.
Luba Mushtuk announced she had been dropped from the show on socia