Arlene Phillips shares five-word statement on axed BBC Strictly stars as former judge wades in

Olivia Gantzer
Tue, 07 Apr 2026 20:00:51 +0000

Arlene Phillips has delivered a message to professional dancers upset about losing their places on Strictly Come Dancing, insisting in a brief and blunt statement that "nothing in life is forever".

The 82-year-old choreographer, who herself was dropped from the judging panel in 2008 after four years and replaced by Alesha Dixon, urged performers to develop resilience.

"No-one promises you its forever. Be ready. You have to be steely in this business. There is a lot of rejection. Live with rejection," she added to The Sun.

Ms Phillips emphasised the physical demands of the profession, noting that dancing takes a significant toll on the body.

She also advised aspiring dancers: "If you can't take rejection don't bother."

The former judge cautioned against becoming dependent on the programme, regardless of how celebrated performers might become during their time on the show.

Five professional dancers have been cut from the lineup ahead of the 2026 series. Karen Hauer, 43, who held the distinction of being Strictly's longest-serving female dancer, described her departure as "terribly stressful and emotional".

Nadiya Bychkova, 36, Luba Mushtuk, 36, and Gorka Marquez, 35, have also lost their positions on the programme.

Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, confirmed her exit recently, becoming the most recent dancer to depart.

Ms Hauer attended the LitPet's Sunday Dog Social at 180 House on London's Strand over the weekend with her rescue dog Marley.

"What's just happened is part of life and the stresses that go with it," she said at the event.

The dancer credited her four rescue dogs with helping her through the difficult period, explaining that they sense when she is under strain.

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Sources have claimed that BBC bosses considered TikTok follower counts when deciding which professionals to retain, reportedly in an effort to attract younger audiences.

The disparity in social media presence between those kept and those dropped appears stark in some cases.

Nadiya Bychkova, who was axed, has approximately 19,000 TikTok followers, whereas Dianne Buswell, also 36, commands 966,000 followers and has retained her spot.

A similar pattern emerges with Karen Hauer's 9,000 followers compared to newcomer Alexis, who boasts around 190,000 and remains safe.

It has been reported that dancers with larger online followings were favoured over those deemed less TikTok-friendly.

Neil Jones, 43, and Nancy Xu, 34, will reportedly not receive celebrity partners this year, though they may still feature in group performances.

Insiders suggest executives are pursuing a comprehensive transformation of the franchise following a series of scandals.

"Fans will be stunned that this bloodbath is continuing, but bosses are determined to overhaul the show completely," an industry source told The Sun.

The source indicated that neither presenter is necessarily finished with the BBC entirely, with potential roles elsewhere still possible.