Strictly Plunged Into Fresh Drama as New Backstage Row Threatens Revamped Season Before Launch
A fresh row is said to be brewing at Strictly Come Dancing, threatening to tear the show apart before the revamped series begins in September.
The BBC One show launched its new pro line-up in a blaze of publicity last weekend, but the choice of new faces have led to a bad taste in the mouths of the more seasoned pros.
Strictly Come Dancing announced five new pros that have joined the showCredit: PA
The show revealed the five new faces over the weekendCredit: PA
The reason is all to do with an ageism row that is brewing amongst some of the cast ahead of the upcoming series.
A source exclusively told The Sun: “There have been some very raised eyebrows behind the scenes when the show announced the five new pro dancers joining the series – and several people have commented about how young they are compared to the pros who were culled from the show earlier this summer.
“The feeling is, it all looks a bit ageist. The majority of the newcomers are in their early 20s, whereas the five who have let go from the series were all over 30, and the eldest of the axed stars in her forties.
“There is a big age difference between Karen Hauer, who wasn’t invited back to the show at 44 years old, and newcomers like Maddie Ingoldsby who is 21.”
The five new pros that have joined the show include British-born Maddie plus Canadian-native Mark Karmalita, 22, Aleksandra Isaeva, 22, and South African star Lethabo Monametsi, 23.
Only one of the new pros, Italian-born Cristian Priori is beyond his twenties, at 34.
An ageism row is brewing behind the scenes as the new pros are younger than stars including Karen Hauer, 44, who left after last seriesCredit: BBC
Axed Luba Mushtuk is 36 years of ageCredit: PA
This is a stark contrast to the ages of those who were let go.
Besides 44 year-old Karen, Nadiya Bychkova and Luba Mushktuk are both 36, Gorka Marquez is 35 and Michelle Tsiakkas is 30 years of age.
“Nobody holds it against the new pros, it’s not their fault, but there have been some discussions privately between some of the long-standing pros that it’s a shame some of the more seasoned older dancers have been replaced with new faces who are a good decade, or sometimes almost two decades younger,” the source continued.
“At the first pro rehearsals that happened this week, everyone was very welcoming and smiley, but it’s fair to say it’s been hard for some of the longstanding pros.
“They are extremely loyal to their departing friends, who they worked with for years, and a lot of them have found the shake-up hard.
Nadiya Bychkova is also 36 years oldCredit: BBC
Gorka Marquez is 35 years oldCredit: BBC
“They know it’s partly the way the industry is, and everything needs to be refreshed, but a lot of Strictly fans are an older audience anyway, so it seems odd to always be chasing youth.
“It’s made quite a few of the pros who are mid thirties wonder if they will be out the door next.”
That said, another insider argues that the show has not turned it’s back on older pros.
“The decisions made about the pro line up had nothing to do with age. It’s just about changing things up and keeping it fresh,” they expressed.
“Di Buswell and Amy Dowden are 37 and 35, while Neil Jones is 44, and they are still on the show, so no decisions were ever based around that. Across the industry, the majority of professional dancers are in their early 20s because, like athletes, they often retire early.
“On top of that, all five of the new pros are extremely experienced and respected in the industry. They are all decorated with multiple titles and have earnt their stripes. They certainly haven’t been hired because they are young and sexy.”
When approached by The Sun for comment, a spokesperson for the BBC said: “This story is based on pure conjecture.”
This isn’t the first time the programme has been engulfed into an ageism row after former judge Arlene Phillips was dropped from the panel back in 2009.
She was a part of the original judging panel when the show began in 2004, alongside the late Len Goodman, Craig Revel-Horwood and Bruno Tonioli.
Michelle Tsiakkas is 30 years oldCredit: BBC
This isn’t the first time the show has been involved in an ageism row as an uproar happened when judge Arlene Phillips was replaced by Alesha DixonCredit: BBC
However, she was given her marching orders five years in and was replaced by Alesha Dixon, who competed on the show as a contestant in 2007 and won it.
An ageism row ensued with viewers furious about the BBC’s decision and it was even discussed in the House of Commons when Harriet Harman called for her to be reinstated.
Arlene launched an investigation in 2020 about her sacking, 11 years after she was let go.
Her probe saw her use the Freedom of Information Act to request internal BBC documents.
The choreographer, 83, said at the time: “I’ve got the Freedom of Information and looking at the chaotic way that led up to it was shocking. Most is redacted.
“There’s some information there and even that’s chaotic, let alone what was redacted from the report.”
Arlene believed other departing judges may have been treated more fairly.
She added: “Nowadays, they could have given me the chance to resign or build a story around it. I didn’t have a contract that automatically rolled on to the next year, but I think it was handled so poorly.
“You then never forget those moments of turmoil.”
The BBC strenuously denied Arlene’s exit was due to her age and claimed the decision was merely a creative refresh.
