ANOTHER Strictly professional breaks ranks and two other dancers reignite backstage feud as the show is plunged into more turmoil before it even starts

Strictly Come Dancing has been plunged into further chaos, as the show’s professional dancers speak out on their frustrations. 

On Wednesday night another pro, Michelle Tsiakkas, broke ranks to admit she was ‘gutted’ she didn’t have a celebrity partner for the 2025 series.

Michelle, who has been performing on the BBC show since 2022, posted an Instagram video explaining to her 59k followers her disappointment.

The video came just 24 hours after her close friend and fellow Strictly pro Nancy Xu shared her own message, admitting she felt ‘left out’ of the show. 

Thanking fans for ‘all the lovely messages’, Michelle said: ‘To those of you asking how I am I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t gutted.’

Admitting that ‘that’s a normal feeling to have,’ the Cypriot Sri-Lankan dancer called having a celeb partner ‘the most beautiful and rewarding part of the show.’

The 2024 series of Strictly was Michelle’s first year with a partner, and she reached week ten with EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick.   

‘Last year was my first year with a partner and it made me realise just how much I enjoy the process. I think it’s the most beautiful and rewarding part of the show,’ she told fans.

‘And I also feel like last year was the first time you all started to get to know me better as well and there’s still a whole lot more of me left to discover.’

She ended her video by promising to post more updates on social media to ‘help you to get to know me better,’ and share ‘my opinions and experiences’ before reassuring her followers that ‘I’m not completely disappearing.’

Both Michelle and Nancy’s videos were flooded with supportive messages from their Strictly co-stars, but one notable absentee in Nancy’s comments section was Carlos Xu.

The dancers are childhood friends, growing up together in China, with both previously gushing about their close ‘brother sister’ relationship.

But during last year’s series the two had a major fall out backstage leading to an ‘awkward and tense’ atmosphere on set. 

Carlos later broke his silence on the rift insisting in November: ‘We’re fine. We’ve been friends since childhood, and friends argue, we’re too close and are like brother and sister to completely fall out.’

But it appears the feud has been reignited as the new series kicks off. Carlos and Nancy no longer follow each other on Instagram and he also notably failed to comment on Nancy’s video message this week.

Insiders have suggested the pair fell out last year after Carlos failed to get a celebrity partner, whilst Nancy was paired with Shayne Ward.

This year Carlos has been paired with former England footballer Karen Carney, whilst Nancy has been vocal in her ‘disappointment’ at being left out of the pairings. 

The Chinese dancer has confessed that she is upset that the Strictly decision makers have ‘overlooked her hard work and dedication’ since she joined the show in 2019.

On Tuesday night Nancy, 34, spoke directly to her 76,000 followers, breaking ranks from the show’s party line to admit she feels ‘left out.’

‘Thank you so much for all your kind and supportive messages that I’ve been receiving in the past few days,’ Nancy said. ‘I am ok, as you all know now, I don’t have a dance partner, on Strictly Come Dancing this year.’   

‘In the very beginning when I just received the messages, it does upset me and I do feel disappointed, coming from China and arriving in this country, all I wanted is to achieve my dream and Strictly has given me such a big platform to allow me to show my skills and to show my talents, so of course this year, I feel, left out,’ she continued.

The Strictly saga shows no sign of letting up for the 2025 series with unhappy pros  and two celeb departures before the live shows even kick off.

In more news from set, it was reported on Wednesday that frustrated bosses are struggling to rein in the show’s most controversial signing – Apprentice star Thomas Skinner. 

Earlier this month Thomas stormed out of a press conference whilst his participation on the BBC‘s family-friendly flagship show has been overshadowed by his revelation that he cheated on wife Sinead just weeks after their wedding. 

His political leanings have also sparked backlash across social media after he was pictured attending a barbeque hosted by US President Donald Trump‘s number two, JD Vance – something he later called a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ event. 

Thomas has drawn strong criticism for X posts saying it is ‘not far-right’ to be ‘flying your flag and loving your country’, and complaining ‘it ain’t safe out there any more’ in London, saying the city is ‘hostile’ and ‘tense’. 

And now, insiders have revealed that Strictly bosses have been left in a ‘tricky’ situation regarding his social media posts.

‘He’s not BBC staff so there is nothing that can be done about his social media posts other than ask his management to have a gentle word, and they might not want to,’ the source has explained.

The insider added though that it’s unlikely Thomas will be voted out of the hit BBC show early, ‘because the public tends to like controversial figures, at least at the start.’

They added that Strictly’s decision to pair him with one of the show’s favourite pro dancers will be beneficial.

‘The feeling is he’s unlikely to be among the first to go, and could actually stay in for quite a stretch. Amy has a lot of love behind her and that is sure to help him,’ the insider told The Mirror. 

After making his Strictly debut on Saturday, Thomas posted another X rant, insisting he won’t be cancelled and claiming his marriage is stronger than ever,  after he admitted to cheating on his wife just weeks after their 2022 wedding.

It’s been a chaotic week as on Tuesday former Love Island contestant Dani Dyer, 29, was left ‘heartbroken’ as she had to pull out of the dance competition after fracturing her ankle during rehearsals. 

Her withdrawal adds yet more pressure to Strictly bosses – actor Kristian Nairn quit the series for medical reasons just last month.

The Daily Mail broke the news that Dani, 29, one of the show’s favourites, had to bow out on Tuesday, after fracturing her ankle during a training rehearsal on Friday.

Dani later confirmed this in a statement and said: ‘I had a fall on Friday in rehearsals and landed funny. I thought I had rolled my foot but it swelled up badly over the weekend and after an MRI scan yesterday, it turns out I have fractured my ankle.

‘Apparently doing the quickstep on a fracture is not advisable (!!) and the doctors have said I am not allowed to dance so l’ve had to pull out of the show.

‘To say I’m heartbroken is the biggest understatement. I am so going to miss dancing with Nikita but will of course be watching closely and cheering all the couples on.’

The accident occurred before Dani even got to perform one routine.